Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-02-25
0br 1flrxttan tl)or.
SPEECH OF Mr.. CORWIN,
IN the y. S. Senate, on The Nh instant on The
Turep Million I}iUn

90 not pretend 10 attempt lne performance OF
task so futile and foolish as to go over the whole
field of discussion which this subject embraces.
1t has already been occupied by more vgilant
and stronger hands than mine All that may
hope will be to gather, here and there, sheaf or
two before the harvest be fully gathered rise.
Mr. President, and have solicited the attention OF
the Senate only for the purpose of performing
the humble task OF presenting to the body, and
through it, if possible, to the particular constu-
ents which represent, some reasons that have
impeled me to occupy, what every one must
know, in times like these, is, to say the least OF
it, a position not desirable.
have been compelled, Mr. President from
conscientious convictions which have pressed
themselves upon my mind from the commence
ment of the session-from the time | received
the Presidents Message, up to this hour-to give
certain votes upon very important measures which
have been presented TO the Senate, which sepa
rate me not merely from the other side Of the
Senate, with whom on those great questions ve-
ry seldom can unite, but also from majority OF
those gentlemen belonging to the same political
party,-of which ! suppose may call myself
member,--on this side of the House. II is not
remarkable, Mr. President at least it is not mat
ter OF surprise to any one who has attended TO
the various opinions which have been expressed
even IN tbs Hall, that there should be a radical
difference Of opinion resulting out of that varc
thought and application of thought 10 the bust
ness of life, which, at least in the state in which
we at present find mankind, is almost natural
necessity. 1t must, however, have struck every
one, sir, as very curious fact, that the two Sen
ators on the other side OF the Hall, III looking at
the present aspect of public affairs, should enter
tain such slngularly opposite views. The pro-
found and contempalve mind OF the Senator
from South Carolina, Mr. Calhoun,) in looking
Il fstF.Y, - gl,p ltp
could see nothing all around him but darkness,
and doubt, and dlsrus,, and fearful apprehension,
and impenetrable glo I'M; while to the mind Of
the Senator from Michigan, (Mr. C0ss,) all was
bright, and calm and placid sunshine, and pros
porous breezcs, and a smooth sea. Now Mr., Pres
ident if this diversity Of opinion is found TO pre-
vail i'll minds Infatuated and accustomed to think
Earnestly aud sincerely upon public affairs, 1t VIII
present itself to every body us requiring in him
who is to determine between these two conflict
ing opinions all the attention which it is possible
for the human mind to give the subject, under
the awful responsibility which rests upon every
man, in determining upon question affecting SO
deeply the happiness and Interests OF so many
millions Of human beings.
Now, wish it were in my power to entertain
those placid convictions which appear to have
settled on the mind Of the Senator from Mlchi-
gan, rather than have my mind disturbed, as 1t
has been in common with the Senator from South
Carolina, by visions and prospects of evl-by
fearful apprehenslons that every step we are now
taking may be the last one which we shall be per
mitted TO take in our career and in Our history as
free people; and am the less inclined to lis
ten to this siren song the Senator from Michigan
sings to his own soul in the present fearful aspect
of public affairs, because, Mr.. President, have
heard it before now Every one must recolIcct
the condition of this country two or three years
ago, when that other question, which was but the
prelude and the precursor to the one which we
are now obliged to discuss, was before the Sem
ate of the United States, and anXiously attracted
the attention Of the whole people of the United
States-the question of the Annexation Of the
Republic of Texas, but recently portion of this
very Mexico with whom we are now at war. We
were told then, sir, that Texas, being indie
pendent Republic, had right TO dispose OF her
self in whatever way and to whatever end and
purpose she pleased, and the parent Republic OF
Mexico having no cause to complain, would ut
ter no complaint at the disposition she was then
about TO make of herself We were told that
war with Mexico would not - could not ensue, If
that step should be taken by the people Of the
United States. We were told then, as we are
told now, by the Senator from Michigan, that all
was culm-all was tranquil that as he said yes
terday, the sentinel might sleep securely on his
tower-that all would be peace, and that that step
could in no sense disturb the friendly relations
existing between the Republic of Mexico and
the Republic of the United States. We were
asked not TO anticipate the evil which was to
come lust as the Senator from Michigan begged
us to anticipate not evils which might be in pros
pect before US. Sufficient unto the day Is the
evil thereof" was then the song with which the
advocates Of that measure sought to luIl into
tranquility, or into apathy, the excited feeling of
the public mind in this country.
nd Mr. President tho lHV has como nd wa :
then predicted, and the evil predicted has come
with it. We are here, sir, noN, not as then at
peace with all the world-not now as then with
laws that brought into your treasury every thing
adequate to its wants not now us then free from
debt and the apprehension OF debt and taxation,
its necessary consequence. But we are here with
a treasury that is beggared-that lifts up its I'M
plorng hands to the monoposts and capitalists
of the country that sends out its notes and
"promises to pay" into every mart and into eve
nv market in the word-begging for ptonce
from every hand to help to swell the amount now
necessary to eXlrcule US from Il war-inGvtlbe,
as it now seems it was-from that very act which
was adopted under such flatterlng promises two
wears ago Mr.. President, II is no purpose of
mine to arralgn the conduct ofthe Unlcd States
upon that occasion. 1t is no purpose Of mne to
treat the young and newly-adoptcd sister the
state of Texas as an alien or stranger in this
how little reliance is to be placed upon those ia
vorabe antcipatlons in which gentlemen indulge
with regard to consequences which may flow from
measures to which they are strong y welded ell
ther by feeling or By party attachment
And is there nothing else, Mr. President, in
the history of the last year TO justify the Senator
from South Carolina in that important declaration
which he made the other day, that in the whole
history of his comprising the most evehtlul
periods in the history of this Republic there
had never been a time when so much danger was
threatened to the interests, happiness and llber.
ties of the people Of the United States as now ?
Why, sir, if any one would sit down tree from
the excitement, free from the bases consequent
upon a constant interminglIng with those busted
! IN public affairs, and IN those calm aud sequest-
cred soltudes where thoughtful men indulge
themselves in reflections upon passing events,
and look over the history even Of the last year,
and then Judging from all the examples OF form.
or Understanding to that wisdom which hsto-
! ry teaches and which history alone Gun teach
OF what must be the lnvitable and unavoidable
result of what hns happened, it appears to me
that he would say that this Republic, Boosting
that its liberties are secured and the various func
tons of It's government bound up in the chans
| of a written constitution, has torn that cohstltu-
ton to tatters scattered It TO the breeze and re-
solved itself into - that old and much abused con