Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-04
House Of Representatives, March 2.


Mr.. B,"ock moved To amend the nmrud-
mont appropriatins SI1%.in" COR the charter
Of vessels for The Paraguay expedition, by
giving the Secretary of the Navy authority
10 purchase ;hcse yc>scls-chartcrin these
vessels for nine N, nths, amounts 70 thi, sum.
liz making he contract the Secretary in
serted ciallsc 10y which he could purchase
them at $500 ,DDD, only Sl00,ooo more than
the price Il charter, and 500 less than the
charter price for fifteen months.
Mr. Seward did not think the constitution
conferred tn" power IL charter vessels Tor the
cXDclition lie had seen the Secretary al the
Treasury in the House to-day, suggesting
this legislation to get out of the difficulty he
has brought about lie would always put
down his foot and lift his Voice against inter
ference with legislation.
sir. Petit protested against making any
appropriation, at all. He asked whether the
Secretary made the contract on any other
authority thun the Joint resolution empower
i'm the President to take steps for obtaining
satisfaction from Paraguay.
Mr.. Bocock replied that was all ana sufh-
cicut.
| Mr.. Petit said the act of the Secretary
was an usurpation of power not granted
From the beginning utthe controversy this
government had not taken the right steps for
obtaining settlement of the question i'll con
troycrSy.
! Mr.. Clark, uf y. Y, WAS not without an
apprehension that the American people were
in the wrong. If the President and Secreta-
nv of the Navy had right 70 build navy,
they had right TO add additional regiments
to the army If the navy was insufficient
Congress .hould have been advised Of the
fact. This chartpring and purchasing Of
worthless steamers WASH private speculation
carried on under the authority of the govern
mrnt.
Mr.. Bocock said tina, Mr.. Clark must pardon
him if he could not sympathlze with HIM III
his personal di>truSt Oi the Secretary ot the
NAVY. lfthr>c vessels were purchased. they
could be sold. and every dollar saved to the
government He defended the conduct OF the
executive. showing that the joint resolution
authorized the President to employ such force
as he might think proper.
Mr.. Davis. If Nd. SAID the resolution viz
tuallv conferred on the President war max
iny power and We are now beginning t" reap
the fruits of most improyidrnt and haSty leg
i>lation. The executive had created, out Oi
funds not given him. IL fleet which Congress,
did not authorize linn 20 create, and has gone
on wa@in. war without authority.
Mr. Phelps of Missouri. said Congress had
vested in the President authority to use such
force against Paraguay ~ he deemed cXpe-
dcnt. and ne read from last years speech
of Mr.. Ritrhic. wherein it was SAID the Pre-
>idcnt would act on the authority ofCongrcSS
and hc believed the expedition Of Il few small
vessel, would procure II settlement oi the dill
hcuiv. and 10 necessity would occur for I'll"
employment 81 force.
Mr. Grnw said that instead of irving the
Secretary, Mr. Phelps was arragming the
gentleman from New York, and he added
that the Secretary had already exceeded his
authority. III rhartering vessels.
Mr.. Lrtrhcr read from his own speech on
a former occasion to show that he then thought
the joint resolution practically transferred
the war making power to the President
Twenty ->cycn al the opposition voted Tor that
resolution ont Of il. and r. democrats voted
against Il.
Mr.. Garnet said he remembered that he
WAS one OF those VIII" voted against it. not hc-
ing willing {" confer the war-making power
on the President: but Ii" was willing Ia carry
out contracts while against increasing tn"
navy.
Mr. Howard said the resolution did not
come within "A thousand miles Of authorizing
the Secretary To charter vessels.
Mr.. Lovcjoy proposed to suspend all tho
proceedings and recall the vessels. He voted
for the resolution, and his excuse was an
ovcr-conidcncc in the democratic party
His motion was rejected.
Mr. Ritrhc said as his name had been
mentioned. that he thought there was cause
for the passage vi the resolution then, and he
thought - now. The committee of foreign
affairs reported it unanimously. When II
was passed, the responsibility OF carrying it
into effect dcyolycd on the President.
Mr. Branchwas for recalling the fleet when
Paraguay was sufficiently chastised. There
was no more OF IL war than when We send out
Il force To chastise Indian tribes.
Mr.. Burlingame thought his vote for that
resolution Wa, right. lie hoped that where
ever American citizens are injured, this
country will be always ready to vindicate its
honor. But he did not by this vote commit
himself to this singulnrly inte.citous admin
istrat;on. nor to the illegal contracts which
have been made
At o'clock the debate was still in pro-