Newspapers / Raleigh star, and North … / April 30, 1845, edition 1 / Page 1
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,i i i ' " 11 ,, ,--j-, m iMiMrtaatgg , wtb-, i y wi a n wp mmm mm mmm ml n mm n i i wtiti ii ii 1 i i -memamme?mmmBmmmKimmMmumrwmr-wmmmw-mr- TSO. i. LBMAI", (Priator UtfasLsarsaftlMStaU,) Eitb s FaeraiaTau., lnm(umt!Nimiiu,iiTHUcirit 4mutn aasavaess vas eeaa awi f,TBBEE DOU AF8 A tEA8-is .av.srs ; -4.. .. rot. ttALEIGir, H. C, WEDNESDAY, APIULSO. ft) 'II Hi h ii. 1 1 SPEECH OP MRR . YNEtt, OF NORTH CAROLINA) On tb bill making approprialiaa f. lb im priTiant of harhor anil rivets, considwtd vita ,ferancs t the foreign rsladons of ths country. In Coiamitles nf the Wh-iU of lha House of Rep resent ami, Fshruary 2tb. 1845. Mr . IHYNEKmW He questioned the policy nf so heavy pn espemlilnre at the present limp... lie ihougMt'ihe appropriations proposed by lie amendment of the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr Tibbaits) were not only large, when the present threatening foreign relation! of the country Were Considered, but loo sections!; and if such a bill was to pass, he wished to see its piovisions made innre general, so as to embrace in its bene fits his awn Sute. He wis ed not to be roisunderstcad. Hi opinions in regard 1 1 th-; constitutional power of Congress, on the subject of 1 menial Improvement, were less stringent tlmn when h first en tered public I fo. - He admitted the power nod th expediency of improving" those great thoroogtafes of commerce, and chan nels of iater-Sute communication, with which were identified the interests of e lane section. Rivers, like the Mississippi and Ohi , which ran through many States, and which were the natural outlets for their c immerce, he considered it within (lie cdm;eteiicr 'f the General Government to improve. lie admitted the "power oT Congress" dIm U Improve b arbors," ant! the mouth of unnller rivers, when neces sary to the advancement and convenience of commerce wiib' foreign nation. " The ' exercise of this power of improvement was fr night with great difficulty: so difficult di I it fiequently prove, to discriminate be tween objects that were na'ional. and those that were purely loonl. It Wa, also, a (snl.je. ton which legislation was loo sel dom matured, with refeienrje to ihe in irinsio merits of the objects under consid eration. Combinations between different portion of (he country usually secured ap propriations, which went and less impor- lt section- owUl not obtain-jav. mat- j ler how palpab'e soever their claims. He ("Mr. R. had been endeavoring, for every (ession since lie had u sent in that House, ..lajublt for reopening n inlet on the coaat of ojwCardliiia. Ht had, however, until tha laat session, Oonsoled himself with the fact, that the hitherto emuarrased condition of the Treas ury haJ arrested neatly all auch improve mcnt throughout the country. That dif ficulty was now removed -the revenues of th nation wewr aaundant and prosper us-aud lis insisted, that if these works ol improvement were to go on, that tbe claims of North Carolina ahould bo legar " lied. And although he questioned the propriety of so heavy an expenditure at Ke.ent, yet he might vote for jhe bill, if benefits were -floada general, and if the justice nf the-Hoaae--ttld grant-4iin- oj appropriation fo reopening Roanoke Inlet. t i- -.i.i- i . .-t - . r i i . aim ins csiauiisnmuni vi Hie iiaruur un ihslpenlous coat. Whilst lie might be willing to vote for auch a bill as would pro vide, for a fair and equit.ble disuibuuoa of its benefits, yet he protested against a prof ligate expenditure of millions fur works merely set tional and local; more especially when t fldct'd by the combination of differ ent inieresta. neither of which had joerit i f ita own enough on which to stand. He Eave notice now, t hat if thia system was to pursu.-d, he should liisist upon au ap prvipiiaiion for eastern North Carolina's great and favoiiie object the reopening nil inlet, and impiovetuentof aharbor.near li d Roinuke Inlst, through which Sir Val ler lta!tigh'a fleet first approached our shores, - ' '.'-:'..'. air. R. aid lie then gave notice, that t tbe proper time he ahould move to a inend the bill, by adding on tppfuprialion for effecting thia great improvement. And Under no circumstance would he vote for tbe bill, unleaa hia amendment soeeeedodi This wis no new and tlalonary scheme. It had been recommended to-the favorable It lice of Uie General Govetnmeut, by the "tegialjta'rrf Nonh: Carol inar fourteen lilTrmnt limcsas he believed. A siirvey had been made under, the direction of the General Government, four different times, Jie-beliered) and it had alwaj's been fecom Diended aa one oU-a moat inportant im provements in the country, ft had been, to hie own knowledge, twice reported on favorably to this House,1 by the Com loiitoe on ttuiuls and GnnaU twice by Ilia Committee on Commerceend onra by a select Committee, raised mcciallv itb a view to coua'dering the subject. ; It h id ever been recommended aa not only l.nport.nt to the eounnerca of that vast and fertile section of country, watered by th tribuurica uf Albemarle 2$ound, . but U tha Vhole coastwise commerce between nftaapflnrffdrSoTfr presum it te well known, (said Mr. IV,) thai the site of tba woik which 1 propone ia on die umat - dangerous prt of the whole AilanUc CoaaU Whilst moat sul-ject tn shrms. it is. si lh same time, most dealitute of a safe harbor, in which for veeaels to seek security I'hei e w not. a season that numbers of ves el sre not lost, aD4 numbers of lives sac rificed here, for the want of a secure refug iu time of stoims. " Humanity, as well as justice, to North Candina, and the great omuiercul and naval intereau of the U u -u, require that tiiia wo.k should be af fected by tha GovsrnmcnL It is notihem Waaein, aoribera crews, and northern car. foe, tlut are put in peril for the want of v- x lie ncrPHsoa me or insurance paid by northern shippers, ia consequence of. the dangers of this very pa t of the coaat, would pay for the completion of the work in a verr short timet Gentlemen are mis-f taken, if they supDose that this is a mere local question, in which North Carolina is iiiteteatedi Ifanv work can be national if Congress can do any thing o the kind lor the protection of commerce thia, sure ly, presents a Case for i's favorable consid eration. But the improvement I propose, and for which I intend offering an amendment, is not less important in a naval, than a Commercial point of view, 't he opinion of the most experienced engineers, whose attention has been directed to this object, concur in the great importance and vast benefits resulting front the accomplishment of the proposed work, flot onty to the Siate of North Carolina, but to the whole U nion. In a report inailo hr Gen. Bernard, Lieut. Col. Gratiot, and Major Tolten. Board of Engineers in the service of the United States, in 1839, they use the fol lowing language; We shall merely re- j mark that, if ,)h plan be car. led into siic cessful operation, whether we consider the profits of commerce,' the dangers of ship wreck, 'pursuit by an enemy, or conven ience as a point of departure and refresh ment for our own privateers and vessels of war, a harbor will be formed precisely in Warpsft'of inelbasilirWWIrsnMW'itsvd ed.M - Againy in a report mada by. Cape Bache, of the Topographical Engineer, on this same subject, the anther says, in reference to the re-oneniiig" of Roanoke inlet, thai "it is an otjcct of more extensive usefulness than any other work of a similar character in our country. These are high authorities, coming from scientific men, and which are wonhv the serious consideiation of Congress. in a report, mnde by Major Gwynn, one f the most competent engineers in the United States, on a survey of the waters of Albemarle Sound, with a view to such an improvement aa I propose, dated May fTe,authMs " The opening of Roanoke Inlet is a sub ject which has hmg arid anxiously engaged the attention of the authorities or the state. It has been frequently brought before Con- gressyaml I believe no work present stron ger claims to (.ia patronage of the ueuer- ai uovermneni. The register of Captain Few," keeper ef the Roanoke marches light-house, num bers, 1,450 verselr, passing and repsssi'ig. duiinckhe year endi.ig 3 1st December, 1839. waking the altij(4ng about 100)03 tons- . "lbs amount of property and lives lost on the eoast immediately adjoining the inlet. fur a distance of fiiteea miles on each aide of it, presents a frightful list, snd a strong appeal to the protection and humanity of the Moverhroent. "Between the year 1824 and tha ras ent period, there have- been (ae- nearly aa 1 could ascertauv 112 vessels wrecked which, averaging fifty tons each, would make, together with the cargoes, a loss not much short of 0350,000; and with these vessels, 224 sou Is .have found a wa tery grave. m.n.m ',J...ar. ."This list, fearful as it is, would be gfeaily .swelled if we had the means of adding to it the number of vessels wreck ed on the remainder of the adjacent eoast and off Cape Hatteras. in consequence of being compelled, by the closing of Roanoke- Inlet, to encounter the haxsrd of passing this dangerous promontory. - Tha appropriation I shall ask for will not be considered extravagant, when the vast importance of tha work is considered. I shall ask for no mora than can be rea sonably expended in the course of the year Let it be recollected that North Carolina obtsins but few lavors from the General Government' Her ahare is but scanty, either in the patronage of its offi ces or the expenditure or its money, rto State loves the Union more, and no State receives less of benefits. I now stsnd hera ciaimiag nothing but justice for her; and I appeal to all to consider her clsims. i am -inclined (said Mrr R.) to-doubt the jroprietjf-of heavpf app-opriations at this time because, "if I am not" greatly mistaken, the foreign relations of the coun try art adch, as to call upon us to pre serve our treasure, arid in bliaband our resources, with a view, to meet tha diffi culties, which, I fear, are impending oyer us. I really fear, that Hot only ia the Con stitution in danger of a palpable infrac tion, which is likely to destroy tba hold of the Government upon the affections of ther people; Dot If the Texas and -Oregon quest icrostiew 'pending before the Scuttle should pass, I honestly believe that wa may at once put ourselves in readiness to meet the hoi fore of war Wa mar need, and. I fear, shall, every- dollar of the na ttoVtreajittfrto -par our-oldir-and our sailors who aro to fight our bailies. i tmnv. it proBaDle, that before another sua haU rise and set- the Questions of! pea a rof wr of constituiional reatraiot or of unbridled party rage will be irra vocably decided. I affect no undue rev crence for our instnutions. when I declare that I shudder in eomVmplating tha result. I greatly fear tba issue wilt ahoa, that our country, in its rapid ascent to great ness and glory, has reached its culmina ting point, and that its descent downward in to mad to ruin, will be in a correspon ding re1 io. We ars u (said Mr. R.) in Commit tee of the tVhole an Ike alutt nftht Union: and ia considering the state of tha Union generally, I propose, in accordance with the course oi' other gentlemen, to examine it' with reference to our foreign relations And I do this the more especially, be 'cause, wnen l addressed the House a few days since, I was prevented, by the ex pirationofmy hour, from delivering my views at leng'th, ort the questi ri of Texas annexation, and other kindred tdpirs. In the remarks which I then made, it will be recollected that I confined myself piinci pally (0 the constitutional view of the ques tion. I did not choclse to entert-.in the question of expediency. I did not then, as I do not now, consider it necessary to entertain the question of expediency; till that of power had first been decided, it matters not whether the glowing descrip tions we have had of Texas be fanciful or real. Ad m it all that iht mem earnest advocates nf Texas annexation, as pro poaed by the action of Congress, to be true admit that it is a land of geneialsun shine and perennial flowers admit that it teems with all the rich and abundant pro ducts of a bountiful nature admit that it is prolific of all the resources of ommerce, and of national -prosperity and gloty; yet what are all these in value, compared with the Constitution of our country! Ar guments like these are address-d to our na lional cupidity and pride, and to tbe ael fishness of our nature, rather than to our fealty :J4;i!ie;Constit.iui4q... and our eon- scientious coii? retionsof dniy-r They are ihe.argaments with which Ahab recon ciled to himself the seizing of Naboih's vineyard. They are the arguments which the Gothic- cheifiain addressed .to their follower, when leaving their forest homes for the pillage of Italy's sunny plains. Mr. H. said, that in further examination of the question of potper la annex Texs by action of Congress, he would proceed to notice one or two other arguments whi-h had been urged in its favor. It had been frequently inmsted on during the debate, lhat by the terms uf. the treaty of 1803, ibis Uovcrnment was bound to admit Texas into the - Union 'I hi argument wiWa1esry ' the gentleman from Illinois t Mr. Doug las- - The- clause of the treaty umlei which the pretence ia aet up, is . as fol lows;. ... ' t he inhabitants of ihe ceded territory aball be incorporated inuuhe union of th United - State, arid admit led a soon- aa possible, according to the principles of the Federal Constitutions. ti ihe enjoy mem ol all tne lights, avantngf-s. and immun. tie of citizens ol the United Stales; and. in the mean lime, shall be "protected in the ret. enjoyment of their liberty, prop- eny, and the religion which they pro- less" . Now, to what "inhabitants does this apply! Of course to those who then in- habued the country to the people i-f Louisiana; and .r-fars ihr-y--wewn xon cerned, "the te rms of the 1 1 eaty have been strictly complied with. There were no inhabitants, . either French or Ameiican, then in Texas proper, who could have rights rested under tbe treaty. Texas waa then for the most part a wilderness The parties to the treaty wera France-snd the United Statee;,and France has not com plained ol our non-fulfilment .of the trea ty. And as to the Spaniards then in Texas, instead -of urging rights under the treaty, they chose to prefer the r?panib and Mexican dominion. Or, if the terms of tha treaty did enure to those who might afterward b.come inhabitants of the ter ritory, still the inhabitants of Texas proper aubmittei to the treaty of cession to Spain iq 1819, passed quietly under the Spanish dominion, took ihe oath of allegiance to tha Spanish Government, and thereby disfranchised themselves of all claim upon tbe Government of the. United States; They thereby recognised snd submitted to the claims of Spain nnder the treat, . And those who emigrated to Texas after tha treaty of 1819, went to Texss as a ppannn or Mexican province; expatriated themselves In so doing, and went there to iaka advantages of the benefit proffered to American emigrants by the Spauiah and Mexican authoriies. I low. then, can the people of Texas setup a claim under the treaty ol 1803, When it ia a notorious1 fact that they went to Texas exprewly for the purpose of availing themselves of benefits, which Spain and Mexico ' acquired the power of conferring under the treaty of 18 '.Of W hy, them is the treaty of 1803 so often alluded to? It will not be denied that this Government haa the power, in adjusting a question of boundary, to trans fer a portion of iU territory. We have bad a lata instanea of that in the Ashburton treaty. ' The gentlemen from Illinois .ad mitted this. lie admitted we had lost our claim and forfeited our right to lhat country. But yet, ha said-- a breach-of Wth- on-our part, could not abs lve ns from' tha moral or legal obligation to fulfil our solemn treaty stipulations, when requited to do so by the other party. A breach ol faith! And to wht 'other party'" Franoe was tha oih er -party. So lar as ' she stipulated for terms tolier citisens they have been com plied with and France hs never complain, ed.-1 As to Texas, there were no people there to become parties in IS03i and, as we hsv already shown, those who went there sfterwards, went to receive benefits under the treaty of 1SI9, which ceded Tex as to flpain. Strange argument, ' truly 1 Gent'emen justify Texaa for revolution and with propriety, too because ihe right snd privileges of the Mexican ConfeJeracy, to which they became entitled ander th treaty f 1M9. wet violated hv Sanu Anna, and at th aame time claim for her the power t'i waive those rights and priv liege under the treaty or 18J3. It wa a a part of Mexico aa owing allegiance to Mexico a resisting her lawless snd unconstitutional tiurpaiinn th:it lha revo lution of Texas was effected, and its inde pendence established. In thia consists all ihe glory and patrioiic a.tsdc'iiione of the Texan revolution. And it is a reflection on the people of Texas themselves it is countenancing all the rhsrges of robbery, and plunder, and speculation, so often charged against them to intimate that they effected their revolution as qUttsi American citizens, with hops, prospects, claims, and vested right, in the benefits or our Union. I choose rather to think that, they, were satisfied with, and fully recognised, the au thority nf the Mexican Constitution of 1824; that they wera not stimulated with the hope or expectation f becoming a member of. this Union; but that from- pure Jnatincuve love of constitutional freedom, they took up arms. Another serious difficulty to which this question is likely to give rise, is one growing out of the public debt of Texas. I am not apeauing of its assumption on our part, by any express stipulations to be provided (or in the contract or union, but rf the relation ia. which if is likely tpla lis towards the rorcitrn creditors. Ai'an act of national sui -ide in an anomally in the history of international law, yet it may Well ne questioned, 'whether by the ac quisition of the territory and jurisdiction over Texas,- we do not virtually assume her debts, in securing to ourselves the means on which rests bet' ability to p ay icn them. If this presents a case for wb there is no precedent in national law, what is likely to be the concurrent opinion oflhe powers 0f ihe civil zed worldt If national law docs not bind u, will not the appealatoour national justice be irresiat! blef Will the Civilized world hold us bliiftefesx,5 trmWff W ttf nwtf us tbe resources and ihe means of Texas, aud yet refuse . to discharge t the liabilities? Vaults aaya, speaking of tha rights flowing those peaking f the rig It a flowing from conquest, i n dents ol a nation, or ihosa for which the sovereign -power- haa mortgaged some or his towns or provinces, are not expunged by the conquest. The King of Prussia, on acquiring Silesia by conquest, add by tha treaty of Breslau. look oporr himself the debt for vhch that province wa engaged to tha Knglish mer chaiu." But if the annihiluion of her voluntary aurrender to this Goveroment, presents a case for which there is no pre cedent to bind this Government for bet debts, yet, what must he our awkward po sition, Jn cae ihe lawful usages of nations are resetted to, m order to enrorea psy men! from Teaaef -. According to the . na lional law, anv debtor government in de fault, aubjert- itself to reprisals and wsr on tne part m mat government wnicn i. or whose citizens sre, the creditor. Under this known Teponibilityr'Txas ineurrad her debt With thi known final resort for payment, the pirtiea It nding became her ceditors. : JVo w, suppose a wrg por tion itf the debt of Texas to be due to cit izens of Holland, France, or England.- as 1 learn it ia. Texas borrowed lha money a 1 sovereign" power, under a full knowl edge of tha repomiibilitie incurred by it; can she, by entering our Union, iltseharne herself from the luh IHv ol reprisal and war, in cae of nonpar menif Cmild either one of those powers be expected to relinquish this right of coercion, because the sover eign power Contracting no longer existed; And suppose either or them should resort to this uliima ratio of national disagreement what would he the altitude of the Govern, ment of lha U. Sut a? . Texas would then he a portion of this Union, In our rels liiMta Mr ami difference , ; with, foreign. na: lions, we occupy the position of o con soli- dated people. We can know no sertional respiuuubilities which do not apper lain to the whole, , War upon Texas would bo war iipoit tha Amerie- Union-, wti icli n lion. I pride' and national huiior would com nel us to lepel by force. And thus we should be reduced to tha bumilating alter native, of either suflV ring a portion -of our country t bj overran and pi'laged by a for eign power, regardless of the obligation of the uovernmentto jirutecl t, or of wsgng a war tn opposition to a Jaim established and Sanctioned by the laws of th civilized world- ...'if a&vj -,', ,': It my pelhapa, bo said, that this argu ment would apply lo the indebted States of this Union, who tofussitf psy their foreign creditor. Not at all. A I have intima ted before, in out national relation and res ponsibilities, we ate a united peple." In order to subject, ourselves to the oideal of liability : to war, tlie Government of tha U nionmuat have its faith involved. Odier nations, and tha people of othei nations csn know us and iU al with ns, on our na tional responsibility under the laws of na tions, only a a consolidated Government The foreign creditors of ths States knew, or should have conaidered this, when investing on tba f iiih ol the Stales. . I n the eoniracting their dabU hy th Slates, thfFeileral Gov. ernment had no agency, or even knowledge, Th loans of foreign citizen to lha . States must, therefore, rest purely on corporate faith, without involving tha responsibility ! recognised by thslaw f nutioa, for their ultimate payment; because, ufliler our in stitutions tl ere ran be no relau'hnl under the national law. between one oflhe Stales of this Union and a foreign government. Not so with the debts of Texas. She in- cured her debt in hef national character, id under he national responsibility; bhe cannot, by an act nf political suicide, shake off that responsibility. It wdl adhere to hr nnnlv- who havei emoved the advan tage of ihe money borrowed,; and ..to her territorv. from whose resources must fce derived the mevis ol oavment. iow, sir, i not una quevumi vi which deaerves our mot serious connti rraiiont We not only hazard lha proba bility of a war with Mexico, but tha liabil ity or war with, other powers, growing out of the quealiim of the debt of Texaa. Aa to a war with Mexico do not jiretend that it thouU follow, for, ns I have already said. I do nt think that Mexico has any right to interfere, or lo complain as to how Texas shall dispose of herself, her rightful territory, and resources,' Texas is an independent power a sovereign Stale so recognised by the commercial nations of the World; snd Mexican pride and obstinacy cannot unsettle relations, hich test upon tho decision of tha en lightened mind of the civilized world. But, even if war with Mexico ought not to fol lowthe probability, the almost certainty, jj, that it will follow. .- And, although I Itave no bara' M.WmW!J thing mora than one of commercial rrtVitS leering, yet, in such a war, tho risk would alt be on our side. Out commerce is one of ..tha great sources of our. naiional'eallh and national glory; it i carrying our name, our flag, bur religion, and uur loveof liberty, into every portion of the globe. The Gulf of Mexico and the West Indian Archipe lago aro whitened with its cunv,and are the cie.it treatre of Its traffic. Whilst Mexico has but tittle Commerce to attack. oura wou'd be the consUnt prey ofpriv alcersrwho would cover the ocean" under. ilia Mexicsn flag. Tho restless and tur bulent adwnturet. whose numbera luve been so uiucH iiijmeiiicCv Bjrifta long peace since ISIS, througriout Chnsendom, would here find employ menu Our mI establishment would ' require airmen ing to a vast extent,- involving thaaxpenditara of millions of treasure. - I do not pretend to say ihal these considerations should restrain ui fioirt d. ing that wh eh halional duty imposes, and national duty Impo s, snd notional honor demands. When these are involved, every patriot should be ready to sacrifice both blood and tre isure in iheir support. ' But I d inaist.. that iheta are eonaidtration wach ahould causa ua u pati-a and consider 'o abate the hot basu which is manifested on- thia-subject-MsAl though national faith may not requir it, as I bliavaitdoea-nol, yet I d insist thsi it is the part of prudence, ol generosity from strong to a weak power,' that nego lationrwiih Mexico, at least in-regartl- to iHruridafy, should progress pari potiu, with the negotiation with- Texaa, in regard, to cession. Wa can ta nothing of honor tPt'A Mexico, even in persuading, ay a, in paying her for her consent. Ana, in re gurd lo expense, it would eost u much h-ss than a wsr, blooCless though it might be on land,' whch would inevitably follow, without obtaining her concorrence. So that, whilst in point of honor we jtptli net b tbe loser, tn point of expense w should ba grssi'y the gainer. ? ... i ! . Mr Chairman, the policy ol me. sge in which we live in all civilized countriea, is to a-'just natl'inal differences snd utlliculties by peaceful negotiation. ; The spirit of ths age is opposed t the aroiusmsnt oi tne sword. The twenty-five year' war subse quant of the French revolution which da1 luged the fields of Europe Id blond. haS UuglU tlr piece or wisdom to tne world , Martial glory and conquest 'no longer fur nish the stimulus to hum in ambition and adventure. They hav been supplanted by the ineane of ibrft, luxury the arts of peace the pursuits of science;" andr the Thysical improvement of ihe material World. " And no people on the globe are so deeply im tercsted -in tne continuation i una policy as ourselves. Separated by vast ocean front - a' 1 the great powera of Christen dotu we-hava - neiiher- .tha.jndtjcsrneuts oi opportunities of acquiring glory in arms. With s eouniry of almost illimitable extent, combining a I the sources of wealth and comfort., furniahiiix the, productions uf alinoat - every cliuietJi, wi h jivers-; and mountains and 1-tkes and praties whose very grandeur is ealcuhted to enlarge and sublimate our moial perceptions; with a mighty ocean laving our shotes and inviting our cwiimerejpdistant climes; with insti tutions guaranteeing im-as mueh liberty a man can ssfely enjoy;; with all the arts of peace and the , blessings of , science. educatKHV and religion, to hallow our na tive homes; with all these advantages, which nourish most tn peace, it is our iutcrrst as humsniiy should make it oar wish, to avoid war, unies demanded by national honor, , No one has pouted over the pages of his tory, recounting V aehieyemenia - of mili tary prowess, with mora avidity than I have. No youthful heart was ever fired with more ardor than mine in purauing fhe exploits' of military greatness. Under the untempor- ed influence Of ijouthful dreams, ft was the feeling of my early life to look 'upon military achievement as tha only road t) glory. But this, like many other youth ful visions, has faded bfure tha realties of time." RsAciion has taught me to believe. that the uorrera and agamss efnwr war. are not calculated tn elevate th moral eai ibihrie of our Tiature, or to advance the -moral and social condition of a nation. Bravery and generosity sre, to b suret qualities which must ever command admi ration but the exploits of that soldier on ly deserve the homage of praise snd sym pathy, who draws his sword in a righteous esuse, and in defence of a wionged conn trr. I hsve been surprised, s well ss pain ed, to Witness the apparent anxiety for wsr. which Is frequently exhibited licreV-'.lf the subject did not Involve consequences flo. se rious, it Would be truly amnsing, td listen to the - magnificent nourishes snd high- sounding praises, with which some gentle men sneak of their readiness for Warof our ability to cb'pe wiitf all the power or the world, and of the glory and trium ph which await us in case of a conflict This has ever been the language of poetry. '. It", is a much more eary metier to plan cam paign on paper, than to; undergo the foil and hardship of camps to fight battles In' pompous declamation, than on the tented field, surrounded by Hie dy ing and the dead. Horace eou'd write soul-stirring verse up - on the glory of war aid valor in srms ( . but-when brought to witness the reality he fled inglorimisly, leaving his shield behind 1dm. ' Uiifortudtcly for mankind, the duty of wsgging and conducting war rarely falls tn the lot of those, whose pas sion and Indiscretion plunge nniionn Into . iunnes anu n'ny mny piMiiga nation into 'difficuHy," whilslt' pstriotistri -1 "7. " and vslor can alone confront mat danger. Timidity my suggest, and even impose oit othera,iaWrarfromewhichit would Shrink in horror. The. Cirabnaa assassin who threw down his dagger, and fled in affright at behoiiling the calm and ' noble Counien- . snce OfMarius, would, no doubt, hsve eon signed the mtghly Roman W death wlihont" ' " . . r- j t i.i i w . : .i a pang oi emotion, nau ue neia seal in ma Senate house, snd it had depended od hia vote. ' " ' ."''-'' :. (' i ;,:!.".. Notwitliitanding ihe declaration of th English foreign secretary, !nVd Aberdeen -to the contrary, the ground has been s inrtiied; England has design! upod Texas ; arid thai annexation, is necessary as a precautionary . am m,m.mtm.."' if. dntldlaala 1 1 Mat tnUnl'mni ' A Mil- I am jot tf to discover, that lurking hostili- ly to England, and a desire to precipitate 7T . . a diffienliy with that power, pervading the (on wfdebaTndr is tfeirr constituting s leading motive in tots 1 1 exas cruade, ani its kindred measure, tha occupation of Oregon.' I hope I may be spared the ha -initiation of whneraing th disasters which swsit my country, ease- feckless eoun- "-- els should plunge us into a wsr wiiK En.""cr gianu, in our prcarni uopropareu cviiuiiioni . (tenilemaaf alk our abiUty-tocontend - . with her. and of ourmeensof inflicting irreparabls injury on her I and the gentle - . - - nan from Illinois (Mr. wxstworthJ has more tha onCe, I think, alluded 10 the American eagle driving the British' lion off the continent. I ha greatest captain that ever led an army once declared that the would "plant -his eagles on the ramparts of Lubon, and drive the English T lion into the oeesn.' But that Engliah lion still kept his head taT ths norihesst. and never stopped his Psce.' until he had climbed thi etrppeS of the' Pyrennees, and driven the French eagles fmm their mountain eyrie. And simitar,' , I fear, would be the realisation of the vaun ting predictions, so rifeon thisfloor,in esse we should be hurried into a war, in our present Unprepared state, Letme Jiot be misundersfwd. I am not undurating rriy country's powers and strrngth. So far from it, I think too much of its honor, its glory,7 snd it grvstness, to endsnger either, bV precipitately exposing it fo hazard through want of preparations. Train the American soldier, and he is inferior to none on esrth. The aine Anglo-Saxon endursncj, which' constitutes the ' excellence of the British soldier, enables the" American to encounter him with equal , chances. Put our coun-! try in preparation, and it can a I believe dery the wofid.iiutn tsHiie totninit r raw wruiis contending with veterans." . It is absurd to suppose that a few -ships. . of the line can compete with fleets that rover the ocean. " Time must arouse the public mind to i sense of dan :er the na tional spirit of tur perpie must, be fully... awakened before our powers can ba ex-: ertettf and iu capability for mighty efforts . realized. Gentlemen had better calculate the strength of England before the pro-, yoke a controversy with that mighty power on aceountof some imaginary interfcj-. ence by ner in Texa, which she has re peatedly disclaimed before they sstums exclusive jurisdiction over Oregon, which we hold in joint occupancy with England, . under the solemn stipulations of a treaty. -Let them reflect upon tha horrors and dis-' asters of war; before they plunge ue iot itsj vortex.. ; Let thent '. reflect how many widowed heart it would cause to bleed how many suffering orphans it would make cry for bred. Let ihem consider ho w m -.nj acres It would leave 'u'niillod - how. many sails of commerce it would furl the cheer- ! ful blaze of boW msny hearths it won! J extinguish. And let those who boast of their democratic tendencies refleci. that is not the tenants of place and power. It is not. th wealthy and the luxurious, it is not the politician snd ths statesman, but it is lha poor man, who must inset the brunt and toil of war. . War takes the poor" mat from his wife snd , ehildisn, , when they most need bUprotection ud impose au ditions! expanse Upon the Gocrnt0(
April 30, 1845, edition 1
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