Lynchburg Virginian

MR. MANGUM'S INQUIRIES.

The following are the yeas and nays on the vote, by which the Senate, on Tuesday, laid upon the table Mr. Mangum's resolution, requesting the President to communicate to the Senate, 'confidentially or otherwise,' all the plans, estimates and calculations, presented by Gen. Scott to attain the objects of the war, and his opinions touching the military means necessary to accomplish the objects of the Government in each of the views considered by the President:

YEAS—Messrs. Allen, Ashley, Atherton, Bagby, Bradbury, Bright, Butler, Cameron, Cass, Davis of Mississippi, Dickinson, Dix, Douglas, Downs, Felch, Hannegan, Hunter, Lewis, Moore, Sevier, Sturgeon, Turner and Yulee—23.

NAYS—Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Berrien, Calhoun, Clarke, Dayton, Greene, Johnson of Louisiana, Mangum, Miller, Niles, Pearce, Phelps, Rusk, Spruance, Underwood, Upham and Webster—19.

This refusal to address so reasonable a request to the President, was so marked an evidence of the determination of his friends in the Senate, if possible, to resist all investigation, and in short, bore so bad an appearance, that those gentlemen were glad, in some degree, to relieve themselves of the public censure that would necessarily have ensued, by assenting to a modified resolution proposed by Mr. Mangum, on Wednesday, and having the same objects with the first. It reads as follows:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to inform the Senate whether the general orders, No. 376, issued by Gen. Scott, at headquarters, Mexico, bearing date 15th December last, were issued under instructions from the Secretary of War; and if so, to lay said instructions before the Senate; and also any opinion of Gen. Scott, in regard to the necessary military means to carry said instructions into effect, which may be on file.

The Baltimore Sun has the following sketch of important remarks made by several Senators, when this resolution came up on Thursday:

Mr. Mangum stated that he had two objects—the first, to know the extent of the Executive purpose on the subject of the conquest of Mexico; and secondly, what are the opinions of the highest military authority as to the means of carrying out this purpose. He expressed surprise at the tender-footedness of gentlemen on the other side, whenever light was sought for.

Mr. Cass said he was not tender of the Executive, but of the honor of the country. He did not wish to enlighten the Mexicans, desirous as he was to give every information to Congress. He hoped the President would come out fully and plainly and say it is his design to conquer Mexico—to conquer the whole of Mexico—to conquer her injustice. But as to holding Mexico, that was a different question.

Mr. Crittenden replied in a tone of strong sarcasm on the subject of the Executive withholding light from Congress, lest the enemy should be benefited by it. All that was here asked for was the information which was necessary to enable the Senate to form a judgment on the matters submitted for legislation.

Mr. Allen said the secret desires or opinions of the President were of no consequence. It was Congress alone could determine the policy to be pursued. As the Senator from North Carolina might learn the opinions of the Senate by a resolution—he would not oppose the resolution with the usual clause of reservation.

The resolution was then modified by Mr. Mangum, so as to leave it discretionary with the President to omit anything the disclosure of which would, in his opinion, be detrimental to the public interest; and in this form, it was agreed to.