The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-03
REMARKS OF Mr.. ALLEN,
OF OHIO,

Mr.. ALLEN said This discussion had under
gone a change since yesterday, which made IL eA-
cusable in, IL not necessary for him TO submit rev
general observations. Yesterday the question De-
foe the Senate seemed to be the propreiy oil pass
log the resolutions previously submitted by the sem
al5r from Michigan, Mr.. CAss.l To-day the dls'
cussion was made to turn
Here Mr. ARcHER rose and said; Will the sena-
tor be corrected by mel He Is IN error. My un-
derstanding is different IN that respect My friend
IMr MASGuMl who addressed the Senate yester,
day, also thinks that he is entirely. | commenced
my observations by stating that no one with whom
/ acted would oppose The objeoI Of these resolu-
tons
Mr.. ALLEN proceeded: Be that az il may, the
discussion to-day 10 turn chiefly on the taste
mad propriety Of the speech delivered by the sena-
tor from Michigan, Mr. CAss.l IL is thought by
senators on the other side TO have been speech cal
cul ted 20. excite unnecessary alarm in the public
mind-a speech not called for by the exigencles OF
the times--by the condition in which the military
affairs Of the country are known TO be, or by the
proprelies which usually eharaeterize the order
and arrangement Of business in the Senate. de-
rre 10 say an answer 70 these several suggestions,
that cannot agree that such business as this before
as should be transacted in silence. do not agree
that il would be possible, that, II possible, u
would be proper for Congress to proceed IN secrecy
and in silence to adopt measures looking to the
contingency Of war CON such measures be adopt
publicity TO Ihemi Can measures which may lead
TO an increase Of the military force-and If 30, must
lead 10 an increase OF nxes-be adopted by a repre-
sentative body, with free nation for It's constitu-
ency-adopled in silence, without discussion
ndupled behind the backs OF the peoplel Would il
10 possible' Would it be proper to adopt such
measures without the knowledge Of the people ?
Would il be right TO adopt measures justified only
10y the possibility, perhaps the probability, Of war,
and yet, by our silence, try to convince the nation
that apprehend no danger Of war; IL were
possible 10 pass such without discussion,
would not our very silence, contrasted with the
grave and extraordinary character of the measures
themselves, alarm the country more deeply, by far
than open asd honest discussion plainly setting
forth the facts and reasons upon which those meas
ures are predicated' Would not the people ina
gine, and with reason too, from the very fact Of
your effort at concealmeni, that you yourselves
thought the danger to forbid discus
sion, and require despatch, in order to meet il !
Should these resolutions pass, bills may follow To
increase the army and navy. Should these bills
pass, increase of taxes may follow and shall the
representatives of frepeope send the tax gather
er to- freeman, and yet refuse to give reason for
the taxi The senators on the other side regret the
tone Of the speech of the senator from Michigan,
Mr.. CAss and regret IL manly because the sena-
Tor from Michigan expressed it as his opinion that,
IN certain contingencies war would be inevitable.
This, they think, is calculated to excite alarm and
lue hldTUl, lnty Ulnk, may uerunge the business,
particularly the commercial business of the coun-
try. But have said that our silence, contrasted
with our measures, would excite alarm still deep
er, and therefore more deeply deraDse mems bust
ness. And now, ask what would be the conse.
quence il possible to adopt such measures in
silence and secrecy II il we're possible TO increase
the military force, 10 increase taxes to make eve
ny preparation, do all this with veil between and
the peopeif itwere possible thus to keep the nation
in utter ignorance Of all our doings, Of all dan.
gers, up 10 the very moment war may be declared
Il this possib,r-if this were done-f the peo-
pie were thus lulled into false security up to the
very day of battle, and then for the first time the
terrible reality of war should break upon them,
what then would be the condition Of mem What
the condition of their busness' What then would be
The condition of the merchant, with the worlds d.
ameter. and the enemy's feet between him and his
cargoi "+
Could this government then Justify itself to the
citizen for having thus concealed the public danger
from him, and by that very concealment falsely pro-
claimed security which did not exist, but which
being proclaimed by the very guardians Of the pub
lie safety induced him to commit his fortune to the
waves, and TO the mercy of hostile feet
But, SIR, il is admitted that these resolutions
ought to pass; that they preparations for war,
and as SUCH ought to pass as the best means OF
avoiding war. This, on all hands, is admitted We
ought them all admit, prepare for war, as the
suIest conservation Of peace. WE'LL then, what
vi
pnration viii mpress Great Britain in the most
solemn manner with this important truth, that
If she desire peace she must respect the rights OF
the American peoplei That if she wishes to avoid
war, she must withdraw her baseless and arrogant
prutensions to the rightful soil ofthe United States;
My answeris is, thar union Of will Of heart, of en-
ergy, among the people, in support Of the interests
and honor OF the country, is the sort of preparation
best calculated to excite disposition for peace in
the breast OF England. IL is kind of preparation
without which all others unavaiIing in our coun-
try, but with which this nation has nothing to fear
from united Europe in arms. The government OF
This country is not in the city Of Washington. |,
IS to be found dfused through the breasts of TWEEN
iy millions of peoples, who themselves diffuset
over asurlace eight thousand miles in circumference
The strength Of this government is to be found il
the union of these hearts. 1t is this union which
must constitute preparation for war How ia th
union To effected Is to be effected by the silence
of Congress-by Withholding from the people the rea
atate Of actsby concealing the true state of our re
lations with Great Britain---by suppressing discus
sion--by refusing to give reasons to the people 70
what we are doing No sir ; if we would awake,
Inc desire for peace in the bosom Of England
we would render America invincibe in battIe--w
prepare the heart of the nation for the defepc
Of its rights and its honor, by honestly telling tn
people the real state of the facts, and by givn
Them the reason for the measures we adopt LIE
them but know the whole truth Of the matter--le
them but understand that there is, in the threaten
enng aspect Of public AFFAIRS clear and urgent ne
cessity for the measures you propose, in order B
maintain, against ambitious England, the interest
and glory Of the United States; let the America
people but understand these things by an honest dis
closure Of facts and reasons--and, so far from ex
citing in them any unnecessary alarm, you will bu
call up ~ their undivided soul, tina, great spir
Which made the nation victor in its childhood, an
will make il, in the future whatever it desires to be
say, then, that the speech of the senator fror
Michigan, so far from being open to the reproach b
exciting unnecessary alarm, called for and jus
tilted by every consideration Of prudence and {
policy. say, sir, that under form Of governmcr
like ours to adopt without discussion without pub
LEFTY, system Of extraordinary measures all lool
ing to the contingency Of war, would be absolutel
impossible. " this we're possible such cours
would be the extreme of fatuity as matter of mol
cy, and Of injustice as regards the rights and inter
ests Of the people
Having thus replied TO the observations Of IN
senator from Massachusetts,, MR. WEBSTER, upo
the point Of exciting alarm in the public mind
will proceed to consider those made by the senate
from Georgia Mr., BERpiFNl That sena,or ~; i