True Democrat., 1846-03-04

| ana refinement, would so lar forget IFS position
in the world and the immediate interests of its
people, as to exchange its present happy cond
ton for the savage slaughter and rapinc OF the
battlefield. The cruel and sanguinary wars
that have deluged Europe with poverty and
crime, impoverished its people, and chained dis.
tant generations TO the dreadful incubus of pub.
lie debt-and all this with that haste and precip.
l'ancy and want Of mature deliberation which
seems TO distinguish the measure now before
this house. Such an act Of rashness on the part
OF this nation has not yet dispoied its fair name
Who, Mr.. President, in so disastrous an event
must be the sufierers2 UnquesionabIy the
agricultural and mercantile casSes-the former
OF which represents the great body of my con-
stItuenis The cotton-planter, the tobacco and
rice-growers, the ship-builders, and all those
who deal in the merchandise of the eastern
States, are to be sacriiced---and forwha.? Why
fora war ofconQuest. which in five or ten years
VIII lead us back to the point we have now
reached, where peace may be secured by hon
orabe negotiation. That war, too, is not to be
fought in the Oregon territory. 1t is TO be
fought on the seacoast OF the United States "A
warthe most destructive in the annals ofmodern
history IA war whose blightng and disastrous
results will not be confined 10 this country and
Great Britain, but which will extend their des-
olasing evils throughout the whole civilized
world. 1t is impossible that Great Britain and
the United States can engage in a war without
involving in it the rest of the world No man
can close his eyes to the evil consequences of
such conflict And sir, Iask, is this subject
ofsuchlight and trivial importance, that it ought
10 be the theme Of idle gossip and of laughter in
the streets of Washington Who gossip and
laugh2 Those who have everything to gain
and nothing to lose. / speak of those who are
bankrupts in PRoPERTY--.bankrupt in PoLI.
TIcs---banErupts in MORALS. These are some
of the men whose voice rings loud for war.
The ambitious demagogue, too, eager to ride
into office, seeks also to fan the flame, and ap.
Pcals to the passions aud prcjudices ofthe peo-
pie to raise that current which is but TO waft
to frution his own selfish plans OF aggrandise-
ment The speculator too, whose fortunes have
been ruined by his schemes of hazard, and who
is anxious to profit by the rich spoils of war,
talks loudly Of patriotism and msulcd national
honor. trust that wise, and discreet, and dis
passionate statesmen-that grave senators-will
be disposed to look at this question in different
light. reiierate, 1 am really TO meet rar
,ohrn lis hour has approached. But do not
apprehcnd war at present and, therefore, | shall
denounce all this display of hostilities and war
like bravado. call on all Christian men to
unite with me in donouncing it,
Mr. President, would say more on this
subject if were able. have felt it to be
my duty TO make these few remarks, by
way of showing my constituents the mo-
lives which influence me in opposing this
bill. have endeavored TO speak with due
regard to the feelings of every gentleman
who may differ with me on this subject;
and | state now in advance, that whenever
the time shall come when II may be neces-
sarv TO assert our rights TO Oregon-when
our claims may be contunaciously denied
and our honor insulted-I shall be found
as ready TO assert those rights as any gen
tleman on this floor. But with all due
Difference, | differ from some Of my friends
with respect TO what they appear TO regard
as the proper course at present; and here,
let me add. that deeply regretted TO hear
the other day something lik a sneer against |
the course which respectable portion Of !
my friends from the South have taken on
this question. was the more mortified TO
discover, too that il fell from the lips of one |
whose patriotism and integrity honor and /
respect ] attribute il 10 the heat Of debate,
for | am sure he is friendly disposed to-
wards the South. have always been the /
friend Of Oregon; am yet its friend. III /
happen 10 differ from those who wish 10 4
consider themselves the real and exclusive /
patterns Of Oregon, | trust that ! shall not I
be read out OF the church until | have had /.
4 fair hearing. may perhaps be able TO
show, as time, the great divulger Of truth, I
that my course Is the only one /
by which VIC shall be able 10 obtain at the 4
earliest day the trhole Of Oregon; and .
that its opposite, IL il did not forever ami
hilate our rights, would at least prolract 4
heir peaccable possession, and involve our
for years IN the horrors Of war, 10
entail on future generations the still more 4
snsaving aud ruinous evils of debt.