Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-18
SENATOR CoRWiN'S SPEECH.

|
attracted general attention as the speech or 81
ator Corwin of Ohio against the Mexican war.
None has been so lavishly praised or so ferocious
denounced, and 1t may be that justice will only
awarded its distinguished author, when the stri
and contention of these times have passed away
lie has been called a traitor by many ; but their n
cusation will not pass for much, until they hav
given as good proof of their patriotism and cou
age. Let these newspaper heroes, these patriotic
soldiers, whose services consist in defaniDg thei
6eters, seek nearer acquaintance with waf--le
them cultivate slight intimacy al all events, will
| saltpetTe and birthstone. before they undertake I,
lmPugn the honor Of whoever, may choose 10 differ
with their dol-god, the President To hear these
vapore1s talk. one would suppose this speech was
just the most vlllainous production fatered by
man and yet they never allude to it, but TO Sian.
der and mIsrepresent. One will tell YOU, Corwii
spoke of our gallant soldiers as robbers and cut
Threats defy him to the proof and he, stands
mute. Another will say he rcviled Cen Taylor :,
ASH HIM when aud where, and he sneaks ont of it,
looking for all the world II he had been caught
at hen roost or in sheep-iold. Thus it is with
their whole brood; what they assert for truth turns
out to be reckless Justification accompanied nine
cases out OF ten with the reluctant confession that
they never read the speech, except in the garbled
extracts OF their PARTISAN press. Their reading IS
somewhat after the fashion Of the following, which
we ilnd IN Locoioco paper published somowhete
In Western Virginia
'WHo TOLD THAT LIE The brutal passions
OF our soldiers can never he restrained by any com
mander. Neither helpless infancy, decfept old
age, NOR FEMALE LONELINESS can arrest them
IN the qualification Of their Brutal PAss1oNs.'-
| Senator ,COrtcin's speech, u. S. Senate"
No such sentiment, we venture 10 saw was ever
uttered by MIR. COrwn, and of cohfse it is not in
his speech. Much as he, in common with the
great body of the people. abhors and condemns this
no &c InNa ry,h 40, - ,,,,, - =
arrangement of the brave soldiers who have suffered
and endured all its terrofs and privations Once
for ALL to put these ISLANDERS rest we will quote
from bis printed speech all that Mr. Corwin said of
the soldiers engaged in the war Dopreciatinc the
idea. that the true glory of nation was TO be achov
ed by military exploits, he said:
Mr.. President, trust we shall abandon the
idea. the heather, barbarian notion that our true
national glory is TO he %on or retained by militia
ry prowess. or skill in the art of DESTROYING life
And, whilst cannot but lament for the perina
nent and lasting renown of my country that she
should command the service of her children
: In what / must consider, wahton, unprovoked, ,n-
necessary, and therefore, unjust war, can Weld
to the brave soldier, whose trade is war and
whose duty is obedience, The highest n.eed of praise
for has courage, his enterprise and perpetual en-
dtrance of the fatigues and horrors of war know
the gallant men who are engaged in fighting your
battles possess bravery equal TO any troops IN the
hnd, any ,0I6rc engaged IN the business of yar.-
do not believe we are less capable in the art of
destruction than others, or less willing on the
slightest preext, to unsheah the sword, and con
slider revenge viri,e." could wish also, that
your brave soldiers. whilst they bleed and die on
the battle field might have (what in this war is
inpossble) the consolation TO feel and know, that
their blood flowed III defence Of great right that
their lives were meet sacrifice to an exalted prin
ciple.'
There is certainly nothing in this to which the
most sensitive could object on the contrary it EN-
bodies a compliment to soldiers in the field as
beautiful as II was sincere. In another part of the
same speech, when abiding to the declaration OF
General Cas-, that Europe had forgotten the United
States until the noise of battles and the shout OF
victories had walked her up, this was his Ian
guage
He thinks that nation is not distinguished I'M
It'll it Is distinguished in war. He fears that tho
'slnmberlng faculties of Europe, Have not been a
'ble TO ascertain, that there twenty millions of
Anglo Sayons here--making railroads and canals
and speeding all the arts Of peace to the utmost &C
'complishII,ent of the most refined civilization
They do not know III And what is the woiidet
full eXpedient which, this Democratic method of
making history would adopt in order to make us
known! Sorming cities, desolating peaceful hap
Ply homes, shooting men-aye sir, such is war
and shooting women too.
''Sr, have read In some account of yoiir battle
of Monterey, of lovely Mexican girl, who, with
the benevoence of an angel in her bosom. and the
robust courage OF hero in her heart; was busiIy
engaged during the bloody conflict, amid the crash
'of falling houses, the groais Of the dying arid the
wild shrek OF battle in carrying watet to slake the
burning thirst oil the wounded of either host
: While bending over wounled Ametican soldier.
"a cannon ball struck her and blew her to atoms =
Sir; do not charge my brave, gererous-hearted
'couhttymen who fought that fight with this No.
" send yrp In kitot.
scenes like this, which might send teirs of SORROW
down PIuo's iron check" are the ihvariable. in.
'evitable attendants war, 9Je accountable for
this; and thls--thiS is the Way we ATE to be made
known TO Europe. I'his-thiS is to be the undy
ing renown Of free Republican America! "She
has sormed city-kied many of its inhabitants
of both sexes-5he has room" Sd it will read
Sir, this were our only history, then may God
'ot his mercy giant that its volume may speedily
come to close"
What is herein expressed we would ask, but
the truth We fud nothing relative to .,he bru
tai passions OF our soldier" nothing which comes
within bow shot Of the wretched trash every
day imposed upon the public, for the sentiments Of
MI Corwin. We have only to add, if this speech
be the monstfOus thing it is proclaimed why is 1t
that the LocOiocos canno restrain themselves from
garbIing and ialsifynG it? II would certainly be
more TO their honor, and more to the satisfaction of
the people; if they would condescend to forget for
the time their uncomfortable passion for ihisreple
scniaou aud deceit.
ANECDOTE OF GEN. TAYLOR.
The following anecdote is communicated by r
correspondent Of the Montgomery (Aabama) Jour
nal and is one OF tic most touching incidents we
have ever met:
The General had OCCASION to visit Point Isabel
aitef the battle Of Bueua Vista and the Captain
OF TIE steamboat had reserved suite of state rooms