Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-29
EXECUTIVE REsPoS

that on the 18th instsxfoduoed into the House Of
DAVIS, of Maryland the Committees N Foreion
As T.iss the following resolution:
lat Congress has constitutional right TO
hssotgs6e voice Ia declaring and prescribing the 70.
an auhQof the United States we'll in the recogni-
reign @ Powers as IN other things, aud it is the const
OF the President to respect that policy not less
oomatc relations than in the of the national forces
authorized by law and the proprety of any declars-
non OF foreign policy by Congress sufficiently proved by
the vote which pronounces 1T and such proposition while
pending and undetermined, fit topic of diplomatic
explanation with any foreign Power"
This resolution, as thus reported from the Com
mttee on Foreign Affairs, was, on motion of Mr..
Farnsworth, of Illinois, laid on the table by vote
of yeas SO, nays 60.
AT subsequent day Mr.. Davis acting in his
capacity as Representative, and not as an organ
of the Committee, introduced the same resolu-
ton, and asked vote on its adoption Upon
suggestion from Mr.. Stevens, Of Pennsyl-
vania, the author of the resolution consented to
strike out the word president" and insert the
words Executive Department" The previous
question was thereupon demanded and sustained
yeas 68, nays 43. The first half of the resolution,
ending with the words "other things" was adopt
ed-yeas llS, nays s. The latter half was then
agreed to--yeas 81, nays S..
OF the sixty-seven members who voted in
the affirmative, forty-six Ga majority of more
than two-thirds) were Democrats and twenty
one Republicans; while of the ffty-eight mega
tive votes, ffty-six were cas-. by Republicans
and two only by Democrats. In other words,
twenty-one Republicans united with forty-six De-
mocrats to censure the Executive, while two De-
mocrats united with ffty-six Republicans to resist
the measure The Republicans who voted for the
resolution were Mes,rs. Allison Of Iowa, Ames of
Massachusetts,, Anderson of Kentucky, Baxter of
Vermont, Blow and Boyd of Missouri, Davis of
Maryland, Garfield of Ohio, Girls void of New York,
Highly of California, Hubbard of Iowa, Jenckes of
Rhode Island, Moorhead of Pennsylvania, Morrill,
of Vermont, Ortiz of Indiana, Price of Iowa,
Schenck of Ohio, Sloan of Wisconsin, Smithers of
Delaware, Stevens of Pennsylvania, and Williams
of Pennsylvania.
1t is known that the resolution of Mr. Davis was
directed to the censure of q despatch written by
Mr.. Seward to Mr.. Dayton for the purpose of ad-
visipg the latter, and through him the Govern
mcnt of France, that resolution previously adopt
ed by the House of Representatives in protest
against the French occupation of Mexico would
work no difference in the neutral policy adopted
by the Executive branch of the Government on
this topic. And we have REQUIRED to the subject
because we find the conduct of Mr.. Seward in writ
ing that DESPATCH and of the members of the House
in condcmning it, subjected to invidious comments
which seem to US equally out of place
When the resolution as reported from the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs had been rejected, and
before the same resolution as submitted by MI.
Davis had been passed. the Washington correspon-
dent of the New York Anti-Slavery Standard wrote
as follows:
The debate on the Winter Davis resolution Thursday
afternoon specimen of the folly of debating every sub
ject in Congress Fortunately the resolution was tabled
for it certainly would have been misfortune to have
passed it, and thus deliberately have censured the Pres
dent for his foreign policy Yet, at the same time Mr.
Davis not far from right in his position What intel
gent person deny that Mr. Stewards foreign policy
has been crnging Who can deny that he did grossly
insult the House his despatch to Mr.. Dayton IfMr
Davis had been content with censure of Mr. Stewards
treatment of the House. he could have obtained it, but the
Republican members were not willing In censura tbe
foreign policy of the Government Nor will farminded
deny that the State Department has exhibited much
camness than the House has in reference 10 our
foreign relations cannot easily forget that the House
of Representatives thanked Commodore Wilkes for captr
ing Mason and Slde. 1t went off in sudden transport
Of delight while Mr. Seward are adv saw the danger and
rendering disavowal Of the proceedings compare
lively easy The Heuse easily swayed by the passions
Of the hour the Government is supposed to re above
them.
Winter Davis is man Of magnificent talents II il
delight to hear him speak. His clear ringing tones cleo
ty his audience and there is always dagger that he will
overcome the sound sense of his hearers. He most
manly speaker His independence compels admiration
yet he is dangerous leader; whoever follows him will
certainly go to destruction He s statesman for he
loves opposition too we'll He made to be in mine
ry and does not know how TO conduct himself when act
ing with the majority. The speeches made in reply 10
him by Hessrs Boutwell,, Dawes, Littejobp and others
were just and defended the House from the criticisms
hurled at it by Davis.
"Mr Seward wholly in the wrong in his despatch
there can be 10 doubt Of it, but that fact not sufficient
justification Tor avOte OF upon the President IL
to me that 1t madness for the House in the
midst OF which threatens to exhaust the means OF
the country to indulge in offensive reteraton of the
Monroe doctrine 10 gentlemen propose to drive
Macmillan from his throne OF course not. Then why
not wait till we willing to back words with acts
Mr. Lincoln has certainly got tho right idea of the policy
be followed with foreign Governments He will endure
thing and thing for the sake Of conquernq the
rebels for he well knows that If successful this
there will be trouble respecting our foreign policy
after il is England and France will be very Glad To
treat us with consideration, and for Macmillan if the
Mexican people 60 not desire to keep him. he will be
PEELED to decamp."
This is fair specimen of the political Buns
byisms" by which certain "oysP' writer's under
take to mean nothing when thew cav somatbino or