The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
pEECH OF HON. JAMES u. BowLIN,

Il
imports also from the sales OF the public lands [grad
uatng and reducing hem to aid in the prosecution OF
the war with Mexico.
Mr. BOWLN rose and said
Mr. CHAIRMAN: The bill under consideration comes
before n revenue measure recommended by the Ex-
ecutive, necessary to furnish means for vigorously
prosecuting the war, and maintaining the honor and
credit OF the country; and, SUCH there other
considerations should have his warm and undivided sup
port He bowed TO Executive WILL merely because it
the mandate of the President such conduct not
to be found in the catalogue OF democratic principles.
But he did bow TO the sacred principles OF honor, justice,
and patriotism; and he would scorn himself If he fe II
that he could be capable, for instant, of contributing
directly or indirectly, place the country in state of
war; throwing the high responsibility of conducting that
war TO glorious termination upon the Executive, and
then Withholding from him the necessary to its
temporarily embarrass the Executive and cripple the
energies of the government but it could only be tempo
rariy for the people, penetrating the thin veil that COW
cred up such design, would soon rise in their might
and rebuke its authors and throw around the President
the protecting shield OF their confidence.
The exists, declared so TO be- by the almost unan-
mous vote OF this House armies had been placed in
the field, and 1t was too late now, when the Executive
called for OF supporting that war, for gentlemen To
oppose granting them, and console themselves with the
parrot cry, hat it is the Presidents war; and natte
themselves that they deCeving the people, because
they deceivng themselves and keeping up their
courage by such clamor. But this parrot cry will not
avail them in the hour of trials because it was, in fact
not true, and alsehood never sustained cause and the
record of the vote of this House, declaring the existence
and business OF the war, would rse like Banquos ghost
to conound and unnerve them before the people 1t
the peoples declared solemnly to be by their rep
resentaves and when those representatives abandoned
ITS glorious prosecution, upon preences alsed by then
own vote upon the record, the people would take il up
with an energy and patriotic ardor that would teach their
pretended advocates here that they at least have not yet
learned to weigh national honor and national glory the
balance, against few dimes OF additional taxes! The
pretence that the people are opposed to being taxed IN
everything necessary to raise funds in support of the
present struggle, is libel upon their patriotism and their
generosity. Politicians might, and did sometimes prac-
tce strange tricks IN the sacred name of the people,
which they would blush to acknowledge before the
sembed masses But he meant TO let the people speak for
themselves, through their deeds worth than words
as 10 their opinions OF the existing war; and the national
obligation OF prosecuting 1t with vigor, and their willing
TO bear all reasonable burdens its support We had
been told again and again. that the people against this
war; and were unwilling to be taxed in favorite articles of
consumption for its support This kind OF bold assumption
at the expense OF the patriotism of the people, very
easily trumpeted forth these halls but he called for the
proof TO sustant Where is the proof 10 sustain this
person upon their patriotic devotion to their country
Was il found in the public press, the representative to
extent, of the beangs of the national pulse No ,
the press, the coaborer with the people in the propaga
ton of the principles of civil liberty, freghed to
them from every quarter of the Union with patriotic APP
peals to pour forth the national energies, until our tn
umphant victories should be crowned with lasting
peace Even the party wing press OF the country where
has to reflect the pure and unaduerated sentiments OF
the masses of all parties could not be drilled into the
blind service of the opposition upon that hoer-even they
driven Dy the 1TeSStlD!e force OF puDlC DphOn III
not from higher motves TO take the side OF their country
in this conflict Then the proof not found in the
press Was it in the gallant and patriotic demonstrations
which the people gave in offering up themselves upon
the altar of their country, proportions tenfod greater
than the demand Was il found in this demonstration OF
patriotic ardor OF which history furnishes no para
We call for a thousand to take the field and the
call is echoed back by ten thousand voices anxiousy
seeking be chosen for the post of danger as the post OF
fame. Was it here that gentlemen found proof OF the
unpopuarity of the war; If So he could only say that
in a
from the premises Then it was not, he assumed, IN
these demonstrations that they found the proof OF its un
popularity And he would ask, not cautiously, but
frankly and canddly of gentlemen where they derived
their conclusions from, that the people were unwilling TO
be taxed, in their tea and coffee, in support OF their
country In the present crsis was to be found m me IN
necessary but Unprecedented bealy displayed by the
people in making private contributions everywhere gra-
utousy to the volunteers who enter the service OF their
country We have beheld these patriotic demonstrations
from Maine to Louisiana-everywhere where troops
were raised for the service No sooner had company
organized itself than the community around simulta
neously poured forth upon them the most liberal conr
buttons from their private stores OF everything needed Tor
their comfort Were these the demonstrations OF that
niggardy spirit which would refuse to be taxed to raise
funds in support OF the war; There is not an old wo-
man in the land who would not regard IT libel upon
her patriotism she would refuse to be taxed even
in her most delicious beverage to support this war 1t
not the people, who, looking alone to their country
her honor and her true glory regardless whose particular
star might be in the ascendant, who raised these oblec
lions, but the politicians, who, blinded by partisan zeal,
and seeking to elevate themselves through some iavorte
chief must strive to strike down the Executive, even at
the expense of their countrys honor. This was the
source and the only source, whence sprung these demon
STATIONS of opposition to the war, and the raising OF
means to carry And the people whose names were
constantly invoked in support OF this unhoy crusade
against the war; would IN their own way and al the prop
er time repe the vile caumny and teach its Propagaors
that their names could not be nieposed shield to pro-
,ect the assailants of their country.
Ii had been boldly asserted here that the people would
not submit war tax on tea and coffee and indeed IN
effect voted in this House, avowa OF pubic sent
meni Conscious of the necessity and IN anticipation OF
the call from the Executive for such means, the honora
Bile gentleman from Illinois MIR. WENTWORTH had
thrust forth his resolution under the gag. enforced by the
wings and few democrats declaring that was lneNpe-
dent to tax tea and coffee That declarations thus hmed
i'm view of the circumstances, amounted TO nOtnlng more
nor less than an indirect ayowa that they would not tax
tea and coffee support the To that assertion, re-
peatedly made and TO that VOTE what had been Inc re-
spouse of the people, Where we to look Tor the eV-
dences of their approval Time enough had elapsed,
since the vote of that House upon the subject o every
possible demonstration OF approval to come rolling PACK
upon us Where were they he again asked Antci-
pang the necessities Of the country, which would com
pei the President TO ask for this additional resource Tor
the war, politicians here had sought to head he ADMIN
sration by declaring in solemn vote IN the name OF
and for the people, that they would submit to no such
tax They had assumed 10 be the peculiar and laVore
confdens of the public will That vote had gone forth
long SINCE had been spread from one end OF me con-
ederacy the other, and he called upon gentlemen
to make good their assertion by those demonstrations oil
public opinion which cannot be mistaken. Feeling a
deep interest in question that seemed to strike 50 iaa
blow upon the resources of the country involved
in a foreign war, he had watched anXlousy, and
he thanked God in VAN, for those demonstrations
of opinion, which TO sustain the Sir Oracle
dicum of this House that the people would not be
taxed to sustain the honor of their country Sir, the
l. 4 L., a a n