State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-31

taxation. THESE measures appear TO be
founded on the alarm which has been eX-
cited and industrously circulated through
out the United States, about the danger OF
n French Invasion. But your memorialsts
see no good reason to believe that this alarm
is well founded; for, admitting to be true,
what has been so often asserted of late,
that the French people have been so I'M
fortunate as to choose for themselves an
Executive branch to their government,
which is proud, vain, and ambitious, and
disposed to exercise undue influence or
arbitrary control over the Legislative coun-
ellis of our country, and are inclined TO
convert the power and resources of that
nation to such purposes as will best suit
their ambitious projects, yet it does not
appear that they have any intention or dis
position to invade this country. Your
memorlalsts cannot see III an expedition to
Egypt, or against the British settlements in
the East Indies, or in the supposed bad
conduct of the French armies in SwltZer-
land or in Italy, any evidence of any inten-
ton to invade the United States, more es-
peclally when it is considered that they are
destitute of force by sea, and at war with
a nation so greatly superior to them on the
water. Your memorlalsts therefore con-
|
must now be considered as altogether i'll
founded, ought not TO be deemed n motive
sufficient to Justify the introduction of a
standing army in the United States, and
the establishment of an erpenSiUe ndUy
which must greatly increase the public
debt, introduce an oppressive and bur-
densome system of taxation, and remove
all hopes from the people Of ever being re-
lao tlG tl, fNfn
funding SYSTEM"
/ beg leave also to read n paragraph from
the Report of the Secretary of the Navy
in 1898, upon the subject of increasing this
arm of the National defence. Taking care
properly have been copied and sent TO
Congress as substitute for the doctrines
and recommendations of the last special
message
"The protection of our coast the sccu-
ritory of our extensive country from inva-
sion in some of its weaker parts; the safety
of our important commerce; and, our flu
ture peace, when the maritime nations of
Europe war with each other; all seem to
demand that our naval force should be aug
mented so much augmented, indeed, as
to make the most powerful nations desire
our friendship, the most unprinc pied re-
spect our neutrality. The peaceful char
acter of America will afford to the world
sufficient security that we shall not be east
" provoked to carry the war into the coun-
try of an enemy; and it well becomes the
wisdom of America to provide cheap de-
fence to keep it from our own"
| might further corroborate what | have
said of the striking resemblance between
the doctrines and incidents of the era of
1898 and the present period, by quoting
from the report of the Secretary Of War,
made in 1898; but it is only repetition OF
the same views, applied to the army, en-
braced in The extract l have Just cited
But, SIR, there was panic got up in l79S.
also. To show upon what grounds this
panic was created, and how it was met by
the leaders of the republican party of that
day, | will read an extract from cotem-
porary publication of one of the most dis
tnguished of that party, son of Virginia,
and who, during the whole of Mr. Jetier-
sons administration, was one OF the great
est ornaments and most distinguished
champions of republicanism in Congress. |
allude to VIM. b. Giles.
After dwelling at some length upon the
first part of conversation which had be-
come the subject of newspaper discus
sion, MIR Giles proceeded thus:
81 remarked that always had been, and
still was, friend of the Union yet, if the
measures proposed were to be adopted as
a permanent system, would rather see a
separation OF the Union, upon proper and
, pacific arrangements, than to be perpetual
: ly subject to all the perniclous consequent
ces, which, in my opinion, would necessa'
, rly flow from them. ] considered dlsun
ion as n deplorable event but less depora-
! BILE than perpetuity of expensive armies
-perpetuity of expensive navies -perpetu-
} ity of excessive debts perpetuiy of eXces-
sive taxes and all the oppressive conse'
quences resulting theretrom. i explained
[ further, by saying that l hoped these pro-
= positions would never he matured into
political systems; that | trusted the Const
1 tutional corrective would soon be applied
' that after the people should become APP
priced ofthe artifice ofeXciting and playing
n off their preiudices in one part tof the
v Union against their prejudices in another
e after they should become fatigued with Tho
e various decisions practised upon them by
! interested partiSanS, they will listen TO thu
= voice of interest, and, in n regular ant
# constitutional way, relieve themselves from
y their expressions, ifthey should, unfortu
e nately be systematized."
: These proofs and references establish
t beyond cavil the truth of what have sale
e as TO the close resemblance between TIT
| parties in power in 1898 and at the presen
e moment The analogy is manifest in til,
i powers assumed 10y and for the Executive
h in the policy in relation to a standing ar
: my and a great naval establishment, and il
n many of tho practices of the party then ant
If now in power. Sir, the doctrines am
practices of the party in power in 1893,
s affirm, are vindcoed and justified by tn
Q course and principles Of the one now in tn
|, ascendency. The gentleman from Massa