Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-05-27

w ASNS uAd tuitiios anu
give him great consideration with his coun.
trymen; who possesses European fame
and whose opinions are quoted at this mo.
ment in London aud Paris as indications
OF our policy, and Of the final result of this
CONTROVERSY Is it well thus 10 announce
10 the world our incupacity to defend our.
selves2 For that IS in fact the result. A
Government dissolved, or rather changed
10 despo,lsm, country ruined, and even
tually lis fragments prey 10 ambitious
generals, as the empire of Alexander was
partltloned among his lIeutenants War,
then, becomes not measure of safety,
but signal of destruction 10 the Ameri.
can people. We are powerless to defend
ourselves. If we are struck upon one
cheek, we must turn the other; not in ii
spirit of Christian charity, but in the des.
pair of he plessness. We are bound toge.
Their by farweather government, inca.
pable of riding out the storms of foreign
aggression. Submission must be our re-.
fnge, for beyond submission is destruction.
We shall exhibit the extraordinary specta-
Gle of great people,, great in all the eIe-
men;s of power and prosperity, saying to
the world, in effect, we cannot contend
with England. We are at her mercy, for
even success would ruin US.
Now, sir, this is not so. There is not
one man within the sound of my voice
whose heart does not tell him, such has
not been your paSt-Such ,riH not be yOHr
future. The honorable Senator, in look.
ing at the real calamitles of war, which
seek neither TO conceal nor deny, has SUI.
lered himself to overrate them. They
have struck him more forcibly than they
should do. The experiment of two wars
with England, into which we entered, and
from which we issued gloriously, puts the
stamp of error upon these sad forebodngs,
How they pushed US forward, in character
and position, among the nations of the
earth, | need not tell; nor need | say, that
the march of this country, in all that con.
stitutes the power and happiness of PEG.
pie, is practical proof that those conflicts
left no wounds upon our institutions, and
but temporary checks on our prosperity.
The honorable Senator has appealed to
past history, in proof that in presenting
these views he acted in no unmanly fear
for himself, and that if war comes, he
would be among the last 10 finch. No,
Mr.. President, no one in this nation doubts
that his course would be firm and patriotic
should war be forced upon u.s. But he will
permit me also to appeal 10 appeal from
The Senator of 1916 TO the Representative
Of 1912. lie is The UHimus Romanorum
the last of the Romans the sole suryi.
vor among US of generation of statesmen
who have passed from the legislative SER
vice of their country. The last OF the ac-
tors, not of the signers. who gave to the
world our second Declaration Of Indepen-
dence, scarcely inferior in its causes and
consequences 10 the first. He came here
young, unknown to his country. He left
these halls with maturity of fame which
rarely falls 10 the lot of any statesman. |
was then upon the frontier, and well do
remember with what straining ewes and
beating hearts we turned towards the Ca.
pitol, 10 know il the honor and interests
of the country would be asserted and
maintained. There were then two men
here, upon whom more than upon any
others, perhaps more than all others, de.
voIved the task of advocating the war,
and of carrying through the measures of
the administration, And nobly did they
perform their duty. They we're the homo.
rabe Senator from South Carolina, aud
retired statesman, Mr.. Clay, from whom,
though it has been my fortune 10 differ in
the party contests that divide US, yet il has
always been my pride to do justice to his
eminent qualities, and to his high services
TO his country. especially during the last
contest with England. They were the
leaders of that great legislative war, who,
like the Homeric heroes, threw themselves
into the middle of the fight, and fought the
battles of their party and of their country,
with equal talents, firmness, and success.
As to the evils of war, he of US is blind
10 all historical experience, who does not
see them, and blind 10 all historical know.
ledge, who does not acknowledge them.
There is no such representative of the
States here. We all acknowledge the
evils of war, both moral and materlal.-
We differ as to their degree, and as to the
power Of this country TO endure and inhict
them. While the condition Of Eng land
presents great means of annoyance, it pre-
sents also palpable elements of weakness.
| am not her panegyrist. ] shall not be
accused Of that. But if | see the defects
Of her national character, can also see
her redeeming virtues. | am sensibIy
alive to the acts of injustice she has done
u.s. The feeling is deposited a my hearts
core. But do not shut my eyes, either
to her power or to the virtues she actually
possesses. | need not tell what she has
done to attract the admiration Of the world I;
for her deeds of war and peace are written
l. lt If ttp ELI