Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-06-11

'N"PeebFc VI any Gtm oy lnls bohV, anu u
Is upon them and others, which he was author
lied to call loF, that General Taylor must de-
pend IL is not true, therefore, that the fate Of
our army depended upon any action OF OURS
Our action had reference not 10 the immediate
Tate ofihe army, but 10 The future peration OF
that army. Ii was a question, hot of innedi
ale succor to our own troops, bat OF the con-
quest OF Mesieo. This was IN fact the question
which the majority pressed upon the House;
and If our army should have suffered by the
defeat of that bill, the responsibility would have
rested upon those who, TO gain party ends, were
pleased 10 connect the question of supplies with
gross falsehoodS, aud war OF conquest and
aggrandisemcnt.
We are told by gentlemen on this floor that it
Is treason to oppose the Government IN time of
war. Sir have no sympathy with that bastard
ly sentiment. What has it come TO this, that a
weak and wicked Executive may usurp power,
aud involve the nation IN an unjust war, and an
unScrurulous majority may press through the
House, without debate, bill sanctioning that
iniquilouS procedure, and then all mouths must
be closed on the subjects il this the liberty and
The only liberty granted 10 the representatives of
free people2 Is il treason to point out the
faults Of q corrupt administration Are we to
submit in all things 10 the will of the President
II so we have nothing left of liberty but the
name. We are already under a despotism.-
Such doctrines may answer for corrupt syco-
phants who bow to he Executive for place, but
they are unworthy N ircemen. lprotest against
all such corrupt and corrupting sentiments
Treason To speak against the measures of the
administration, because we are at war Sir, |
have, from my earliest boyhood, had u profound
veneraiion for the Earl of Chatham arising
from The manly course he pursued i'm the Eng
lish Parliament in pleading the cause Of Ameri
ca He spoke freely OF the impolicy and the in
Justice of the mother country towards the colo
MES. lie commenced his patriotic course be-
fore the war begun, but he did not cease with
the breaking out of hostililies. lie plead for
Americo-he exposed the adminiStralon-hc de-
nounced their measures as Infamous; while the
war was in progress. When opposing the adj.
miniNraliCn, he employed language like this
"Sir, rcjoiee that America has resisted three
millions of people, so dead to all feelings Of
liberty, as voluntarily to submit to be slaves,
would be III instruments 10 make slaves of all
the rest" THE Americans have been nyonged-
they have been driven to madness by injustice.
"lf were an American, as am an Englshman,
while foreign troop was landed in my country,
| never would lay down my armS-never, never,
never !" IL solemnly call upon yonr iordships,
and upon every order of men in the State, 10
stamp upon this Infamous procedure the ind,ibte
stigma Of pn6iic abhorrence." Such was the
language OF the friends Of liberty on the floor of
Parliament and that body, even under that
lyrannic administration, had not the hard hood
to attempt 10 suppress it. The last act of his
life was an effort IN behalf of the colonies. The
opposition in Parliament have always spoken
with freedom, in peace and in war. This is
English liberty. Pit, and Barre, and Burke
and all the leaders of the opposition, even in
that day. were too enlightened, hac too ardent a
love Of liberty TO subscribe to the degrading and
cowardly sentiment which we hear proclaimed
upon this floor in the hall of an American Con-
gress.
have no boasts to make of my devotion to
my country. ] am citizen Of this country
This is the land of my birth. Nv lot is east in
The United States; and my fortune is connected
with hers. When she is right, ! will sustain her
and if believe her to he in the wrong will
not give her up, but will point out her errors,
aud do all IN my power 10 bring her into the
right, so that, If war must come, aud our young
men must be offered on the altar of our country
we may safely commend them to the God OF
batllcs--to that Being who rules in the armies
Of heaven and among The inhabitants OF the
earth. | desire the prosperity of my country,
and nothing but my devotion to her interests,
and to the higher principles of moral recttudc,
induced me 10 separate from those with whom
have generally acted could not consent TO
involve my country in n war which believe to
be unnecessary and unJust-a war of conquest
brought about by ambitious men, to answer per-
,onal and party purposes
Before conclude my remarks, I must notice
lnolher subject closely connected with This, and
me out of which our present difficulties have
grown. Gentlemen with whom have acted on
hls floor will bear me witness, that have no,
been IN The habit Of going oui Of my way to at
ack the institutions of the South. Though
have always regarded slavery aS an evi-a po-
ilical and moral wrong-havlng no power over
i in the States, have been disposed to leave it
with those who have it in their keeping, to
manage, according To their own sense OF pro |
DrIeiy. But, when gentlemen throw this sub |
ect in my Path-whcn they bring il up here for |
,ction, and ask me to give vote upon it, will |
peak and act frecly--I will not give il my
shall not be extended by me-
This war is one Of the frs, fruits of the |
of Texas. And that measure was
20, up and consummaed to extend and perpe. /
uae slavery. Mr.. Calhoun in the corre>pon. 1
lence submitted with the treaty, nvowed this to |
'c The primary object of annexation. opposed |
I them and voted against the war because its |
,bJect is to extend, not the "area of freedom, L
,ut the area Of bondage. And wish to com.
mend this subject specially to the gentleman /
rom Illinois, whose bosom glOwS with such ar
tent patriotism, that he is willing TO spill rivers
If blood in this war with Mexico. That gentle
nan was born i'll state where the blight orII
low in free State. All his associations, we
nay suppose have been in favor of freedom, and H
el he Is willing to aid in rivetling letters upon
,hcrs-n now as free as himself Yes, Mr.. Chair
nan, though he processes an ardent love of lib Il
rly, and would have us believe that his bosom II
vas warmed by the very fires of patriotism, he H
: desilous Of spreading the curse of slavery II
'ver large section of country where it is now /
Unknown. lie is so devoted to his country. and II
o in love with her institutions that he is willing H
o Snstain with blood and treasure, an institution II
t war with the first principles of a republican
overnmcnt-hbeny and equality. lie denounces
'lexico as an uncivlliScd and barbarous power L
nd still he aSpires TO be a leader in a policy i
csigned to extend and perpetua,e slavery, and \
D plant on the soil of Mexico an institution
Which she, barbarouS as she is, and corrupt as II
he gentleman would represent her TO be, would II
ot permit to pollute her soil This is the posi-
ion of The gentleman who denounces all as trai.
Drs who will not bow 10 the diclation of the II
majority on this floor. Il
lie may occupy that position, but confess
hat do not covet ii. | agree with the late II
" hig candidate for the Presidency, Mr.. CLAY, II
That all wars are 10 be regarded as great II
TO be avoided if possible and that n
honorable peace is the wisest and truest policy II
or this country" agree with him, also, thai !,
II war oiconGueSt, and especially in a war to
xtcnd and perpeuate slavery, we should stand II