The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-27

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industry has prompted the study, the patien
= and often disappointed experimental labor,th'
l expenditure of time, the mental effort, which
these triumphs of mind over matter of MAJ
= over nature, have imposed on those who have
= achieved them? To what patron but Tho
= manufacturer did the invention of the cot
} ton-gin, the card machine the lathe for turn
, ing irregular forms, the numerous improved
cOntrivances for the fabrication of tissues, lool
for remuneration; and where will be the
stimulus for the future exercise of these ere.
: alive faculties, when you shall have destroy
) ed the system which first developed them, land
which still incites them to new achievements!
Sir, we are legislating for an age, coun-
try, Il people, whose great characteristic is
ACKNOWLEDGMENT when wisely directed,
backward when led astray. In our time and
land nothing is stable, all things are ahoat.-
1t is not given to us to know the ultimate ten
denotes Of this spirit of unrest, but we are
responsible for the direction it shall take, SO
far as our action has power to guide it. Mans
reused energies are now eXpending them
selves in the conquest Of nature. This is at
least safe field of eXertion; the triumphs Of
this campaign are the victories Of peace: its
trophies are richer treasures than the gems
of Brazil, or the ingots Of Mexico and Peru.
( Why should we check this career of proud
ache e"ent? Why pause in that warfare
winch the CroN+nr committed to us, when he
commanded man to suDdun the earth Why
restrain the development Of thai hitherto dor
mant faculty which, as | said, is Just awaken
ing to vigorous life and consciousness within
US? There are many Of the powers Of ma
ture, many of the faculties Of man, which we
can control, none which We can suppress
You may change the course Of the mightiest
, river but you cannot choke up the smallest
spring Man has accomplished greater works
than to turn the current of the St Lawrence
into the valley of the Mississippi, but his Ut
most art cannot set limits to the explosive
force of single grain of gun-powder The
The active powers, which are now so busily
engaged in appropriating to mans use all the
good gifts of material nature, cannot be put
asleep. Pursue the sage policy Of your faith
ers encourage these great efforts OF enlght-
ened humanity, and you will confer unspeak
able blessings on those who have called you
to rule over them; but if you strive to with
draw Its accustomed alimcnt from this strong
spirit, which is just now reused to conscious
ness of power; if you obstruct the wheels
and springs of industry; if you say to those
who have subducd the mightiest forces of ma
ture-"yc shall use these energies for good
no longer you will soon find them all become
instruments Of evil, weapons Of destruction
in the hands of giant, mean not to utter !
what Il should scorn from an opposite quarter |
-impotent threats Of popular resistance to
supreme law, but it is too much to expect, that |
the busy arms and the thinking brains, which |
now find scope and employment in industrial |
IL ~, /
repo2c, and that the whole frame work of A
merican society can be quietly remodelled in
harmony with the views Of Utopian theorists
1t was the leading aim of the founders Of this
republic to make it political society, COM
plcte within itself, and independent, wherein
the most honorable condition should be that
which Providence has imposed on all men
the condition, namely of labor. Thus far it
has approXimated to the fulflment of this en-
lightened purpose. All labor, whether of the
hand or Of the head, whether Of the layman
or of the clerk has been hitherto honored,
and Government has sought to encourage a.
like every occupation necessary to the we'll
being of society. The attempt is now for the
first time formally made to reverse this state
of things Government is to lay aside its
character as protecting influence, and while
DlOlcSSlIlS lIIClluSLlI) lOE dDflCul-
ture, is to levy war on those occupations, with
out which agriculture cannot subsist. The
system of domestic exchange of products, so
necessary for new countries without an ade-
quate circulating medium, is to be cut up by
the roots, and the American farmer is to de-
pend on foreign industry for every article of
necessary use, except such vegetable products
as his own acres will yield, and such rude i'm
4, Ii 1c f,cb III,
can only be effected by shock which viii
your idle dreams shall be realized, society
force will usurp the place of law, and the
some ambitious despot or foreign invader.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECRET SESSION
On THE MEXICAN WAR.-Resolved That s
he Senate entertain strong desire that the
existing war with Mexico should be termina- {
ed by a treaty Of peace, just and honorable
o both nations and that the President be adj
1ised to adopt all proper measures for the at
ainment Of that object.
Resolved Further, That the Senate deem l
t advisable that Congress should appropriate
sum ofmoney to enable the President to con- t
Jude treaty Of peace, limits and boundaries f
with the Republic Of Mexico and to be used l
)y him in the event that such treaty should 4
all for the expenditure of the money so APP t
oropriated or any part thereof. s
They were debated and various amend y
nents offered and voted upon but rejected "
md the first resolution was finally adopted {
~ the following vote: a
AYEs-Nessrs. Archer, Ashley, Atherton, t
3agby, Barrow, Benton, Berrien, Bright, t
Calhoun, CasS, Chalmers, Cilley, j. NJ Clay Y
on, I. Clayton, Corwin, Critenden, Davis,
Dickinson, Dix Evans, Fairfield, Greene, I
1ouston, Huntington, flanagan, johnson of 6
"a. johnson of Md, McDulie, Nlangum, =
Iiller Morehead, Niles, Pearce, Phelps, +
SEWER Simmons SDpiht STURGEON Turnoy "