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

bloody awful reality the ruin Of free nation by Euro
Pean violence under false pretexts and with nsolent
nosulIy 10 our power ruin now more nearly c0nsum-
mated and by fault sy, and still by the fault Of
those charged with the conduct of diplomatic inter-
course But that resolution had rested ia the Senate
We had done all that we could, and obliged to
rest IN silence.
But when the Secretary Of State Of the United States
sent abroad despatch TO foreign Government relative
to matter then pending within the legislative department
OF the United States where the Executive eye right
to penetrate respecting the vote which, until commu-
ncsted to bin in the regular FORM he has right to know
any hng when at that stage the Secretary of State
fl to enter into diplomatic communication with foreign
Government order to rob the vote of this House of s
legitimate moral power before 10 had acquired any egisa
tive authority and doing that not only questioned the
Wisdom and expediency but the right of this House,
OF bolh Houses to say one word upon that subject he
Mr. D could not sit in silence and he thought that the
House would find that they will be unable to do they
have due regard to their dignity one of the branches
Of this Government.
And was in Difference to that practical actual case
that the resolution was drawn drawn carefully drawn
critically drawn with studious avoidance Of eysry nn-
endo against the personal character either the President
of the United States the distinguished gentleman who
presdes SO ably over the Department OF State and the
language OF his letter. to which the language of the resou-
ton refers will show how carefully it adapted to tha
subject and how completely it accomplished it.
The Secretary Of State had said that this question was
practical and purely Executive question: and that the
decision Of consttuonay belongs not to the House OF
Representatives. to Congress- but to the Pres-
Secretary the House would understand how the werd
President TO be in the resolution was because
the Secretary of State had told the French Government
with break the force of the vote of the House al
Representatives, that it belonged not to the House Rep
rssentatves to Congress- but exclusively the Pres
dent Of Tie United States TO declare what the Uated States
thought, and it expedient to declare what il
thought in reference to our foreign a.rs and foreign at
fairs mean and peace and alliances and recoguitons
and neutrality and every interest and every right by which
touch the nations OF the world and that ia the face OF
thoaa fIno
hoDs in whole or in part TO both Houses of Col
gresn.
1t that declaration conflict with all the precedents
OF the United States that the Secretary State saw At
not merely to express here 10 the ordinary intercourse be-
tween the departments of the Government but to send
abroad to mpister in France and lay before foreign
nment and TO impeach and dscred the Judgment OF
Congress bsfore pronounced which mperavely re-
CURED to be rebuked And il at that language that
the resolution pointed Now Judge ye whether it be
true or not thst Congress has constitutional right to
authoritative voice in foregn affairs That raises the
issue directly with the language, not with the person
Of the Secretary of State deny his law aud his fact
make the question of right and not of person either with
the Secretary of Slate or with the President.
Nobody except the gentleman from Maine Mr BLAINE)
has mpeached the resolution upon historical grounds With
great respect to that gentleman say that the precedent
which he quotes is rvoousy irrelevant that from the
beginning OF The until this day there is vote
OF either House Of Congr 81 there 10 claim by any Pres-
dent of the United States there assertion by any
Secretary of state there is expression by any respect
able public man Of any party that does not beong to
the foreign policy Of the United States aud from the time
of the Panama mission, when John Quincy Adams asked
end obtained the authority and support of Congress for
that great mission which must repeat until this
day. have vote vote of Congress, under almost
every Administration affirming implying asserting, ex:
erng that prerogatve without question from any quar-
ter; and under this Administration than APP
proved by President LncoR himself add 10 the unbroken
law of preoedents The recognition of Hayii and Liberia
the spontaneous act OF the President but he like
HIS predecessors waited till Congress had authorized him
to open with them international relations
Sir there ia but judgment and of prece-
dent from the beginning to the end of American history
Monroe concurred in it the messages of John Quincy
Adams are replete with it General jackson in the case
ster asserted IT, What other authorities worthy OF
notice, after have named bessi That sir s all have
to say on that subject
Mr. DAVIS then proceeded to say that he desired to be-
relieved from further service chairman of the Gem
mittee on Foreign Affairs because, 10 view of tho
vote Of this morning. he did consider himself the
representative Of the House on this important question:
aud, BESIDES he unwilling when this matter
the ocean, to submit to- or acquiesce in or to
have part or lot with this grave surrender of the power of
the people.
MIR. LITTLEJOHN said he had voted to lay the resolu
ton on the table Ii Of grave Importance The gen
tleman from Maryland Immediately moved the previous
question: thus cutting Of the right discuss to change
its phraseology. Under such circumstances he never
would be forced to give opinion upon grave national
question He did not bsieve however, that in this ex
gency good would result from the discussion of the
subject England snd France will understand our posi-
ton IN regard 20 IT, No entertained respect for
the private character and publ position Of the gentleman
than he did, aud he hoped hs would not be excused.
The question then taken, and the House refused to
eIcuse Mr. DAVIS from further service the Committee
Eorelpn AHnirs