The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-15

Europe-snd our vast resources in men and mate
| rial and we proudly challenge coatest with the
\ world ID arms against US without ultimate danger to
our free Institutions But If the case were other
wise, would il furnish any reason why this Senate
should forbear from claiming TO their full extent me
just rights Of this nation' Prudence, indeed might
induce delay, but that is all it should do. Tel US,
as II we were childen, about the horrors OF war
Why, what man Of the least reflection does not
know that war is the greatest curse, and reaoe the
greatest blessing that nations know! Why, then,
these fine poetical harangues and these rhetorical
pictures ofthe horrors Of the battle field Of the blood
carnage, and devastation that war may occasisn'
But the senator from South Carolina Mr.. CAL
Houssl went even farther than this. He not only
treated as TO some pictures Of blsodshed, but he
mentioned the effect Of war upon the fuanees Of the
country; and according TO bis calculation, we were
be lsf with debt OF some seven or eight hundred
millions; we mus, raise 300 600 men, and keep them
in constant pay; and have, armies and nayles;
and when the fight over after ten years foreign
war we were 70 encounter civil war, 10 have some
half dozen military ebiefsins fighting for ascend
snsy and the presidential chair. ! cannot agree
with the senator that we are in, any such danger
believe we never shall have anything to fear from
military chleftains~ dill Our whole national chArsc-
ter shall be changed-never till tho American peo-
pie shall have become enervsted by luxury, and
dueed through the corruption OF the whole mass Of
| the American people, to such degradation that we
snul longer W cHJOy TIC VI
cry and freedom, purchased and eonseerated by the
glorious deeds Of our sainted fathers Of the revolu-
| tion-then, and then only shall we have cause to
| fear the inglorious contests for supremacy among
our military chieftains," so eloquenfly described
by the gentleman from South Carolina. We have
already passed through two wars and Washing
ton and a Jackson-he military chieftains Of those
wan-haye each occupied the presidential chair
without fighting for m by the free and unpurchased
votes OF millions Of freemen.
| Ibeg leave, Mr.. President, with a view Of cou"-
teracting tho false impressions that are thus en-
deavored to be made upon our fears, TO present a
different picture, the results shown by our census,
exhibiting the number Of free white males at the
end OF this year, and annual increase. exhibit
this prepared IN the secretary's Office at my re-
quest, TO show that our present numbers, with the
annual increase, present results that have no paral-
lei in the world
From this statement it appears that
In 1880 we had Of white males $3.50 a3 and in 1910
2o 4-showng an average increase OF about 81 per
cent per Surprising the increase to continue the
ratio from 1870 TO 1916, inclusive should have al
the end Of this year st5 225 The foregoing based upon
an average annual increase Of the first ten years. but as the
progressive geometrcal ratio greater say about
cent for the period which population sup
posed to double custon founded that ratio would
s' ss SS male. per- day.
per cent Of whom sgreesby to the bills Of motshty at
tain the age OTIS and thus The dsy o. male
enormous addition Of 1850 annually capable oil bearing
arms"
Mr.. President, you may examine the census Of
every other nation the face of the earth, and hnd
nothing TO compare with this. In this country, the
whole community, having arms in their hands
enables the government 10 raise a physical power
That, for defence, would be adequate 10 any and
Ievery emergency. Is such nation to have thei'
fears alarmed by any force that can be brought
against it by sea or by land',, No, SIR, no. Thus
government, on any emergency, can thus easily
command the services Of body Ct fighting mer
which, when brought together by the power o
: steam, would constitute an army far exceeding il
number that with which the great captain Of moderr
times invaded the Russian empire. This immens
force is wanted for defence only, and not 70
foreign copquests; all require in war s the abI'it,
10 defend ourselves. | trust, then, every st,emP
people will prove abortiye. Who win doubt
with such means at command. that we can success
fully protect ourselves against the assaults Of no
Great Britsin only but Of all the civilized world
Although fully sensible OF our srength-our ABILITY
TO protec ourselves-yet am an advocate for peace
| am for applying the golden rule Of ing Il
others as we would that others should do 10 us,
which doubtless applies with as much force to ma
> tons as individuals. But, sir, | doubt whether
% naton-even Christian nation--csn literally ap
. DIV to herself the Scriptura Injunction, "Whoeve
shall smite thee the right check, turn to him tn
i other also" Acting under such an injunction, W
b. ould soon exchange the blessings Of freedom AM
ind. ,pendence, for slavery degradation, and iniamy
Who, ,yer, then, desires to press upon us as
Christian nation an obligation TO AVOID war,
would "a pecialy refer TO the Christian, phllan
,hron;c Enc lish nation the sole aggressors, and
whom alone tn cir homilies can properly and appro
p A,b,uebs Mr. President, l do not believe in thi
discussion il was proper TO Investigate the extent
our title to Oregon, as al will agree that we have
title to some portion of it, and all therefore ought
. M for he
$ one have investigated the title who have proceeds
: ma in this debate, shall detain you short TIM
IN ,;mar research, and will endeavor to avoid tn
beaten track in presenting my views, as far as prac
Iticabie. 4,
& Nootka convention for the whole ground OF ne
tile to Oregon. She has placed her reliance on th'
convention, and | say that thereby she has com
n,,t.d suicidal act. If she depends for her entlr
{ claim on the treaty Of Nootka sound, and avow
iris before the world then insist that she destroy
every SHADOW and vesuge of claim that she eve
had to any part Of the territory.
| And here let me again, refer 10 the statement
the honorable senator from Virgini,, Mr. ARCHER
at gentleman seems % suppose, that even coo'o
succeed in driving Eng. and from her claim on 70
Nootka convention, she has still other claims
q whict, she may resort. Allow me to read sho
; extract from his speech:
Tbe language of the English com,nssioners In 1926 wa
In" sosrl icrIro CLAIMS with Spain had not be'
ADJUSTED by the Nooka convention ana All arg
4, and pretensions defnvey set at rest by the
nSe Of that convention nothing would he more easy m
~ the claims Of Great Britain 70 tna
as opposed to those of Spain were SO iar ron
az o. ~ ibtraily assumed that they established MORE 1H
y =. VI TIrLE TO the possession Of the country IN qus
,;an either against sPsin or any other nation Ihey a
a ,ha rih 4, Great Britain recorded md dsntdm
i a.n,,nS 4 hey speak of them as hxedt never
srca,ea Inv the co nventon; treating this Instrument
denoe of recogn Of these pretensons never as mpo
: ing any grant or ms ,itution OF them
II the honorable senator had but read the ne
nv ha yyonld have seen that the declaration
Inc British negotia,or was mere idle boast; Ds
had no, parted with her claim she would ao an Re
na, a;veo deed for his farm, and vested fee cir
pie as,e 10 the purchaser, he doubtless might ha
still owned it; and il Great Br''a,n had no. par y.
with her claim of title TO Spain, she might sun ma
retained i,--that is ALL Unfortunately, she ola Pa
with the title, and she has now none 70 urge e
me- read to the senator the sentence to which re
.yh.ever tina, title may have been, however either
the part Of Great Britain, or on me par o. ~ n
,h Generation 1890 was from thenceorwaro no
"a 20 4. traced in vague narratives Of discoyeHes Neia
Ss, admitted TO be apocrypha but in the teri ana sup"
"a -. ~ tbal contention itself?'