The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-02-19
SPEECH OF MR.. CORWIN,
IN THE U. S. SENATE ON THE 18th INST. ON
THE "THREE MILLION BILL
[Continued.

this war, for an hundred years to come, if it so
please the President of the United States to occu-
ply this while. Ho for that time Furnish me
with any possibility of getting away from this war,
conceding TO him, as you have the power to COM
mand your army wherever he pleases, and in the
manner that he pleases, and then granting TO the
Administration, as you call 1.-THE President
every dollar in money, and if need be, every able
bodied man capable of bearing arms in the United
States, to prosecute that war-tell me, you who
say that being in a war, and cOnceding, as the
Constitution has conceded to the President, the
power to command your armies in the field, to
send them he peases TO NJ onterey, to Mexico,
to Yucatan, to Panama, TO China, if you please
under the penalty, too, Of death, denounced upon
the officers that shall disobey that command
give him that power, and then concede it to be
the duty OF Congress-bemg thus engaged with
out your consent at first without appealing to you
to give him that power-to leave to him the
whole conduct OF the war, and as many men and
as much money as may crafty to the full his
schemes OF ambition or avarlce, or whatever else
you attribute to him. and then tell me, what is
the Government of the United States, but one of
the bankest, levelest most odous and most hate
full despotism that it has ever pleased mercilul
God to allow a nation to be afflicted with on the
face of the earth?
have looked at this subject with painful en-
n, ell
it was my duty as a Senator of the United States,
finding the country in war, To fight it OUT" as
we say in the common and popular phrase of the
times to just and-honorable peace | could
very easily cOncede that to be my duty, il found
my country engaged in a Just warm war
necessary even to protect that fancied honor of
which you talk so much l should have some
apology in the judgment of my countrymen, in
the determination OF my conscience, and in an
appeal which you, and |, and all of us must soon
be required to ma before tribunal where
this Wanted honor OF the Republic, fear me.
will gain but little credit as defence to any act
we may be guilty of here in the Senate of the u.
States.
But when | am asked TO say that will prose-
cute war, cannot answer that question, yea or
nay, until have determined whether that was
necessary war; and cannot determine whetb-
er twas necessary until know how it was that
my country was involved in it. And it is TO that
particular point Mr.. President without reading
documents, but referring to few facts which
understand not to be denied on either side OF this
chamber-that wish to direct the attention of
the American Senate, and so far as may be, that
OF any OF the humble and honest constituents
whom represent here. know, Mr.. President
the responsibility which assume in undertaking
to determine that the President of the U, States
has done great wrong to the country, whose
honor and whose interest he was required to prO.
feet. l know, Mr.. President, the denunclations
which await even so humble an individual as NV
self when he shall dare to put himself in opposi-
ton TO that high power--that idol eod-which
the people of this country have made TO them
selves and called President
But it is my very humility which makes me
bold. know, sir, that he who was told in oiden
time how 10 govern turbulent people, was adj
IN Cuf nf he tall
capel Still, holding seat here, Mr. President.
and finding it written in the Constitution of nv
country that had the power to grant to the
President, at his bidding or not, as pleased
men and money, did conceive that il became
my duty to ascertain whether the Presidents
request was reasonable one, whether the Pres
ident wanted these men and this money for
proper and laudable purpose or not and with
these oId-tashioned ideas-qute as unpopular
say, on this side of the Chamber as we find
them to be on the other-l set myselfto this pain
iul investigation, and found not quite enough
along with me to have saved that CITY in oldep
time-(A laugh)
There were not FIVE Of US but only three! "a
laugh) ! looked around and as alluson was
made by the Senator from Michigan yesterday in
very singular and conspicuous manner that we
read OF in the Old Testament, by name, Job. in
my desolation finding myself only with two other
men on this important question, did go to that
book to see il could not find some consolation in
my despair and when these votes were called
and was compelled TO separate myself from all
around me, could have cried as did the man of
w in his affiiction in the oden time" What
times my friends waxed warm, they vanish ="
"a laugh.) "Whie it is hot they are consul
med out Of their places" (Renewed laugh
ter.)
Well, could not leave the position in which it
had pleased the State OF Ohio to place me, and
returned again and again to the original and pri-
mary and important inquiry how Is it that my
country is involved in this war? | looked to the
Presidents account Of it, and he tells me it was
q war for the defence Of the territory of the u
States. l found it written in that message, Mr..
President, that this war was not sought forced
upon Mexico by the people OF the United States
| shall make no question Of history or the truth
OF history with my master, the Commander-in-
Chief, upon that particular proposition. On the
contrary, could verify every word that he thus
uiters. Sir, know that the people of the United
States neither sought nor forced Mexico into this
war, and yet know that the President of the U.
States, with the command Of your standing army,
did seek that war, and that he forced war upon
Mexico. ! am not about to afflict the Senate
with detail OF testimony on that point. ! will
simply state facts which not man in America
will deny.
fwF