American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-12-21
Our Relations with Great Britain,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15-The discus
sion which sprang up in the House to-
day on a resolution from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, excited more interest
than any thing thus far this session, and
indeed takes rank among the. most inter-
esting passages in the history of this
Congress. The following is the full text
of the resolution. 1t was drawn by Win
ter Davis, and lacked only one vote of
the unanimous approval Of the Foreign
Relations Committee
ResolVed, That Congress has censti-
tutional right to an authoritiye voice in
declaring and prescribing the foreign pol
lev of the United States as well in the
recognition of new powers, as in other
matters, and it is the constitutional duty
of the President to respect that policy,
not less in diplomatic negotiations then
in the use Of the national force when au-
thorized by law, and the propriety of any
declaration OF foreign policy by Congress
is sufficiently proved by the vote which
pronounces it,and such proposition while
pending and undetermined, is not fit
topic for diplomatic explanation with any
foreign power This was of course in
tended as an assertion of the rights of
Congress as against the famous declara-
tion by Secretary Seward, in his letter to
the French Minister OF Foreign Affairs,
disayowing last winters house resolution
about the Monroe Doctrine, that such
subjects belonged to the President and
not to Congress, Mr.. Davis in order to
avoid taking up time with the debate,
moved the previous question, This de-
feated the resolution. Many had heard
it but impcrfectly, and remembered the
Wade Davis manifesto, feared it contain
ed some attack on the President and while
others were opposed on principle to al
lowing anything to pass without debate,
except in case Of the most pressing ne
cessiJy. the resolution was accordingly
tabled bSa. vote of sixty-nine to sixty
three.
Winter Davis instantly asked to be ex-
cused from further service as chairman Of
the committee, saying. That, while he
bowed with equauimity to the will of the
majority, yet, if the House had no self
respect he must himself be permitted to
have some. Chairmen Of committees
were supposed to represent the general
political policy Of maiorityof the House
aud this vote showed that on the whole
question of the lights of Congress, on the
subjects his committee was required to
consider there was gulf between him
aud the House which lie could never
pass"
This action caused a general futter.-
Members began to protest against oxcu-
sing him. Others discussed the merits
Of the resolution just tabled, and the de-
bate took quite an exciting turn.
Doves, Of Massachusetts,, thought it a
good occasion to revenge himseifon Win
ter Davis for a severe castigaton he had
received last winter and made sarcas-
tic attack upon him.
Thad. Stevens attacked the Secretary
Of State, and declared he had scoffcd the
House in the face, aud treated them like
a pack Of nischcvious school boys 9th
ers tried to get Winter Davis resolution
off the table in order opass it, but found
parliamentary difficulties. Others propo-
4el a resolution somewhat similar, and all
took occasion to compliment Davis high
i.
Finally Davis took the floor. and in a
twenty minutes speech, which extoled
admiration from the whole House as it
clustered about him, and from the crow
dcd galleries as they leaned forward to
catch his words, recited the points Of the
case; passed Doves by with a single
contemptuous phrase; thanked the men,
bers for their generous expression of re-
gard, and renewed his request to be re-
hcved from further service.
A very large majority voted against re-
leasing him, and so the matter was en-
ded for the present. While it lasted the
scone yr1r S,uitn ovnitipo,