Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-02-24
sPEECH OF
GEN. LEWIS CASS

s sPEEcH OF
GEN. LEWIS CASS
IN THE THE UNITED STATES SENATE, FEB.
RUARy 10, 1S47, ON THE THREE MILLION
BILL.
e. Mr.. CAss said: In the remarks | pro.
pose to submit, Mr.. President, shall in
vert the natural order of arrangement, |
intend to present my views of the cause
and course Of the war thus far, and also
the reasons which will induce me to vote
for the appropriation of three millions of
dollars. 10 which shall add my views
Of the best mode Of proceeding in the pros
ecution of tho war. | shall begin, how
ever, with the two latter subjects.
do not rise, sir, with the emotions so
visibly felt and eloquently described by the
distinguished senator from South Carolina.
l. do not consider this country or its institu.
tons in the slightest danger. Never was
it more free, powerful, or prosperous than
at the present moment, when untimely
warnings come to assail us. The public
sentinel may sleep upon his watchtower.
In the distant horizon, not cloud as big as
the prophets hand IS to be seen, which is
to overspread the heavens, and which is to
burst in thunder and in tempest upon us.
We are, indeed, engaged in foreig gn war,
which demands the solicitude of every good
citizen. But the scene Of its operations is
two thousand miles distant; and come the
worst that may, we can at any time with.
draw into our own country. Disgraceful,
indeed, would be such movement; but it
would be still better than the evils predict
ed, and according to the nature of the ap-
prehensions expressed, it would terminate
the danger. ,..,
Mr.. President, it gives me great pain to
hear any illusions TO the dissolution of this
.confederacy, and Of all the places in this
republic, this high place is the last in which
they should be expressed. The constitu-
ton is in no danger. It has survived ma
ny shock, and il will survive many more.
There arc those now in the Senate-and
am among them-who were born before
It camo into being. :.. ..... -..... ..
We have grown with our growth and
strengthened with our strength, till the ap.
proach of physical infrinites, the kindly
warnings Of nature, bid US prepare for an
other and untried world. And the consti-
tuition, too, has grown with its growth and
strengthened with its strength till from
100000 it governs 100000 900 of people,
and has made them the happiest community
upon tho face Of the globe. But it is yet
fresh in its strength. No .infrmity has
come 10 tell us that its dissolution is near.
1t is no longer an experiment, but expert.
ence, no longer q promise, but perform
ance. 1t has fulfilled all, and more than
oil, than its most sanguine advocates dared
predict 1t is at this moment stronger in
the affections Of the American people than
at any other period ofits existence. Like
the cliff Of eternal granite, which over
looks the ocean, and drives back the cease
less waves that assail its base, so will this
constitution resist the assaults, that may
be made upon it, come how or when, or
whence they may. In the providence Of
God no such lot as ours was ever conferred
upon people. What we have been and
are, the past and the present have told, and
are telling lis. What we are to be, the
future will tell to those who are 10 come
after us, to their Joy or sorrow, as we cher.
ish or reject the blessings we enjoy. five
are not struck with Judicial blindness, as
were Gods chosen people Of old, and pun
ished for national offences by national pun
ishments, we shall cling to this constitu.
tomas the mariner clings 10 the last plank,
when night and the tempest closes around
him; and we shall cling to It the stronger,
as the danger is greater. q
Mr.. President, | shall not touch apy Of
the topics before lis as sectional man. Il
view them, and shall present them, as, an
American citizen, looking to the honor and
interests Of his country, and Of his whole
country Inthese great questions Of ma
tional bearing, Iacknowledgc no geograph-
icnllclaims. w hat is bestfor the United
States is best for me, and in that spirit
alone shall pursue the discussion.
Astrong desire pervades this country,
that rsgion extending west Of our pre-
sent possessions to the Pacific ocean, should
be acquired and made part Of our confed,
eracy..e The attempt 70 purchase twas
made during the administration Of. General
Jackson, and the hope Of succeeding has
never since been wholly abandoned. Il
will not detsin the Sennte BY spreading out