American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-12-30
Delivered in House of Representatives Dec IS, 1916
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But, sir have no desire at this time to en-
ter into the merits of the question, or enlarge
upon the Argument which / hope to make,
when the question is brought in proper form
before the full consideration Of the House.
cannot, however, refrain from noticing the re-
marks of the honorable gentleman from Penn
sylvania Mr.. Brodhead,] who seems to have
mistaken my vehemencC for "menace." With
me, sir, that vehemence Is constitutional.
was BON in sunny cllmo--in the good old
State of South Carolina, whose sons, find
them where you may, are distinguished as
much for magnanimity Of heart as for vehe.
mence Of manner. This was manifest in the
position occupied by the honorable gentleman
who represents Alabama, MIR. Yanccy who,
although opposed to our principles, is yet will
ling to give US, as Americans, fair opportu-
nifty of bringing the question before tile House
To me, sir, it is source of regret that we
cannot have his powerful aid in the advocacy
of our noble cause, accustomed as he is TO fling
out his intellectual treasures with lavishness
that knows no limit-hanging, like the south
ern sun, jewel on every grass-bade, and SOW
ing the earth al large with orient pearl.
Sir, bring no charge of warmth or vehe-
mence of manner against the honorable gen.
tleman frsm Pennsy vania; for his manner is
cold and frosty-sprited his clearness wintry and
congeaed-his feelings apparently on one side
and his reasons on the other. If the gentle
man supposes me to be political gladiator,
he has wronged me indeed. have no feelings
to crafty on this floor, save those which spring
from love Of country. | seek no revenge on
men. | desire to nhict no pang on any hui
man heart from wanton sport or lust Of ven-
geance. But truth, freedom, and country
must and shall be defended at every peril
though not at my hands by any weapon COM
mon to the midnight assassin, the ocean pi-
rate, or the eastern thug. | scorn to rail like
wanton women, or gituperate like angry school
boys detest the poisoned dagger loathe
the stab in the back as much as | do the sheer
ofhatred that comes disguised under the hypo-
critical smile Of affected amenity or false-heart-
ed good nature. For such weapons | have
neither taste nor inclination. When cannot
defend measure successfully on its intrinsic
merits, will abandon it, When ! cannot OPP
pose perncious project without resorting to
personal invectve, will yield to the torrent
of error, till reflection, awakening remorse in
the guilty, shall proffer atonement for the
wrong.
But to return to the subject. Sir, when
ask the House for the passage of this reSolu-
ton, it is not on the common grounds that re-
late to fraud, perjury, or evasion, or any other
criminal corruption growing out Of II general
law. Bat the scope Of the resolution which
have the honor to offer, reaches to higher
point, and extends to a wider limit. 1t pro-
poses an inquiry into the present relative inau-
ence of the population of Europe upon the in
stitutions Of this country, in comparison with
those relations as they existed in times gone by
say forty years, or halfa century ago. So
that we may distinctly understand the position
; which the foreign population now bears to
ours, and which the circumstances fth5 coun-
try now bear towards Europe. The question
is big with importance. 1t cannot be doubted
but that this inquiry, coniided to competent
hands, will prove intensely interesting. But
that is a minor consideration. Can it fail to
prove eminently useful?-useful in its most en-
larged and comprehensive sense? The revolu-
tions that occur among nations, and their rela-
tive influence towards each other during a Pc
Rod of half a century, are too stupendous and
startling to be treated with silent indifference
or stold apathy. The wise statesman is al
ways awake to the changes Of time. He who
slumbers on them must sink in the pillows that
he ought TO ride. long period of peace, I'M
paralleled in the history of modern Europe,
has been shedding its influences, for good or
for evil, over the dcstines ofthe world. Whe-
ther beneficent or otherwise, it has been our
lot to share in the results, moral and political,
of this tremendous event. We owe it to our
selves to inquire in what manner it has ar-
preached us. We owe it to our children, for
whose benefit we hold in trust their great es-
tate Of freedom. We owe it to God, who, in
his infinite love and mercy, has given US this
sublime system of government as means OF
elevating the human character to the highest
point Of perfection, by full development of all
the faculties of man as rational, responsible,
and self governed being. And here come to
the very pith and marrow of the whole argu-
ment that presses upon the nation, the wisdom
and policy of this inquiry. Unlike the people
of Europe, we are self-governed, and in all
things we present, not only perfect contrast
to their condition, but the discrepancy between
US leads to perpetual collision, either moral or
physical, and not unfrequently both. This
contrast pervades every relation of life, 60
vernment, morals, and manners. A contrast
like this, running through all the various and
complicated relations of a country, must ne
cessarily be attended bya contrast of feelings,
opinions, and sympathes, and this, too, on
points vitality affecting our republican institu-
tons. With exceptions, too frivolous to merit
consideration, Europe is under the universal
sway of kings, who govern by power superior
to, and above, that of the people, and which
imposes upon them the iron letters of abject
slavery, "divine right" Such marked and
decided contrast of opinion could hardly fail to
be attended by collision, both moral and ply
steal. Nationally, we have seen this mani
tested in our wars with Europe. In social
relation, we have seen it displayed in the ter
rife riots that have deluged the streets of our
cities in blood. This collision broke frghtful-
ly upon our senses when it scattered peaceful
meeting of American citizens, assembled at
Philadelphia, under the sgis of the constitu,
ton, to devise measures for the preservation Of
their rights Drilled bands of armed foreigners
rushed with impetuous fury upon natve-born