Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-22

the Executive whenever he chooses 10 exercise any
its functions, dipomstio or otherwise Let us ylndlesIe
our rights If we have the right to pass upon these
matters lett exercise that right III we have not let Vi
stop this mockey of sending to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs these and kindred resolutions pertaining TO Canada
such you sent to yesterday shall therefore, IN
courtesy the honorable chairman OF the committee 10
which belong vote against excusng him. Lean testify
to his ability 10 his esrnestness to bis energy and 70 MS
outspoken integrity and far these foreign questions
are concerned, to his nationality and, Mr Speaker we
need such man. and may need him more hereafter upon
that committee
Mr. BLAINE, Of Maine. single word, MIR. Speaker
on the other side Parallels in history always interest,"
ing and often instructive recent correspondence on
threatened difficulty with France has brought this queS-
ton before the House Three quarters of century ago
had troubles with the same nation and those troubles
were attended with an incident which, if not precisely
parallel at least involves the same general principle now
under discussion. IT ia Incident connected WITH Q
name whose mention commands respect every where and
which have peculiar confidence IN presenting 10 the al
enon of gentlemen the other side OF the chamber
The very objections and the same appeals TO the
power of Congress made in the French difficulties
during the Administration of Washington the discussion
between the French Munster Citizen Genet and the Anne
rcan Secretary of State, Mr. Jefferson and 1t is to MT
Jesrsons declarations that especially invite attention
beg the privilege Of reading from Randophs Lie OF
Jefferson, volume two pages l55 and 49, as ioloWs;
"Genet took up the subject instantly in very high tone
and for time proceeded with snch voiuoly that Jefferson
found eli efforts take part in the conversation were
quite Intellectual The latter thus subse uenty reported the
substance of the conversation to the President
charged with having violated the treaties
the nations and into the which hal before
been of dcuson complained That we suffered our
flag to nsuted dsregarded by the English that hey
stopped all our veees OF them whatever they
suspected be French property that they had taken al e
provisions he had in American vessels Tor Inc COLO
MES that if we able protect their vessels in our
ports their property on the high seas we ought 70
init them to protect themselves and they on the contrary
paid the highest respect to flag that though IL was n0o
ous that of the cargoes sent from America were rl
sh oerty yet being in American vessels or pretended
American vessels they touched it, and thus had no
chance of retaatng their enemies that he haa been
hwared opposed every thing he had TO 90 with the
Cove nmsnt that he found himself in 30 disagreeabe
situation that he sometimes thought of packing up and going
awav he found that he could not DO useful 10 MS haoh IN
any thing :.;. ~ ha
brought from bis nation and affirming that such return TO
them ought to have been made by the Executive whout
consulting Congress- he declared that the President re-
turn he would certainly press him to Congress HAY
np go into more Tone Jefferson stopped him
mention of Congress- explained to him me nneuons OF
questions which had arisen between him and belonged to
the executive department. and if Congress had been sitting
could have been carried to them nor would they nave
taken noce of them Jesrsons further report OF the con
| We sation elicits emile
| / told him they sovereign IN making laws
only the Executive sovereign in executing them and
the judiciary constituting them where they related to their
But said he least Congress bound to
hat the treaties observed told him no there Were
very indeed arising out OF treaties which they
could take notice that the President that treaties
observed Ii he decides against the TIE ay to whom
nation to appeal told him the Constitution had made the
President the last appeal He made me bow, and SAD ha
indeed would make his compliments on such Con
uon expressed the utmost asonshment at and seemed
| never before to have had such an idea
Mr. Speaker we have got the sams Constitution day
that excited the smiles of Citizen Genet in 1893. can
conceive of nothing mischieyous more entirely mis-
cheyous the working of this Government than for Con-
gress to plant itself this resolution and for this simple
reason IN effect it absolutely denies to the Executive
concurrent power the foreign affairs OF the Government
1t ties up the foreign department of the Government just
whenever any member chooses to bring question before
Congress- and long that question pending in either
House Of Congress the executive department stopped
by the very of the resolution from making even
subject of diplomatic correspondence The resolution 10
deed specifically declares that such proposition Chat
is Whatever may be introduced in either branch of Con
press while pending and undetermined is not fit topic
of diplomatic explanation with any foreign Power 10
adopt this principle start out with theory in the
administration OF foreign sairs and think the House
has justified its Of seespect aud it's just appreca
ton Of spheres of the coordinate departments OF Gov
eminent by promptly laying the resolution the table
think our foreign correspondence has been conducted
wisely and well by the very distinguished statesman at the
head Of the Department OF State His highest euogy to
found the eminent that has attended bis abos
in tune Of peculiar aud unparalleled trial and trouble 1t
is wise TO " let well enough alone, and, for one
consent to resolution passing this House that
tsns implied censne upon one TO whom the couG
| try owes much.
In regard the resignation of the gentleman from Mary
land (Mr DAvs) from the chSirmanshp OF the Committee
Foreign Affairs my feelings is but that OF the en-
tire House when express myself warmly against IT, a
gentleman OF his ability cannot be spared from his re'pon
sibe position and feel the House will insist on his
continued seryice
| Mr.. STEVENS, Of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Speaker, am
obtuse that cannot the least Analogy between the
case cited by tie gentleman from Maine (Mr. BLAINE)
and the case now under consideration The the
interference Of foreguera proposal by him to ask Con
gress to interfere with treaty stpulaons Mr. Jefferson
very properly told him that Congress had no right to inter
fere with treaty stpulstons for, all know treaties
are by the Constitution, the supreme law OF the land
That is the whole OF the precedent to which the
gentleman has REFEREED aud how it has any besrng
| thiS question unable 10 perceive.
Suppose Congress 10 pass law that no foreign
Power shOud be permitted to establish monarchy the
continent Of North Amerca-has not Congress the power
to do it, IL that interfering with the executive or any
other department Of the Government liz II not legt
matey within the power OF Congress 10 say that we will
or we will not suffer thrones 10 be erected within dc
mnions or adjacent TO them III enforce it, we'll
am not speaking Of its policy am speaking Of the
powers Of Congress IL such declaration lead to war;
then Congress and 10 Congress alone, lies the power 10
declare war. The President cannot do It, How, then
does il interfere With the Executive prerogstys for Con
gress to declare by joint resolutonwhch ia law Of
the landa certain line of policy for the Government to
pursue in this msterl Sir the question is clear
the At MONDAY, unless are willing to stulhy
.eves Why not this thought of at the last sesson Of
Conaresp when the gentleman (Mr. BLAINE) and other
gentlemen we're present and suffered that resolution to
pass unanimously Why is it that they have just
walked up to sense OF their error unless it is because
sure this resouton-but branch Of the Executive Go
vernment took upon to rebuke this body and to inform
foreign nations that impairment set OF inter
medders and that the Executive of the nation would pay
no respect to the action OF this body il you please to
the action Of Congress- If the joint resolution had passed
the Senatef
have no censure for any body, We unanimously de-
| - - - IL NkA nltnu1 l 49,.