Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Roscoe
Tell you what Roscoe, while you figure out the slip slide act, I'm going to get a shower, and a full nights sleep. Have a good one.
144 posted on 09/14/2002 6:58:27 PM PDT by Ragin1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies ]


To: Ragin1
Your ignorance of history equals your ignorance of the law.

"An early controversy revolved about the issue of the President's powers and the necessity of congressional action when hostilities are initiated against us rather than the Nation instituting armed conflict. The Bey of Tripoli, in the course of attempting to extort payment for not molesting United States shipping, declared war upon the United States, and a debate began whether Congress had to enact a formal declaration of war to create a legal status of war. President Jefferson sent a squadron of frigates to the Mediterranean to protect our ships but limited its mission to defense in the narrowest sense of the term. Attacked by a Tripolitan cruiser, one of the frigates subdued it, disarmed it, and, pursuant to instructions, released it. Jefferson in a message to Congress announced his actions as in compliance with constitutional limitations on his authority in the absence of a declaration of war. Hamilton espoused a different interpretation, contending that the Constitution vested in Congress the power to initiate war but that when another nation made war upon the United States we were already in a state of war and no declaration by Congress was needed. Congress thereafter enacted a statute authorizing the President to instruct the commanders of armed vessels of the United States to seize all vessels and goods of the Bey of Tripoli 'and also to cause to be done all such other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war will justify . . .' But no formal declaration of war was passed, Congress apparently accepting Hamilton's view."

http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/constitution/article01/41.html#f1423
147 posted on 09/14/2002 7:03:17 PM PDT by Roscoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson