Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-03-14

y
with poverty and crime, impoverished It's
people, and chained distant generations tC
the dreadful incubus of public debl--aDd
al! this with that haste and precipitancy
and want of mature delberalion which
seems TO distinguish the measure now be
fore this house. Such an act Of rashness
on the part Of this nation has not yet des.
poiIed its fair name.
Who, Mr.. President, in so disastrous an
event, must be the sufferers? Unquestion.
ably the agricultural and mercantile elias.
Ses-the former Of which represents The
great body Of my constituents. The
COTTON PLANTER, The TOBACCO and RICE
GROWERS, the SmP-BUILDERS, and all those
who deal in the merchandise Of the cas-
tern States, are to be sacrticed-and for
what2 Why, for a war Of conquest,
which, in five or ten years will lead US
back to the point we have now reached,
where peace may be secured by honora.
bic negotiation. That war, 100, is not to
DO fought in the Oregon territory. /: is
to be fought on the seacoast Of the United
States--n war the most destructive in the
annals oil modern hisiory-a war whose
blighting and disastrous results will not
be confined to this country and Great
Britain, but which will extend their desc.
Iatng evils throughout the whole civil.
zed world. 1t is impossible that Great
Britain and the United states can engage
in a war without involving in it he rest
Of the world No man can close his eyes
TO the evil consequences Of such conflict.
And, sir, | ask, is this subject of such
light and trivial importance, that it ought
to be the theme of idle gossip and of
laughter in the streets of Washington?
Who gossip and laugh? Those who have
everything to gain and nothing to lose |
speak OF those who are bankrupts in PROP.
ERTY-- bankruptS in POLITICS. bankrupts
in MORALS. These are some OF the men
whose voice rings loud for war. The
demagogue, too, eager to ride
INTO office, seeks also to fan the flame, and
appeals TO the passions and prejudices of
he Peep to raise that current which is !
,ut to watt to frution his own selfish plans
If ACCOMPLISHMENT. The Spectator, too,
whose fortunes have been ruined by his
chemes Of hazard, and who is anxious to
roit.by the rich spoils of war, talks
oudIy of patriotism and insuIted national
onor. trust that wise and discreet,
nd dlspassionate stateSmen-that grave
enatators--wjlI be disposed to look at
his question in different light. rel
crate, l an ready to meet var ,Cheaerer its
our has approached. But | do not APP
rehend war at present; and, therefore
hall denounce ali this display of hostili-
es and wariikc bravado. call on all
christian men 10 unite with me in denoun.
ing it,
Mr.. President, | would say more on
lis subject if | were able. | have felt it
be my duty to make these few remarks,
y way of showing my constituents the
lotives which influence me in opposing
lis bill. have endeavored to speak with
ue regard to the feelings Of every gen
eman who may differ with me on this
ubject; and | now state in advance, that
whenever the time shall come when it may
e necessary 10 assert our right to Ore,
our claims may be contuma-
lously denied and our honor insuIted-
shall be found ready to assert those
lights as any gentleman on this floor,
}ut with all due Difference, defer from
ome OF my friends with respect to what
hey appear 20 regard as the proper course
1t present; and here, let me add, that
IeepIy regretted to hear the other day
something like a sheer against the course
Which a respectable portion of my friends
rom the South have taken on this quas
ion. | was the more mortified to dscov-
9r, too, that it fell from the lips Of one
whose patriotism and integrity | honor
and respect attribute it to the heat of
lebate, for am sure he is friendly dis
posed towards the South. have always
been the friend Of Oregon; am yet its
friend. III happen to differ from those
who wish TO consider themselves the real
and exclusive patterns Of Oregon, trust
'hal | shall not be read out Of the church
until have had fair hearing, | may
perhaps be able to show, as time, the
great dlvuIger Of truth, progresses, that
my course is the only one by which we
shall be able to obtain the earliest day
the rb0le Of Oregon; and that its opposite,
II 1t did not forever annIhilate our rights,
would at least protract their pcaceabIe
possession, and involve our country COR
years in horrors of war, 10 entail on fu-
uro generations the still more enslaving
and ruinous evils Of debt.
The annexation Of Texas has been al.
uded to in connexIon with the Oregon
question, Allow me to say that | do not
perceive the slightest analogy between the
wo cases. The situation Of Texas, both
or commerce and protection-its popuia-