Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-16
HOUSE.

principles L1eTeln d0nOuuCeu nave D6eH
applied to all such soldiers. Referred to
Military Committee.
The Senate bill authorizing a special
term of Court for the District of Indiana
was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Griswold, a resolution
was adopted, directing an investigation
into the practical operation of pension
laws, and to inquire into the condition Of
invslids, and what measures should be
adopted to secure to them employment in
dependent of pensions.
On motion of Mr.. Cox, the Secretary of
State was called upon 70 furnish all COM
municatiOns he has on dle, with reference
to the troubles on our borders, which have
not been referred to he Committee on
Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. Littleiohn moveh an inquiry as to
the expediency of est' 5lishing q Navy
Yard at Oswege. Refo red.
Mr.. Davis, of Msryln nd, from the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, reported the
following resolution:
Resolred, That Cong ess has q sConstitu-
tional right to an auI ,oritatiYe voice in
declaring and prescribp'g the foreign poll
cy of the United Stats, as well as in the
recognition of new powers rs in other
matters, and it is the Constitutional duty
of the President to respect that policy, not
less in diplomatic relations than in the
use of the national forces when authorized
by law, and the propriety of any declsra-
ton of foreign policy by Congress is suf-
fciently proved by the vote which pro
nounces it, and such proposition, while
pending undetermined, Is not q fit topis of
diplomatic explanations with any foreign
power.
Mr.. Davis moved the previous question
on the passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Farnsworth moved that the resolU-
tion lie on the table, which was decided In
the affirmative by yeas 50, nays 60.
Mr.. Davis, when the result of the vote
was announced, asked to be relieved from
service on the Committee on Foreign Re-
lstions. He desired to take all the re-
sponsiblity connected with any service
which the House might put upon him, but
when in the course of the discharge Of his
duties he found himself to differ from the
opinion of the majority, he thought he
should no longer hold such position.
The House, at the last session, on his
uOLlOu, pde6ou u IosOlublUn bOuCuluk bu6
foreign policy in relation to the Republic
of Mexico, and it was adopted unanimous
". 1t was sent to the Sen
ate, and there it still lies. 1t
had been passed by the House only a
few days, when the officer charged with
the foreign correspondence of this Gov
ernment, directed our representative
abroad to apologize to the French Govern
ment for the resolution passed by the
representatives of the American people,
asserting in effect that the House had gone
beyond its just jurisdiction in undertaking
to prescribe TO the President the rule BY
which he should be guided. This cores
pondonee was made the subject of circu-
lar to all foreign governments, to let them
understand that Congress has no right to
speak with regard to the foreign affairs OF
this Government, and that nothing was to
be regarded but what came with the sane
ton Of the Executive branch of the Gov
ernment. The correspondence of the
Secretary of State was in its tone
disrespectful to the dignity and character
of the House Of Representatives. The
Secretary of State had in the face of all
Europe slapped the House of Representa-
tives in the face in his correspondence
with the French government and b c
asked the House whether it would to-day
assert its own dignity.
Ar. Cox said if the House should ex.