Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-18
Correspondence of l4e.Bal,t~or. american.

WASHINGTON, Jan. IL.
! Mr. Mason's bill from the Committee on
Foreign Relations, authorizing the President
to employ the land and naval forces for the
! redress Of grievances of American citizens in
Mexico. Central America. and Sonth America
| is likely to provoke animated discussion, IA
| the Introduction OF new element Of Execu-
! tive power. which the constitution never con-
templatcd, aud one that divestS Congress. of
! the authority expressly and exclusively con-
| frrred upon it--of making war. The recita
! ton of the preamble does not relieve this
| proposition in the least, of the positive OBJ
lection to which the bill itself is open. for it is
| predicated solely upon the general arragn-
ment Of the States in question, in the Presi-
dents Message. If this bill could pass, actual
| war would be a consequence in less than
| ninety days. for there is no Disgusting the
| fact, that the President only waits Tor the
seeming cOuntenance of Congress 10 enforce
policy he has marked out in the hope Of
securing his administration from the odum
and disgrace into which it has sunk in public
estimation. That is the last desperate resort
| 10 repair his shattered fortunes.
When a similar mevoment was made at the
last session 10y resolution which Mr. Douglas
offered, it was strangied in the Committee of
Foreign Relations of the Senate and a is
known, mostly at the instance of the Prrsi-
dent, who did not care that the Senator from
Illinois 'hould appropriate any part of his
glory, Mr.. Mason opposed that scheme aud
for very conclusive reasons. No important
events have occurred since then to Justify
his change OF ground, or affecting the rela-
tons Of the countries named with our Gov
eminent. Whenever Congess adopts the
principle OF conceding to the Executive "A
power which was reserved 10 itself for the
wiscst purposes, the downfall of the Republic
may be regarded as begun. Even now. the
Executive overshadows every other depart
mcnt aud this last concession is only needed
To establish the worst of despotissns. That il
should have emgnated from Senator who
has always maintained the sirictest doctrines
of State rights. and the relative rights OF the
different d partments II government, ocea-
sions more than ordinary surprise
If the bill brought Ia by Mr. Iverson. for
abolishing the franking privilege aud sub
stitusing a certain allowance of stamps for
each member, shall become a law, il would
not only currrcG altiseS which are now visible
10 every body, bat it would materially reduce
the notorious eXtravaganee in the public
printing, which is mostly encouraged by this
system. s
Little doubt is now cntettained, unlese
pr,per provision shall b. made f,r increasing
the revenues, that the President will call az
extra session, with rJftr,nce 10 that particular
object. II. however. Sufficient IA aas should
toe granted by aa increase Of the public debt
he may be Induced by Mr.. Cobb TO defer this
proposed step.
Senior Jerez was received formally BY the
President yesterday. n the sole Minister from
Nicaragua, aud irisarri has retired by rvsigna-
tloa. Thus the doable-hea.led mission l. lsr-
minated. The b lief exisis that the Cas-
Irisarri treaty viii be ratified AID received
here Ia the beginning Of next moath. with an
amendment 70 which ID President has agreed.
al. q
States shall he transported aeFsss the teFFigory
Of Nicaragua 10 engage Ia war with any
power with which she may be at pezce This
modification coai0Fms only 10 IA accepted
principle OF International law, aud therefore
is Objectionable.