New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-12
HISTORICAL CROSS-FIRING.
METHOD OF RECOGNIZING NEW GOVERN
MENTs DISCUSSED IN THE SENATE.
SECRETARY OINEys POSITION ATTACKED BY Mr.
MILLS AND SUPPORTED BY Mr. HALE
pprC.rnrSTs REVIEWED


MILLS AND SUPPORTED BY MR. HALE
THE PREcEDENTs REVIEWED.
10y TELEGRAPH rRrBuNEI
Washington Jan. 1.-THE question OF constl-
tutional power and authority raised by Secre-
tary Oney's denial Of the right of Congress TO
participate in conduct Of foreign relations. so
far as those relations involve the recognition or
new Governments. was debated with some Vigor
and interest in the Senate to-day. Mr.. Mills. OF
Texas traversing the contention OF the Score
tary Of state and Mr.. Hale, OF Maine. sustain
ing IT,
The Texas Senator based his speech on his own
resolution. recently introduced. winch declares
fatty that the determination OF the expectancy
of recognizing the independence OF ne" mF"'-
Der in the family Of nations belongs 70 con-
gress and tina, when Congress has expresseo
its opinion the Executive should act IN harmony
with the legislative branch Of the Government
Mr. Mills gave review Of the presidents "hich
he considered conclusive in establishing the au-
thority Of Congress 10 grant or withhold recos
milton. dwelling with special emphasis on the
circumstances surrounding the recognition
If the independence - Texas and the re-
fusa Of this Government 10 recognize the So
called Empire Of Macmillan in Mexico Mr.
Millss speech was chiefly historical in character
and contained few references to the current
situation in Cuba
Mr. Hale's reply was also critical ard hlstori-
cal in tone and his supply Of presidents seemed
equally volumlnous and conclusive Few Sena-
tors could he induced TO listen to a discussion so
academical but the galleries were fairly well
filled
Mr. Mills drew into the controversy Henry
CLAY and Andrew Jackson. He asserted with
much emphasis after reading an extract from
President Jacksons message on the Texas ques-
ton that the power to recognize foreign govern
ments was in the province Of Congress andshid
not rest with the Executive.
To this MIR. Gray retorted by reading the con-
Guiding sentence OF Andrew Jackson's message,
which said that while he thought expediency
might vest this matter in Congress he did not
express any opinion on the subject
Mr. Hale then came into the discussion with a
number Of questions interjected into Mr.. Miliss
speech to which he submitted with good grace
for a time hut finally asked Mr.. Hale TO wait
IAN hour or So till ne got TO the end of his
speech and then. to answer him in toto.
Mr. Hale promised not TO interrupt further,
but within FIVE minutes propounded from his
seat three or four more questions. which went
far to break up the continuity of Mr.. Millss
argument
Mr. Mills quoted the action Of Congress in
1864 in regard to the French Intervention In
Mexico when Congress. by vote Of l2G to ;,
practically administered a reproor to Abraham
Lincoln and William H. Seward. and asserted
that Congress had the constitutional right Of
recosnizng foreign governments. but that the
time and method of So doing belonged TO the
Executive Department He raised laugh by
saying tina among those who vorec for this reso
luton were Mr.. Morrill, Of Vermont. the Nestor
of the senate, and Mr.. Allison, of Iowa.
Warming up AZ he approached the end Of his
remarks Mr. Mills said with much bitterness
of tone that he did not envy Mr.. Cleveland the
compliments he was receiving from Castelar, and
Weyler a the same time that these officials were
dcnouncing the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives 81 the United States
Mr. Mills repudiated with horror and .ndigna-
ton the statement Of the President that the peo-
ole, Of the United States looked with admiration
on the efforts made by Spain to suppress the
Cuban insurgents and said that If he had the
power he would send the armed fleets Of the
United States to prevent the butchery Of Ameri
can newspaper correspondents and American
citizens If it were not FOR the gamblers of the
Stock Exchange il might he possible for the Gov
eminent Of the United States to show some vir-
ity God grant" he said passiOnately. that the
dav may come some time when the people Of the
United States will be relieved from the shackes
of the mercantile spirit and will compel all the
people Of this earth to respect the rights of its
citizens"
Mr. Mills closed with more invectve against
the President He was followed by Mr. Hale.
who gave the votes in the Senate the Robert
] Walker resolution as To Texas. showing that ii
was only by a tie vote that il escaped being laid
on the table whereas in the House it laid
on the ia bic by a vote Of 9S TO 81, Mr. Hale said
that the whole question. grave and critical.
would come before the Senate some day soon or
late when the resolution Of Senator Cameron.
reported from the Foreign Relations Committee.
came up for action Until that time he declined
10 answer the Senator from Texas.
Mr. Allen pop Neb) asked Mr.. Hale whether
he believed that the power 10 recognize foreign
Governments lay in the Executive exclusively.
and Mr Hale replied in the affirmative. He adj
mitted however. that in incidental matters con-
nected with recognition. such the sending Of
a Minister the action Of Congress neces-
sary.
Mr. Hoar fRer Mass asked Mr.. Hale wheth-
er in his researches of history for the last hun
ired years he had found a single instance whore
recognition had not been determined hv the
President OF the United States without action by
CONGRESS and Mr. Hale replied I'm the negative.
After further discussion on the question Of
recogN ition Mr.. MillS's resolution went over
without action. Mr. Bacon Dem.. Ca giving
notice that M would address the Senate on II
next Wednesday.
The Senate ther proceeded 10 executive bust
ness and al 80 O'Clock adjourned until to-
ir,ost man in Afuer;c,