Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-27
used such language pending tho couside-

pie. IL DO bad not had soine ipfimetson
OF what the answer would be. II was
scarcely .creditablo that the language So
he would not say insulting. but so severe
had believed that friendly and sufficient
response would have been made TO the
dispatch OF January 2ist. IL was. there-
fore, not impossible that he may have had
some intimation os what that answer
would be. and yet that il was in such an
unofficial and informal manner received by
HIM as to justify him in not putting 1t in
bis message. IApplause on the Democratic
sIde.l
THE POWER TO pzctsRE WAR.
The power granted alone to Congress to
declare war the President has put upon US.
We must face il and so decide that on the
one hand the honor and the dignity of the
American people shall be upheld. No man
so tins House, no matter from what party
he comes or from what section he may
hail, but will at all hazards protect the
humblest seaman that wears the American
uniform or guard. at whatever expense, the
honor and glory OF the American people.
IGrcat Applause.l 1t will be accepted by
every honorable man in all the country
that the honor, the glory, the dignity OF
the republic. are safe.
WAR SHOULD BIZ THE LAST RESORT.
Dat on Tie OAutI ithuu, WAT ruOuiu Oc
only as the last resort especially so when
the war must be with republic like us.
anxious for liberty. desiring TO maintain
constitutional freedom. seeking progress
by means OF that freedom and with the gra-
Wits greatly increased by the fact that that
republic is in the midst of great internal
trouble. having just oyerthrown dictator
while seeking congressional liberty under
constitutional guarantee. All great men. all
generous men. all who love liberty. will
desire to bear and forbear with such peo-
pie. passing through such state, in the
midst of such desperate conditions, as
long as our honor wall allow us TO bear aud
forbear with them. IApplause.l There
fore. 1t is our duty 10 know all the facts.
Every fact that can bear any relation 10
this matter is part OF our necessary infor-
nation in the conclusion that we must
reach upon matter so important as this.
And | confess il never occurred to me
that my distinguished friend, the
chairman of the Committee on For
eign Affairs. or any member OF the
House. would hesitate to submit this
request to the President of the United
States. BY reference by postponement or
by delay of any sort we weaken the attl-
tude that we ought 70 bear TO this ques-
ton. Let us say 10 the President at once,
GIVE us the information; send to US that
which has been comm unicated to you.
Let us have before our opinions crystalize
into convictions, before we become biased
by the reading of this correspondence in
which are unkind and bitter things. be-
fore our tempers are aroused by the ohen-
siye utterances which may have been
made, and before any conclusion ls
reached. give us all the facts. so that we
may keep our minds unbiased until we
have all that is possible of truth and light
To base our conclusions upon" have
omitted from the resolution the ordinary
words, "If not incompatible with the pub
lie service" because II does not apply 10
this case. When the House asks the Pre-
sident for information about matters
which he bas not communicated. then
il il but courteous TO let him de-
eide whether the information or which
he is the custodian can be safely. COM
municated 20 the public; but wnen he has
taken the initiative. when he has sent cor
respondence to Congress, when he has
felt that the matter has passed beyond
the reach OF executive action. and must
now be decided by congressional decision,
then we are entitled to all the correspond
euce, TO all the information, and there IS
then no reserve that can be properly put
under the technical and formal language,
"if not incompatible with the public SER
vice"
IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION.
Mr.. Speaker, this is q more important
question than any question which WIN
probably arise before Congress during TINS
session. We are now engaged. and have
been for years, in seeing whether we can
tiethe nations of the American hemisphere
closer together.
Tbe old desire of Bolivar, in some wav
or other. by some sort of international
agreement, some sort of pact or contract,
10 bring about union of tho American
peoples 50 as 90 preserve this hemisphere
from European interference is now being
attempted TO be made practicable by the
statesmen of the present generation. Re-
publican or Democrat, each Is looking
for some way, by reciprocity or other
agreement, by Pan-American Con-
gress, or by other associated meetings
of representatives. to get closer to-
gethor. Surely, at the beginning OF this
adverse action, looking not to peace. but
TO war, not 10 communion, but 20 blood
shed, the House will not hesitate to take
whatever may hc offered TO it TO obtain
the necessary light. If the gentleman
from Georgia (Alr. Blount) thinks the reso-
luton ought not to come up for imme-
dnte consideration, | Will not oppose hun,
though will most seriously think II Is
mistake
WHIT INFORMATION DID HE HAVE?
Mr.. Roatner, Of Louisiana. asked what
the gentleman had.
MIR. Breckenridge: Only tins informa-
ton. that on January 2lst a dispatch was
submitted by the President through the
American Minister TO the republic of
Chile. On January 25th the President
communicated a message 10 this House,
and il is not unfair to presume that ne
had either received an intlmatiOn OF what
the answer would be. q ing the Chilean
Government time TO answer, and that II
lac had that intmation We ought to know
what he has received. If he has despaired
of getting an answer and nothing has
come. or If ANYTHING has come. we ought
10 know what it is. That Is my frank an
swer
Mr.. BLoUNT RELIES.
"Mr. Speaker" said Mr.. Blount, of Geor-
gia, chairman of the Committee on For
eign Affairs, replying TO Mr.. Breckinrdge.
'' whether or not this House hereafter, IN
It's wisdom and ia view OF the gravity OF
the situation In the matter of our relations
with Chile, sees fit to consider them IN
secret session Mt least il seems 10 me that
at this time. before that course shall have
been considered at all. there ought not TO
be thrust upon this House and the country
by any mode of procedure discussion OF
that situation" tApplause on the Repub-
lican sIdel
IN THK WAR OF 1912.
/ remember, and it is familiar TO you all.
the course pursued in the war of 1912. A
message was sent to the Congress OF the
United States. the Senate and the House
went into secret session, the Committee on
oreign Affairs resolved upon secrecy OF
procedure, and the report Of the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs was made to this
House, accompanied by a declaration Of
war and other measures subsequently, Ia
relation to the regulations OF privateer-
ing; Yet nothing was given TO the pubic. |
The Injunction OF secrecy was never
removed until the Executive signature |
had ~ affixed to the bill declaring war.
T. there anything in that procedure, d. |
rected by the eminent men OF those times. |
10 adnonish us that either by indirection |
or BY direction We shall deyiate from that |
deliberate. calm course III which the safety |
of the country rests (! SIR, there Is great |
upon this House at this |
time. l trust that this resolution will be |
referred 20 the Committee on Foreign Az
fairs, aud that every matter touching this
question wall be so referred. Because we
have ap illustration AT tins very instant
how unexpectedlg To everybody the sitna-
-. hoe Iacr, hroprkf IN the aorcfdQraff0n