The North-Carolina standard., 1846-03-25

were perhaps no United States soldiers in his
own State at this time. l learned almost nv
hrst lesson on this Oregon question from that
noble State At the last session of CONGRESS
she sent to this House a resolution passed bv
her legislature, in the following words:
Resotred That the true policy of the United
Staes requires that the joint occupancy of Oregon
Oy 'ne onlteo states and Eng land should cease
ana resolved, that The title of the United States to
'he territory OF Oregon is clear and indisputable
Ihls was the language of that gallant State one
year ago. But sir, Alabama has soIdiers-citizen
soldIers-the best in the world Let the British
soldier set his foot on Alabarna's consecrated soil
and then we shall see where the soldiers are.
Sir, 1t takes time to discipline the slaves of des-
potlsm, but every man is a soldier when he COM
bats tyranny" Our policy forbids the keeping of
large standing armies in the time of peace. but we
depend on our citizen soldery, who are the safest
reliance. Sound the alarm that the invaders are
at hand, and the question will not be whom can
you urge to meet them, but whom can YOU hold
back from the conf1ict2 Tell me not of the want
of soldiers to defend our country. Our citizen
soldiers fight, not for pay, but for the rights of
their country; and when they have achieved the
victory their patriotism deserves, they Law aside
their armor-they put off their martial character
and retire to the bosom of their families, and tell
their deeds to inspire the rising generation with
the same patriotic ardor. These, Mr. Chairman,
are our soldiers, and they will be found equal 10
any emergency. Let not Great Britain calculate
on dlssenslons among ourselves, for when the first
blow shall be struck, whether it be in the North
or in the South, all local distinctions will be for
gotten. We shall alone. remember that we are
citizens of the same republic and the South will
be ready to fly TO the of the North, and the
North will be found defending the institutions and
the rights OF the South. But it has been said that
our navy is not so large as that of Great Britain
1t is true that she has large navy and ouL-num-
bers US IN steamships; but it is equally true that
our situation is Infinitely better than it was at The
are greater, and the facilities for commanding
them vastly increased. The efficiency of the
British navy has been greatly exaggeIated She
has laid out millions in building fleets which the
Improvements in modern warfare have rendered
next to useless. These Improvements are constant
y going on, and have already reached point
which renders a large portion of the vast navy of
Great Britain on which she has laviShcd such
immense sums utterly unavailable in a with
the United States. five need fleets we can build
them; and il is better for US that we have not OK
hausted our resources in the construction of a
large navy, which would now be unfit for service.
During she last war our gallant little navy won
! for herself enduring fame; and | undertake to say
that when the emergency shall again arise, she
will fully maintain that high character TO which
her noble deeds so justly enitle her. In conclu-
sion, permit me to remark, that while l respect
the opinions. and do not arraign the motives OF
those who differ from me on this question: no act
of mine shall ever sanction the surrender of any
portion OF our territory, without just equivalent.
Entertaining the opinions do, if | were to act
otherwise, should feel that had not faithfully
performed the high and responsible duty which
owe to my constituents, and to my country Let
US pass the notice, and follow it up by giving
bountics of land to such of our citizens as may go
there 10 brave the hardshps and privalions of a
frontier life. Let US extend the laws and protec-
ton OF The United States over that territory. Do
these things, and my word for it, these brave
pioneers will do much towards projecting them
selves. We shall then prove to the world that
we regard the great principle that the protection
Of our laws shall extend to every citizrn Of this
republic, and that we are determined that our
rights shall be respected all the Garth 1t is
natural that there should exist among free people,
some differences OF opinion to the best mode of
accomplishing any end but on this great question,
let us present TO Eng land, to Europe, and to the
world an undivided front, and this will ensure US
peace, If peace is attainabc.
A Contrast Two lads stood on a bank of
snow in front OF one of the beautiful houses in
Pemberton Square. One of them might have
been IA or Is years old, and the other had not
seen above half that number of years. They
were musicians. The larger boy turning
the crank of small street organ, and his little
brother was beating, with great energy and pre-
cision, small tamborine Though decenty clad,
they were evidently the children of poverty. AT
the window of the dra wing room, in front ofwhich
the liule musicians Stood was beautiful little
boy, whose auburn ringlets hung in rich profu-
sion his delicate shoulders, and whose taste
fl and elegant dress denoted The aff1uencc of his
parents And now, thought We, what contrast
is here The poor, shivering boys The snow
drift, playing with the hope of few coppers for
the amusement Of the fair boy in the warm and
elegant parlor But, who can tell that greater
contrast may not yet be exhibited by these same
three boys! Who can forcteI the future history
of eIther2 Would it be extravagant to suppose it
possible. that the poor strolling musicians, who
now pick up scanty living by their daily round
Of toll, may become the proprietors of mansions
as lofty and elegant as those before which they
are now soliciting aims; while the child of luxu-
ry, who has never known the want of any good
thing that wealth can give, and on whose fair form
the winds of Heaven have never rudcly blown,
shall become homeless and pennyless wandcrer
The history of our city presents many examples
Of change quite as remarkable as this would be.
Indeed, the whole history of our country is replec
with such contrasts The children of wealthy
parents, left with fortunes, have become poor and
friendless, while the very servants of their fathers
houses have become mon of wealth and distinction.
Let not then the rich despise the poor, nor the
| H. l., IL