The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-27
Special to the REcoRD-USIoS.
Business.


the House this morning both on the
floor and in the galleries.
Culberson of Texas, from the Commit
tee on Judiciary, reported, and the House
passed Joint resolution removing the
political disabilities of John r. Z. Tat
nall.
Breckenridge of Kentucky asked for
the immediate consideration Of the fol-
lowing resolution:
ResoIccd, That the President of the United
States be res ectfully requested to inform the
House whether any answer has been received
either from our Minister 10 Chile, Egan, or
from the Government OF Chile to the dispatch
sent by the Government OF the United States
10 the republic of Chile, January = 1st, and II
So from whom such answer was received an
at what time, and that he VIII communicate
10 The House all correspondence between the
Government of the United states ana us Min
lister to Chile and the Chilean Government not
communicated To Congress with the message
heretofore sent in.
There was some attempt made to have
the resolution referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, and Blount of Geor-
gia, Chairman Of the committee, made a
motion to that effect but the Speaker
ruled the motion came too late, he having
previously recognized Breckenridge to
debate the resolution.
the Committee on Foreign Affairs desired
the resolution referred to a committee he
would make no objection. But he wished
to say a few words on the subject Con-
gress recently received message from
the President concerning the question of
peace or war, under circumstances which
in the nature of the case must be grave.
Now it appeared possible the Chilean
Government did send an answer to the
dispatch repeated in the message the
President had sent. Congress knew the
fact to be that on January Dist dispatch
was sent to the Republic of Chile. He
did not now criticise the President for
not waiting until an answer was received
or until time for such an answer had
elapsed before sending the message to
Congress. He did not now make any
criticism either on the haste with which
the message was sent, or on the language
OF the message, pending consideration by
that republic of its action on the dis
patch of January Dist. 1t must be re-
membered, however, the language Of that
message to Congress could have been
communicated to the authorities of Chile
and might, if no answer was made to the
dispatch of January Dist, affect the nature
of the answer that the Government
would feel called upon to make. There
fore, it was not too great presumption
to indulge in, that the President of a
great and free people, dealing with a free
but feeble people, would not have used
such language pending the consideration
by Chile in its answer to that dispatch.
1t was not too great presumption to
indulge IN, that grave emergency like
that would have called from the Presi-
dent due consideration and ample time.
If he had not had some intimation what
the answer would be, the scarcely credi-
bic language, so-he would not say in
sulting-b put severe, used by him, would
not have been used if he had believed a
friendly and sufficient response would
have been made to the dispatch of Janu-
airy 2Ist. 1t was, therefore, not impossi-
BILE that he may have had some intima-
ton what that answer would be, and yet
1t is in such an unofficial and informal
manner received by him as to justify him
in not putting it in his message. APP
plause on the Democratic side. The
power granted alone to Congress to de-
clare war the President has put upon us.
We must face it, and so decide that the
honor and dignity of the American peo-
pie shall be upheld. There is no man in
this House, no matter from what party
he comes nor from what section he may
hail, but will at all hazards protect the
humhlest seaman that wears an American
uniform, or guard at whatever expense
the honor and glory of the American
people. Great applause. 1t will be
recognized by every honorable man in
all this country that the honor, glory and
dignity of the Republic are in the safety
and security of it's seamen. They are
safe in the hands of this Congress.
But. on the other hand, war should be
only as a last resort, when the war must
be with republic, like the United States,
anxious for liberty, desiring to maintain
constitutional freedom, seeking progress
by means OF that freedom, and with the
gravity greatly increased by the fact that
the Republic is in the midst of great in
ternal trouble, having just overthrow a
dictator while seeking for Congressional
liberty under constitutional guarantee.
All great men, all generous men, all
who love liberty, will desire to bear and
forbear with such people, passing through
such a state in the midst of such desper-
ate conditions, as long as our reason will
allow us to bear and fOrbear with her
Applause. Therefore, our duty is to
know all the facts. Every fact that can
bear any relation to this matter is part of
our necessary information in the conclu-
sion we must reach upon a matter so inn
pOrtant as this, and | confess it has never
occurred to me that the Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign 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 attitude we ought 20 bear to
this question. Let US say to the Presi-
dent at once, give us information; send to
US that which has been communicated to
you; let us have it before our opinions
crystalline into convictions, before we be-
come biased by reading this correspond
ence, in which are unkind and bitter
things; before our temper is aroused by
the offensive utterances which may have
been made; before any conclusion is
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 conclusion upon. If the
gentleman from Georgia (Blount) thinks
the resolution ought not to come up for
immediate consideration, l will not op-
pose him, though | will most seriously
think il is a mistake.
''Mr. Speaker" said Blount, whether
or not this House hereafter, in view OF
the gravity of the situation in the matter
OF the relations with Chile, sees fit to con-
slider them in secret session, at least it
seems to me at this time, before that
course should have been considered at
all, there ought not be thrust upon this
House and country by any mode of pro-
cedure any discussion of that situation.
Applause on the Republican Side.l Sir
there is great responsibility upon this
House at this time. | trust this resolu-
ton viii be referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and that every matter
touching this question will be so referred
because we nave an illustration this very
instant how UNEXPECTEDLY to everybody
the situation has been brought to the con-
sideration of the House and the country,
l presume, and l trust no gentleman
upon the floor of this House will under
take to discuss the matter pro or con, SO
far as any information concerned in re-
lation to the dispatches received TODAY
or yesterday or Tomorrow. For one, and
speaking for the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. / assure the gentleman from
kentucky and this House that the com
1nittee will not be willing to make any