The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-03-28

The spirit of war, thanks to God, has
sIumbered upon the earth for the last quarter
of century. Glutted with the spols, and
exhausted by the ravages ola thousand years,
it halted in its march ofdeath, and reposed
from its work of desolation, on that dread
night when the sun went down in blood on
the field ofWaterloo. Heaven grant that the
slumbering giant be undisturbed in his re-
pose for other ages TO come. The world has
had time to take breath. The spirit ofPeace
II peerless, aud godlille lorm-rose erect,
and with steady and triumphant step advanc-
lug over the earth, has dispensed, with an u
bundant hand, blessings and honor, and glory
and happiness TO the nations In what age
or century of the world have the principles
of civil and religious liberty, the arts and sci
ences, civilization and christianity; all that
elevates, and all that dorns, and all that
ennobles and dignities the character and con-
dtion of man, made such advances as within
the last thirty years? which may be truly de-
nominated the age of peace. 1t has been an
age of glorious achievement; of intellectual
and moral triumph, such as the world has
never before seen.
Sir, cannot longer dwell upon this theme.
1t is, indeed, rich and eXhaustlcss and sub
lime theme, worthy of the contemplation, mot
| Of the poet and the orator only, but of the civ
ilian aud statesman, ofthe philanthopist and
patriot.
Mr. Chairman, know that war is some
| times eccssary-sometimes unavoidable
| Il furnishes bit u melancholy evidence of
the depravity ofm0n, that war is ever iusiiiiu-
| bic. The fearful alternative oiwar may he
| forced upon MS, either by il-adyiscd councils
nj home, or b. aggression and wrong from a.
broad. Ifthc long peace which we have ell
| ioycd is TO be- interrupted, we shall do well TO
see TO it that there be no occasion for laying
| the provoCution at our charge. Far better
| that aggrCssion and provocaton GENE from
the other side. Let us, is possible, in the
Judgment oithe world be in the right, and
our adversary in the wrong. IN such con-
/ testthc victory will he halfwon in the outset
| would yield much tn the spirit of peace and
harmony; and ifthe sword must be drawn, let
| it he in a just and necessary war; let it be
/ in deiCUCc of'thc invaded rights and honor of
| the country. And when that crisis comes, if
come it must, it will be met by the American
people with ore voice and with orc heart
II war he brought upon us by the rash ard
reckless counscls these whom the people
! have placed in the highest seats Of power,
while they will hc held to a fearful account
before the supreme appellate tribunal ofpub.
lie sentiment, otr tolismunic watchward viii
still he-"our country, our whole country,and
nothing hut our country
Something has been said. i'm the progress
ofthis debate, of the chivalry of the south;
something has been said otthc valor of the
west. | choose rather to say, OF all the pCo-
! pie of this n0tiou-whcthert they reside III the
| east or the west whcther their LOT he cast up
on the sunny savanuas Of the south, or among
| the sold gray mountains"oi the uortf-that,
/ in such II crisis, they will all be chivalrous
and brave, that they will all be generous and
patriotic.
While other gontlomon have been so elo-
qucut in the vudicatiou and praises OF their
own constituents, and the people otthcir own
sections and States, trust may he pardon
ed the indulgence OF passing reference to
those whom have the honor, in part, to rep
resent here. am orc OF but tour members
upon this floor, from small uupretcnding
border State; Il State which, in some respects
occupies but subordinate position in the
Federal Union; State, nevertheless, which
holds within its borders people, whose hab-
lis oi'iuduStry, whose general intelligence,
whose indomitGhle energy ofcharncter,whoscI
devotion to the Union and the constitution,
and whose attachment 10 the principles of
civil and religious freedom, are unsurpassed
by those of any other State or nation. They
may he less forward than others in sounding
Cleir own praises, or in Wanting their own
patriotism, vet the SONS of the American
Switzerland will never be deaf or backward
TO their country's call in any and every en-
Urgency. Much as they love the peace and
quiet Of their mountain homes, when the day
OF trial and ofconflict shall come, i pledge you
upon the authority ofonc whose days have all
been passed among themond who knows full
we'll their spirit and their valor, they will be |
there the first & foremost in the contest, with
'their backs to the field, and their feet TO tie
foe" They who inherit Il e blood and the
spirit of the heroes of Benz ington and Ticon-
deroga, will lie there. Other Aliens, and
Starkes, and Lees, and Warmers, will he
there, 10 cheer and TO lead her gallant sons TO
the rescue; and in the face OF danger and
death, "upon the green graves oftheir sires,
will testify to the world how much there yet
remains ofthat daring that knows not iear;of
that patriotism that knows not section or par
ty; ofthat spirit which knows no servitude,
and submits to no wrong. The people OF
Vermont, and am proudto say. are the de-
scendauts of the pilgrim stock. Our fathers
sleep upon many a battlefield ofthe revolu-
ton. We claim kindred with those who
fought and fell at Concord, and Lexington,
and Bunker Hill And if my honorable
friends here from Massachusetts will allow
me to assert participation of the honor, we
claim kindred with those whose mighty voic-
es first awOke the echoes or freedom within
the ancient walls of Faneu Hall; with those
who bore no subordinate part in laying deep
and strong the foundations of this Republic.
Ask me not where such a people will be
found in the day Of their countrys need.
i trust, Mr. Chairman, that have an ample
apology for this digression in alludng TO my
native State, and briefly, though it be but fee
bly,, vindicating the character of her people,
in the attempt which was nude some days
since TO cast a sneer---an asperslon-upon
her, by ono other own sons mir Chipman,of
Michigan,) upon this floor. hnve only toI
say, in reply TO that attempt, that he who has
the taste and heart to iilegitimatize his own
birth so far as to rnnIldintn his nnrcntnCc. I