Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-03-21

Mr.. PRESIDENT; La rising to address
the Senate second time. on this great
question, lassure you, sir. with the ut
most sincerity. that no consideration but
its acknowledged magnitude. and the
deep interest Which large portion Of
the people of the United States feel that
they have in its decision, together with
my own profound sense OF my response.
bility to my immediate constituents,
could have induced me to commit this
additional trespass on your patience
the more regret the necessity which is
thus imposed upon ne, from the coHsid-
Grafton alluded to by the Senator from
Maine-that, as Truth is eternal, the same
principles are involved in this question
now, that we're twenty years ago; aid it
is consequently impossible for any mind,
however gifted, to present new arsu .
ments on subject which has been so
long and so repeatedly discussed in both
branches Of Congress. feel sensibly
the embarrassment growing OUT Of this
state Of the question, as | can scarcely
use an argument which have not long
ago advanced in the other House. and
elsewhere; and have feeling Of re-
pugnance to repeating my own areu
ments, inferior onIg to that which feel
to repeating the arguments of ether men.
!. Satisfied, then, that much of what |
have to say will fall upon the ear Of the
Senate like "a thrice told tale, vexine
the dull ear ola drowsy man. | shall use
as much brevity in answering The arsu-
ments of the Senator from Maine. as may
be consistent with perspicuous exposi-
ton Of The abstruse and complicated
matters to which they relate.
That Senator. in the course of his re
marks, caIseiI to the view of the Senate
and particularly to my own, the very
great discovery made in the process o
scientific investigation, by a great phiio
sopher Of England, who AourIsed at ths
close III the 10Th, and beginning of iht
nth centuries; and this great reform ii
the modes Of reasoning. which had pre-
vailed. seemed &c be held sup to me, as i
to admonish me that had violated its
rules. Now, confess, ssv. 4 felt quite
refreshed, when heard the Senator IN
woke this high authority as the auide.o
our deliberations ON this important, sub
iect; since | could not but regard it a.
an assurance that he would himself a
least furnish US win a specimen Of Iii,
inductiye process Of reasoning, in his
arguments How far he has fulfilled tina
assurance, the Senate will perceive
when come to analyze that argument
As he dad not, however, explain to ii
what were the principles of philosophical
reasding disclosed by Lord Bacon.
shall attempt very briefly to supply til,
y omission.
The system of inductive reasoning
in&lace Of the mere jargon % verba
siiogisms, to which the logic Of Alisto
tlebad been reduced by the schooImen.
proceeds by a careful and extended
aolrse Of Experiments. conducted thro' !
lore series, and in every variety Of cir
.hhstances,.o establish certain great AMI
fundamental laws, applicable to all TIKI
d,bartments Of human knowledge, which
a confidently assumed afterwards BIZ
alf Who have oeeasiun e investigate
o,ibstions as they may arise in any d
shese Great branches of science Or Of art
Aed siflce HE DAYS of the iIusfri0us All.
liar Sc this 81 stem Of rea SEEMING, its pfin
ci;,,srs Isn5e been practically applied To liz
: ssr.I,Iisbment OF systems ID natural phi
5s,scnI,v. astronomy, chemistry, politics
IN sxbat Il more ID tie point, III Til
srss science d political economy, whicl
90 now discussing And these sys
I'm {. sshich are nothing more than !