The North-Carolina standard., 1847-02-24

begin to review their scandalous conduct to this
government. l hope victorious arms will
show TO the civilized world the justice of our
tcause, and our ability 10 maintain it. Your
proposition cannot be entertained at ths time Ii
| you will withdraw your fleets from the Gulf and
the Pacific, and your armies beyond the Sabine,
and retain them there; then, and not till then will
the brave Mexicans lay down their arms, or listen
10 anything coming from a nation whose course
has been scandalous, and so well calculated to dis
turb the peace Of the world by their avaricious
and grasping disposition. God ana Liberty |
| candidly believe that this is fair picture of
what might be expected in such posture of our
affairs. What would you dc. in such event
Would you not appeal in the strongest terms to the
valor, the honor and patriotism of the country to
come TO your relief, and to punish and chasse
such foe2 Suppose, Sir, the Democratic party
had majority in the North Carolina Legislature
and in their turn they resolved that,
| Whereas war with Mexico has been prolonged
and the nation disgraced by the imbccility and
whining subservency of the Executive, and the
subsequent sanction of Congress- t-
ResOlUed, therefore, that the sum Of ten thou
sand dollars is hereby appropriated to the vol
unteers, to aid in the prosecution of this unjust war;
and TO get our our country out of this disgraceful
contest
In this case, you would certainly be most I
thankful to US for our bounty, and especially
grateful for the very polite and obliging terms in
which it was rendered
Mr.. Speaker, this is most unkind, unfair and
unjust course so far as the democratic party is !
concerned 1t is carrying out all that was shadow
ed forth by the organ of the party in this city, soon
after the August elections. He urged the party,
as they had the power, TO make clean work of it
to show quarters. Sir, you are like the Jacobins
Of the French revolution in your inloxicalion of
power you have forgotten liberty, and staggered
| on despotism.
But, if this war is SO unjust, why did Congress
sanction it ? In May last, the President Informed
Congress that Mexico had made the Uni
ted States; had crossed the Rio Grande, and-had
attacked the United States forces on American
soil that Gen. Taylor had orders repel the in
vasion that, from the acts of Mexico, existed
The facts to sustain this message, Of trne official
character, was laid before Congress at the time
What did Congress do2 Did they disapprove of
the course of the Executve2 By means.
They, with unparalleled unanimity-aIl parties,
with very few exceptions concurrlng-voted, the
first sweep, TO raise $4,000 volunteers, and ten
millions of dollars, to aid in prompt and efficient
prosecution of the war. Does any believe that if
Congress had thought the President had un-
conslituonally and unawfully involved the coun-
try in war, that they would so promptly and so
speedily have furnished him with large an
amount of men and money to carry it on No,
Sir. The federal members would never have
come into the measure, if they could have avoided
it. They knew that the voice of the whole
! American people would have denounced them, if
! they had dared to pursue any other course.
| Mr.. Speaker, how unpltrotic and trcasonable
has been the course of those who have attempted
to make this war odious and unpopular; who have
exerted themselves TO throw damper upon the
patriotism of their country; who have been find
ing fault with the action of their own government,
and furnishing arguments and weapons to be used
by their enemies against our free insttutions Sir,
this war will be prosecuted with vigor and not
withstandng all the abuse that has been lavished
upon the Executive, he has manfully defended
the honor and character of his country and entitled
himself to the lasting gratitude of The nation. |
When this shall have been terminated and
volunicers return to their nativelan1, covered
with scars and glory when they shall recount
their glorious achievements in battle, and the tri- |
umphant success Of our arms ia many sanguin- |
ary engagement of how proudly the star spangl'd
banner foatcd over the walls of Mexico; and of
what hallowed associations clustered around the |
name of an American in foreign land when
they shall tell of their trials and dangers, of their
many sacrifices of the comforts of home and kin.
drcd, and of friends, 10 preserve unfinished the
honor and liberty of our country, then Sir, the
authors of this preamble will blush for shame at
the foul blot they have attempted 10 affix upon the
proud cscutcheon of North Carolina.
Mir. Speaker cannot believe that if this pre-
amble receives the sanction of this House, i. can
long be permitted to disgrace the archives of the
State. The people, in tones of thunder, will de-
mand that it shall be expunged from the public
journals; that black lines shall be drawn around it,
as badge of everlasting mourning for an act OF
such base partizan servility and folly.
We are now engaged, for the third time, in war
with foreign country. Our country has claims
upon u.s. and if any one is found base 10 rafse
parrcidal voiceagast her, he is guilty of an act
of moral treason, and is unworthy of the proud
name of an American citizen. Sir, l no
prophet, but think the day is not far distant,
when the authors of this preamble will hide their
heads for shame when they will wish 1" that the
recording angel that registered this black deed in
Heavens chanceTy on high, would drop tear
upon it, and blot it out forever" Sir, If [ am not
mistaken in nv estimate of the genius and charac-
ter of the people of North Carolina, this foul and
unholy attempt to cast censure upon our Country
by attempting to make this an odious and unconsti
tutionat war, will meet the burning indignation Of
an outraged people. Go home and tell your con-
siuents that, to effect party triumph, you struck
blow through their Chief Magistrate, at the hon.
or of your country that for eIectioneering pur-
poses, you endeavored to put damper upon the
patriotism of your fellow counrymen that while
thousands and tens of thousands of gallant and in
dignant spirits were railying to the standard of
their country, ready to sustain it, or perish on the
bed of honor, you were here far from the field of
danger, comfortably seated within the walls of this
magnificent capitol, discussing vague and abstract
propositions as 10 the causes which produced the
war Go Sir, and mingle in the crowd hear
the hiSsns and Srnrn 0f n hrave and oener0Ds