The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-12-28

mug i.uciiiit3 lof tue past anu hecnTtty TOT the &c
ture. 1pnrposely refrain from any suggestion as N
whether this force shall consist Of regular troops X
volunteers, or both This question may be meAi =
left 70 the decision OF Congress. ] Ii
ould merely observe that should volunteers be &C. L
cted, such force could be easily rasee in this Il
ountry among those WHO sympathize with the suffer
lgs Of our unfortunate fellow citizens In Mexico ard
nth the unhappy condition Of that Republic. Such q
n accession to the forces OF the Constitutional Coy il
rnment weuld enable it soon to reoch the city of
dexico and extend lis power over the whole Repub-
c. In that event there Is no reason TO doubt that
he just claims of our citizens would be satisfied and
adequate redress obtained for The injuries inflicted
ipon them. The Constitutional Government haze !
,yer eyinced strong desire to do us psliee and this
might be secured in advance by preliminary
treaty
1t may be said that these measures will at least H.
directly. be inconsistent with our wise and settled
policy not to Interfere IN the domestic concerns Of for
eign nations. But IL cs not the present fairly
constitute an exception? An adjoining republic is in
state Of anarchy and confusion from which she has
proved wholly unable TO eXtrcatc herself She is
trcly destitute Of the power to man An peace upon
her borders, or TO prevent the incur pms Of band
into our territory. In her fate and in Ter forune-n
her power to establish and maintain settled govern
ment--.we have far deeper interest, socially, COM
mercially, and politically, than any other milton.
She is now wreck upon the ocean, drifting about MS
she is impalIed by different factions. As a good
EeighbOr shall we not extend 10 her helping hand
to save herr Il we do not, il would not be Sirpris.
ing should other nation undertake. the task and
thus force to interfere at last under circumstances
of increased difficulty for the maintenance of orr es-
tablished policy.
repeat tia recommendation confirmed in my hast |
annual message, that authority may be given to the
President 10 establish one orinore temporary military
posts across the Mexican line in Sonora aud Chi.
halua where these may be necessary 10 protect the
lt,-a. nt,i
against the ncirsons and dcpradations Of the lndi
ans, as we'll as of lawless .rovefs on that remote
region. The establishment oil one such post al
pont called Arispe in Sonora, in country now al
most depopclated by the hostile infnaas Of the Indl
ans from our side Of tho line, would, II IS believed,
have prevented much injury and many ciuellies
during the past season. \ state Of aW.essesS and
violence prevails on that distant frontier. lile ana
property are there wholly insecure. The population
Of Arizona, now numbering more than ten thousand
| souls, arc practically destitute of government, OF
laws OF of any regular administration Of justice Muir
der, rapne, and other crimes are committed win M
PANTY Itherefofeagan call theatcntion Of Congress
to the necessity for establishing Territorial Govern
| nient for Arizona
The treaty with Nicaragua, OF tho 10th February,
1857 to which referred III my last ANIMAL message,
failed to receive the ratification Of the government Oh
that republic, for reasons which heed not enunelale'
| similar treaty has been since concluded between
tue parties, bearing date OH the 10th March, lSo9
which has already been ratified by the N!cafaguan
Congress. This will be Immediately Submitted 70 lie
Senate for their ratification It's provisions cannot
think, fail TO be acceptable 10 the people OF both
countries @ 80 @
Our claims against the governments Of Costa Riea
and Nicaragua remain unredressci, though they are
pressed in earnest manner, and not without nope
! Of success.
deem 1t to be my duty onc3 more earnestly to &c
commend to Congress the passage Of law authorizing
al,
niand for tho purpose Of protecting the lives and
, property OF American citilona passing IN transit
! across the Panama, Nicaragua and IehuanteIe t
routes, against sudden and lawless outbreaks uiit
iepledatons. snail ngi repeat the arguments en-
p!oyed in former IN ssages In support d tins meas
\ ure Suffice it TO say that the lives Of many Of GU
people, and the security OF vast amounts Of tFeasar
d passing and repassng over ono or more oil ines
routes between the Atlantic and Pacific, may U
J deeply involved in the action Of Congress On thi
= subject sR
g Iwoud also, again recommend to Congress tina
authority be given to the President 10 employ the ma
II val force protect American merchant vessels thei
crews and cargoeS against violent and aw less sezuf
and coniscation IN the ports OF Mexico aaa the span
n ish American States when these countries may be
IS disturbed and revolutionary condition. me ines
10 knowledge that such an authority had been conferred
l- us have already stated, woutt OF sef, IN gfes
j. degree prevent the evil Neither wonla This reqnii
u any additional appropriation for the naval service
is The CHIEF objection urged against the grant OF III
Of authority is that Congress, by comforting ii woe
he violate the C0nsiiutor-tiEit II would be transit
II Of the making, or, strictly speaking the war d
s. claring power to tho Executive. II this were VT
ID founded 1t would Of course On conclusive Vel
al brief examination however, viii place this ohjerti'
u at rest.
50 Congress possesses the sole and exclusive pows
'i under the Constitution, 'o declare war; They alo
In In can 'raise and support armies. ana provide 81
~ maintain navy But after Congress shall have
uh eared war and provided the force necessary TO ca
70 ~ il on. the President as Commander Chief o
~ Army aud Navy alone employ this fotco In ma
10 ing war against the enemy This Is the plain Ian
o llage and history proves that it was the wllkn
". intention Of the trainers Of The Constitution
~, ~ It will not be denied that the general power 70
'.h tlare war; is without limitation and embraces WI
vs. in itself not only what writers on tho laws nj matte
~ term public or perfect war, but aisn an ilnperi'
M warand in short every species vi hostility how
" er confined or limited Without the authority OF q
NJ gress the President cannot fire hostile gun III Il
~ case except 10 repel the attacks Of an enemy
Ely not be doubted tlst under this power Congress cou
il they thought proper, authorize the President To
th poy the force at his command to seize vessel
az longing to an American citizen which nal been u
nj rally and nnpstly captured in foreign por. and
store II to is owner But can Congress only act al
Hei the fsct-aier the iaiSclei has been Done sil
'sf they no power 10 confer upon the President the
80. | such case afterwards 0ccuri Must they want Vi
al the mischief has been done, and can they apply
~. remedy only when il IS too ates 10 confer tht7
~ thory Ia meet future cases under circunslan
strictly specified, is clearly within the war'deci
KY | ing power as such M authority conferred upon
as President br act OF Congress after the deed al b.
anu done In the progress OF great nation many eXg
Wy eies must arise impelativey requiring that Congr
IMo should authorize the President ia aet promptly
Wy certain conditions which may or may NOT atefwa
'ei arise Our history has already presented mum
ms Of such cases. shall refer only TO the latest
val Under the resolutions Of june g 1888, far the
,rty jtstmcnt Of difficulties With tile Republic OF n
nj guavn the President Is ''authorized to adopt ;
nr measures and use such force as in his judgment
rcs be and advisable in the event Of Ieua
mon lust satisfaction by the Government Of farag,
efn Just satisfaction y Tor Sht2 For " tho attack
,es the United States steamer Water Witch, ana OF
in matters referred to III the annual message oil the
1,,v sldentu Here The power is expressly granted,
sn,,, the condition that the Government oil Paraguay
ni,s refuse to render this ast satisfaction III t,is
erp other similar cases Congress have conferred upon
lied President power in advance TO employ the army
MAR navy upon the happening Of contingent future eve
,een and this, most certainly Is embraced Witiii
tiss mower to declare war
III ef Aow,l inns eoiaiioha' anu .oa.lhaS
sist be consttatonaly conferred upon the Presioen
bly the case Of Paraguay, why may " mol De COME
I'M for the parpose OF protecting The lives anu pfopit
TRY American citizens IN the event mat they may DC
80 lentiy and uhaWtutiy attacked in passing over
transit routes 10 and from California, oi assailei
I'M the seizure OF their vessels i'll aoroign portf &c
an nv this power is to render the navy IN great De
n useless for the protection Of tbs lives and pToeri
and American citizens n countries Where neither pr
ton nor redress can be otherwise obtained.
soc The Thirty fifth congress terminated on tho
zure March, 1901 WITHOUT nav 'ns pau t'e ~ ns,
atnp appropriations for the service oil the tostoe Del
iii ~ ent during the fiscal year ending The 3hth
NJ 1867" This act also contained an appropriation
mar supply Deficiencies in the revenue OF te rosie
n nf Department for the year ending the Seth Oh j
,e,n 1882 ! believe this Is the first instance sihc'
80 | origin of thu Federal Government, now more
4 mot seventy years ago, when any Congress went 0
sbe existence without having passed ali the genera
fhs preparation bills necessary 10 carry on me TOY
nv cnt until the regular period for the meeting OF
49, new Congress- This event imposed on the kxec
rhiIe grave responsibility It presented choice oil 6
go Had this omission Of duty occurred at the fst
,ri.I sion of the last Congress, tue remedy would
we | been plain. | might then have Instantly rec
Of IN them to complete their work--and TINS witnou
,Jovi pense to the Government Blt on the 4th Vi u
a, last there were fifteen of the thlrtythree States
..esi had not elected any Representatives TO the pr
an,os Congress Had Congress been called together II
DO in diately these States would have been virtually
had rranehiscd. il an intermediate period mad bee
Iostb lrcted several Of the States would have been
vb n, PEELED to hold extra sessions OF tnelf l&Elsat'
otad
haa lions at an earlier day than Cha, prev iesy ike
o NJ law In the regular course, ten OF these States
not elect until after the beginning ot August, ait
s,nnt | nf them not until October and November
10th On the other hand, when came to examine
Co.'S fully the condition OF the Posoitico Departing
10 did not meet as many Or as great difficulties as
~ =; | apprehendeG Had tho bill which failed been
edy lined to appropriations for the fiscal year endi
ancy the 10th June next there would have been no r.
% NJ Of pressing Importance for the call OF an extra
e r sion Nothing woill become due on contracts
IssGi with railroad companies only excepted for carr
,,.ai tho mail for the first quarter Of the present
Thai year commencing on the lat Of July, until the
varn ieeember--ess than one week before the meeti
yican the present Congress.
siem Tie reason Is that tho mail contractors for til
presi- current year did not complete their first qa.l
iast service until the 30tl OF september last and
,0r ter ms OF their contracts sixty days more are all
Il for the settlement OF their accounts before Tx
or,,er | partment could beeallsd upon tor payment.
me The atd!leuity and the great hardship cons
erred in the failure provide tor Tie payment OF the
req cheney IN the fiscal year ending the SJth June,
rider The department had entered INTO contracts III
sr be ence to existing laws ijr the Service q ;lat
e ali year and the contractors Vert fairly entitled to
orsar eou,pansaton is II became Que, The denciei
J, stated In the bin amounted 10 IS ,SSb rs, but
and careful settlement OF all these accounts II his
yfut ,ef