Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-03-11
Gov. Corwin's speech.

long for our columns, but We give The following
extract, from the closing part of it as reported
in the National In,ellgencer, which will be
read with thrilling interest:
! Mr.. President, if the history Of our race has
established any truth, it is but confirmation Of
whal is written, F" the way of the Iransgre.sor
is hard" lnordina,e ambition, wantoning in
power, and spurning the humble maxims of JUS
lice, has, ever has, and ever shall end in ruin
Strength canno, always ,rample upon weakness
the humble shall be exalied-ihe bowed
down will a, length be lifted mp. II is by faith
in The law Of slrlc, Justice and the practice of
lis precepis that nations alone can be saved
All the annals of the human race, sacred and
profane, are written over with this grea, truth
in characters of living light. 1t is my fear. my
| fixed belief, that in this invasion, this war with
Mexico, We have forgotten this vital truth
Why is it that we have been drawn into this
whirlpool of war! How clear and strong was
the light that shone npon the path of duty
year ago! The last disturbing question with
| England was setlled--our power extended its
peaceful sway from The Atlantic to the Pacific;
from the Alleghanies we looked on, upon Eu-
rope, and from the tops of the Stony Mountains
we could descry the shores of Asia a rich com.
merce with all the nations of Europe poured
wealth and abundance into our lap on The At
lantic side, while an unoccupied commerce of
three hundred millions of Asiatics waited on
the Pacific for our enterprise TO come and pos.
sess it. One hundred millions Of dollars will
be wasted in this fru,less war Had This mo.
! ney of The people been expended in making
railroad from your Northern Lakes TO The Pa
cihc, as one of your cilizens has begged Of you
in vain, you would have made highway for
the world between Asia and Europe Your
capital then would be within thirty or forty
days travel Of any and every poin, on the map
Of the civilized world Through this great ar
terry of trade you would have carried through
the heart Of your own country the teas OF China
and the spices Of India TO the markets of Eng.
land and France. Why, why, Mr.. President,
did we abandon the enterprise of peace, and be-
take ourselves TO the barbarous achievements
of war! Why did we iorsake this fair and
fertile field 10 baien on that moorl"
But, Mr.. President, if further acquisition of
territory is to be the result either of conquest or
treaty, then | scarcely know which should be
preferred war with Mexico, or the ha-
yards Of internal conmotion at home, which las,
fear may come if another province is to be
necied with this subjec. which ,rembe when
| approach, and ye, | cannot forbear TO notice
it. II meets you in every step you take, it
threatens you which way soever you 60 in the
prosecution of this war. | aude to the ques-
tion of slavery. Opposition to its further ex-
tension, il mus, be obvious to every one, is
deepIy-rooted determination with men of all
parties in what We call the non-save. holding
States. New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio,
three of the most powerful, have already sent
their legislative instructions here---so il will be-
doub, not, in all the rest. 1t is vain now TO
speculate about the reasons for this. Gentle
men of the South may call it prejudice, passion,
hypocrisy, fana,csm. | shall not dispute with
them now on that point. The great fact that
it is so. and not otherwise, is what il concerns
us TO know. You nor | cannot alter or change
this opinion if We would. These people only
say, we will not, canno, consent that you shall
carry slavery where il does not already exist
They do not seek to disturb you in that institu-
ton, it exists in your States. Enjoy i. if
you will, and as you will. This is their Ian
guage, their determination. How is i, in the
South Can ii be expected that they should
eXpend as common, their blood and their treas
ure, in the acquisition of immense territory,
and then willingly fo.ego the right to carry
.hiher their slaves, and inhabi, the conquered
country if they please TO do so! Sir, know
the feelings and opinions Of the South TOO well
TO calculate on this. Nay, believe they would
even contend TO any extremity for the mere
right, had they wish TO exer. it, | believe
land confess remble when the conviction
presses upon me) tha, there is equal obstinacy
on both sides of this fear(u! question.
If, then, we persist in war, which, if it ter
inmate in any thing short of mere wan,on
waste of blood as well as money, mus. end (as
this bill proposes) in The acquisition Of territory,
10 which at once this controversy must attach,
this bill would seem TO be nothing less than
bill to produce internal commoiion. Should we
prosecute the war another moment, or expend
one dollar in the purchase or conquest of sim
gle acre of Mexican land, The North and the
South are brought into collision on point
where neither will yield. Who can foresee or
foreiell the result? Who so bold or reckless
as TO look such conflict in The face unmoved!
do not envy The heart of him who can realize
The possibility Of such confc, whou, emo
lions too painful 10 be endured. Why, then.
shall we, The Representatives, Of the sovereign
States Of this Union, the chosen guardians of
this confederaled Republic, why should we pre.
cptae this fearful struggle, by con,inujno