Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-03-24
BEMARKs OF MIR. WEBSTER,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,
ON THE THREE MILLION BILL

In 6xsArr OF THE UsrxD STATES, MARCH ]. IA
The Senate having under consideration, the
Three Million Bill, and the question having been
put on the engrossment of the Bill for its third
reading
Ma. WEBSTER said :-If my health had
been better, and more time had remained to us,
il was my purpose to address the Senate on the
bill before il, and also on several topics with
which it is connected. This purpose, under ex
isting circumstances, must necessarily forego.
The trne origin of the war with Mexico, and
the motives and purposes for which it was orig
inally commenced, however ably discussed al
ready, are subjects not yet exhausted. i have
been particularly DESTROYS of examining them.
am greltly deceived Mr.. President, if we shall
not ere long see facts coming to the light, and
circumstances found coinciding and concurring
which shall fix on the Executive Government
more definite and distinct purpose, intended to
be effected with the cooperation of others, in
bringing on hostilties with Mexico, than has
as yet been clearly developed or clearly under
stood.
At present, should hardly have risen but to
la< before the Senate the resolutions of the
Mouse of Representatives of Massachusetts a.
dorted on Thursday last. We have a great
deal OF commentary aud criticism on State res
slutions brought here. Those of Michigan
particularly have been very sharply and narrow
" looked into to see whether they really mean
what they seem to mean. These resolutions
of Massachusetts, hope are sufficiently distinct
snddccided. They admit of neither doubt nor
cavi,eyen ifdoubt or cavi were permissible in
-rch case. What the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts thinks, it has said. and said plainly
and directly. Mr.. President, have not, before
any tribunal, tried my ingenuity at what the
l.w, ers call a special demurrer for many years;
aud never tried it here in the Senate. In the
business Of Legislation, and especially in consd-
ering State resolutions and the proceedings of
public assemblies, it is our duty of course to I'M
dcrs:snd every thing according to the common
meaning cf the words used. Of all occasions,
these are the last in which one should stick in
in the bark, or seek for loop holes, or means
OF esq aPc,or in the language of an eminent judge
of former times, sshitch and hang on pins and
particles We must take the substance fairly
uni as it l.. and not hesitate about forms and
phrases When public bodies address us, wheth-
or We comply with their wishes or not, we are
not at least bound to understand them as they
n.ean 10 be- understood; to seek for no subter-
fipes, and TO rely on no far-fetched and subtle
difficulties or exceptions. All such attempts
will be Justly regarded only as so many contri-
vances, resorted TO get rid of the responsibility
Of meeting the public voice directly and mann
fully, AL looking our constituents boldly In
ere face.
{. Sir, ae are in the midst of a war, not waged
., home in defence of our soil, but waged a
thousand miles of, and in the heart of the ter
ritories OF another Government. Of that wal
DO one We, sees the end, and no one counts the
eo,t. Ii is not denied that this war is now
rrosccnt Il for the acquisition Of territory at eas
ifeny dcny II, others admit it, and all know i
to be trre.-
Undc chose circumstances and plainly seeing
this purpose to exist, seven or eight of the fret
States, comprising some of the largest, have
demonstrated against the prosecution of The
war for such purpose, in language suited Il
express taeir meaning. These remonstrance
come here with the distinct & precise object o
diSsuading US from the further prosecution o
the war for the acquisition of territory by con
quest. Before territory is actually obtained
and its future character fixed, they beseech u
10 give up an object so full of danger. One an,
al they protest against the extension of slave
territory: enc and all they regard it as the
solemn d,.ty of the representatives of the FREE
States to take security in advance that no more
slave States shall be added to the Union. They
demand ei us this pledge, this assurance, befor,
the purchase money is paid or the bargain con
clud.d. And vet, Mr.. President, ingenuity ha.
been take. to its utmost; criticisms both deeI
and shallow, and hypercriticisms quite incom
prehensi.,l', have all been resorted to, in tht
hope Of showing that we do not understand tn,
Ieople; that their resolutions are not what they
erein to be: that they do not require any imme
Giatc Increment or present opposition; that they
only loo. to me distant future, some emergen
cies yet 10 arise; that they only refer to dis
position II regard to territory, after it shal
have hcen acquired and settled; and in one in
staac-, i.iink, it was said that it did MT ap
renr ;ha; any thing was required of us for fit
years To come.
bir. President, understand all these thing
very differently, Such is not the voice of tn
free States, and of other States, as receiv
j.. Ta.i:,.umpet gives forth no uncertain SCUM
It's tones are clear and distinct. | understan
that loud and imperative call is made upon u
to act n.;w: to take securities now: to make
certain Few that no more slave States shall ey
er be he,l to this Union.
] W.. RAJ, ir,the Massachusetts, resolutions
"iiesc' G! unanimously, That the Legislstur
Of Massachusetts, views existence Of huma
slavery ". Tin the limits of the United State
as great calamity-an immense moral all
political G, IL, which ought to be abolished a
son Is LAT end can be properly and consltu
tlonaliy a: .ained; and thatits extension shout
b. uniformly and earnestly opposed by all goo
and pa:.. TIC men throughout the Union.
"l!,,eso X unanimously, That the people c
Mass, y ..ictts Will strenuOusly resist the ar
rcxation Il any new territory to this Union,
which TIC Institution of slavery is to be tolera
It'd ~ t;,.,ished; and the Legislature, in be
half or ~ reople of this Commonwealth, d
hereby p :; ST against the acquisition of an
i.liiio..a. ,trritory, without an express provis
iuhv -rcss that there shall be neither slav
~ nnr Involuntary seivitude in such territor.
othotw-c than for the punishment of crime.
sir. K thrre any possibility of misunderstar
d nr t'rs. Is there any escape from the mean
! 2 Of n; .iuguage? And yet there are hard
] nlore lett than the resolutions of othe
L--g'-I Michigan, New YorF, Yermon
SUI al sac f.,st.
Tn. IEri-e of Representatives of Massachu