The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-07-11
WILSON FIRST PRESIDENT
TO IGNORE THE SENATE
In Making Treaty With Other Ma
tiOns-Unbr0ken Rule From
Washington to Grant

respondence) THAT there is album
dant precedent for the president to
take the senate into his confidence
and to ask its advice in matter
which must, under the constitution,
come before the senate for final ac-
ton, was shown by Senator Knox in
his recent address in the senate in
support of his resolution asking that
the league of nations covenant be
eliminated from the peace treaty.
Among other things Senator Knox
said:
"From the earliest days of our re-
public the chief executive, beginning
with Washington, have not only re-
garded the senate as possessing real
functions of deliberation over the
terms of the treaty, but have also re-
garded it as proper, desirable, and
consistent with the mutual rights in
volved, to consult the senate even be-
fore negotiations have been under
taken. Such was the course followed
by Washington in 1870 before nego-
tiating' treaties with the Creek In
dams and with the Cherokee Indians,
and as to boundary treaty with
Great Britain and treaty with AL
giers in 1892 for ransoming Ameri-
can captives. In 1918 President Mon
roe asked whether the senate thot he
could make an agreement regarding
armament on the Great Lakes, and
in case they thot he could not he
asked them to advise and consent to
an agree ment, and they so consented.
"In 1880 Jackson inquired whether
he should sign proposed treaty with
the Indians and the senate advised
him not to make or ratify the treaty.
Jackson again approached the senate
in 1881 as to protesting against an
arbital award regarding the boun-
Diary dispute with Great Britain. In
1916 President Polk submitted Brit
ish proposal regarding the Oregon
treaty for the senate's consideration
and advice He likewise, in the same
year, approached the senate regard
ing peace negotiations with Mexico,
suggesting certain course which
the senate stated receives the appro-
baton of the senate
In 1861 President Buchanan sub
mitted to the senate British pro-
posal to arbitrate our northwest
boundaries, with statement, that
before accepting this proposition
have thot it wise to take the advice of
the senate and asking will the SEN
ate approve treaty. Incorporating
certain terms specified. Later, in the
same year, President Lincoln repeat
ed Buchanan's inquiry regarding this
arbitration. In 1862 Lincoln sub
mitted' to the senate for it's advice a
copy of proposed treaty for loan
to Mexico, upon which the senate re-
solved that the senate express the
opinion that it is not advisable to ne
gotiate a treaty of the kind sug-
gested.
"In 1873 President Grant submitted
British proposition regarding an adj
justment of differences in connection
with the Geneva convention of 1878
and requested an expression by the
senate of their disposition in regard
to advising and conserving to the for
NAL adoption of an article such as is
proposed by the British government,
the president declaring that he de-
sired counsel in advance in agreeing
to the proposal of Great Britain In
1874 Grant again communicated with
the senate, this time regarding q
draft reciprocity agreement with Can
ada. He expressed an earnest wish
that the senate may be able to con-
slider and determine before the adj
journment of congress whether il
will give its constitutional concur
renee to the conclusion of treaty
with Great Britain for the purposes
already named, either in such form
as is proposed by the British plenipo-
tentiaries or in such other more ac-
ceptable form as the senate may pre-
fer And in 1884 President Arthur
transmitted for the consideration OF
the senate and appropriate action
thereon a report of the secretary OF
state containing proposal from
Hawaii to extend the period of the
reciprocity treaty of 1884. The pres
ident deemed at fitting to consult
the senate in the matter before di-
recting the negotiations to proceed
DI1IrIE