The Opelousas courier., 1898-06-11
HOW WAR IS DECLARED.
THE POLICY WHICH HAS CONTROLLED
OUR GOVERNMENT IN THE PAST.

Power Vested by the Constitution il
Congress Action Taken on the War o
1912 With Great Britain and With Mex
leo in 1S45-The Case of Spain.
The power to declare war is vestet
by the constitution of the United
States in the two houses Of Congress
acting c~oncurrently. Bancroft, the
historian, says:
"This regulation is where the spirit
of republicanism exercised its human.
est influence. The world had beer
retarded in civilization, impoverished
and laid waste by wars Of the personal
ambition of its kings. The conven.
ton in the interest of peace entrusted
the power to declare war, not to the
executive, but to the deliberate de-
cision of the two branches of the legis-
l%ature, each Of them having a negative
on the other, and the executive re-
tanning his negative on them both"
Since the adoption of the constitu-
ton the United States has waged two
foreign wars, that with Great Britain
in 1S12-14, and that with Mexico,
l845-47. The "casus belli" of the
former, while usually referred to as
E%ngland's unjust claims to the en-
forcement of the Imprisonment act,
under which she took Americans from
the decks of our vessels on the high
seas and forced them to serve on
board her ships Of war, had it's
foundation in something which oc-
Cured several years previously. On
the 23d of June, 1907, the frigate
Chesapeake, a Baltimore built vessel,
was fired upon while in a defenceless
condition off the capes by the British
ship Leopard, and some of her crew
carried off under pretense that they
we're d~eserters. This outrage created
the greatest excitement, and meetings
were held in all the principal cities of
the country, at which the general in
dignation was vehemently expressed.
On June IS, 1912, Congress passed
the act declaring war, which was APP
proved by President Madison the fol-
lowing day. Preparations for an out
break of hostilities had been going on
for five years and the first To- made
was the disastrous invasion ofCanada.
There was no formal declaration of
war against Mexico. On February ~,
l845, the United States Senate based
Joint resolutions for the annexation of
the republic of Texas to the United
States. The next day they were con-
CURED in by the House Of Represen-
t~atives, and on the first of March ap-
proved by the president. Mexico,
which claimed Texas as a portion of it's
territory, treated the passage of the
act Of annexation as a declaration Of
a Congress formally recognized
the existence of hostilities on the 18th
of May, 1916.
Until within a short time past there
has been little apprehension of war
between Spain and the United States,
and neither country has been actively
prepared for it. It will, therefore, be
the policy of both to delay the matter
as long as possible. AS much time as
can be used up in diplomatic negotia-
tons will be so used, and at the anne
time the delay will be utilized to pre-
pare for the inevitable. When it shall
be clearly seen in this country aud
when Congress is convinced that
peace without dishonor and humilia-
tion is no longer possible, a bill form
a declaration Of wal against
most Catholic majesty, King AL
fonzo XII, will be introduced. This
may be debated for awhile, but should
it pass it would undoubtedly at once
the approval Of the president.
The latter would then issue his
proclamation reciting the action of
Congress, and warning all enemies of
United States and all Spanish ves-
sells in our ports to leave the country
designated time. Simultane-
ously with the proclamation of the
president the Spanish minister would
be given his passports, and the secre-
5ary of state would issue to him under
;he great seal Of the United States a
safe conduct out Of the country for
his attendants and his and
heir property. Should the Spanish
government anticipate such action by
The United States and itself declare
var against this government, no act of
Congress would be necessary. As was
;he ase with Mexico. in that event a
,oint resolution by the two houses
recognizing the existence of hostili-
les between the two nations would be
Ill that would be necessary. In such
case Spain would undoubtedly be
prepared to follow up her declaration
~ some decisive blow.-Baltimore
News.