The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-03-09

v
looked 10 those leudal institutions " hich fol-
lowed upon the destruction of the Roman
Empire, where this power TO make war was
parceled out in variety Of hands-or wheth-
er they looked 10 the stern tyrrannies Of mod
| eru Europe. in any and every one ofthese in
stances they would have found that the ar
making pow er, being in the hands Of one man
the warmaking power being in the hands
of the monarch, the despoi, The feudal lord,
| and The limited monarch, has been found in
hostility to the rights, and destroying the
lives of millions Of their snbjugated people.
in all the ages Of the world. They determined
iheref re, that the power TO make war should
not be vested in The hands Of any one man.
They declared that il should be with lie SOW
ereien States and ;heir Representatives alone
TO say whether The nation should seek this last
appeal for the redress of injuries of which i,
might have reason TO complain. They provi
ded, however, that The President of the Uni
ted States. for the time being. should be the
Commando: in chief OF the armies Of the Uni
ted States
They took very good care that that army
should he exceedingly small, and they who
had the most fearful apprehensions of invest
ing in one man even The powcr TO command
this army. always iGcUlcaied upon the minds
OF every one the necessity Of keeping that az
my within limits jusl as small as the necessity
Of the external relations Of the country would
possibly admit. IL has happened, Mr.. Presi
dent. that hen little disturbance on your
Indian frontier took place, Congress was in
vOked for an increase of vour military force
Gentlemen came here no had seen partial
service in the armies Of the United States.
They tell you that the militia ofthe country
is not TO be relied upon-lhai il is only in the
regular army Of The United States that you
are to bnd the men cOmre,eDttO fight The bat
ties the country, and from time to time,
when that necessity has seemed 10 arise. for
getting this old doctrine that large standing
army in time OF peace was always dangerous
TO human liberty. we have Increased that ar
my from six thousand up TO sixteen thousand
men; and The other day, Mr., President-lhc
other day-we here gave Ten re6 imeuts more;
and Tor not giving it within the quick time
demanded by our master, the COMMANDMENT
Chief some miniOn-I know not " no, for
have no, looked into this matter in any way
until this NOTWITHSTANDING upon the fly bio VIII
remnants that fall in the Executive shan,bles
and lie purifying there, has denounced us as
MexicaDs. aud called the American Repul lie
to take notice that there was in the Senate of
the United States body of men chargabe
with observation-disclosures in heari-traitors 10
the United States.
trus', MIR. President, that our master will
be arpeased by the facility of which, immcdi-
ately after thai rebuke of bis mnion. the Sen
ate acted upon the bill and gave him the az
my which he required: ! trust that be i'll
now forget that law, which Commander
in-chief Of The army Of the United States and
President Of this great North American Re
public for The rine being, he promulgated to
MS in the message and commands " hich he
was pleased TO deliver at the opering Of this
session, 10 his faithful and humble servitors
IN both branches Of the American Congress
admonishing us that we would be cousi ercd
as giving aid and comfort to his enemy-noi
ours -hiS-if one word should be said unla
voTalle TO lbe motives which night havp
brought the royal will TO the conclusion Thar
ne would precipiiaie Ih,s Republic into a wa,
with Mexico. trust bis majesty, in consir
Grafton of our faithful services in aucmenline
the forces of the Republic, agreeahly to the
commands which We have received from the
throne. will induce him to relax a Ii tie " hen
he comes 10 execute that law Of treason upon
one at least so humble as myself. ! 90 re-
member, Mr.. President-you will remember
Mr.. President-your recollection of history
will furnish you with a case which will,
think, operate in my favor in question OF
that sort.
Some time in the history Of the royal Tu-
dois in England. when poor EnSl.shnau.
for differing from his Majesty, on some sub
iect-it might be religions fai,h-was con-
demned 10 be hanged and quariered aud en-
bowelled, out ofspecial grace, in particular
case where peniiencewas expressed, the hang
man WAS admoniShed 10 give the cuprit time
10 choke before he began TO chop up his
limbs aud take out his bowels.
Now, Mr.. Presid eni, have already stated
that do not intend to occupy the Senate with
discussion Of those variety OF topics which
naturally enforce themselves upon my atten-
ton in considering this subject. 1t must have
occurred 10 every body. how utterly impO-
tent The Congress OF the United States now is
for any purpose whatever, but that Of ielding
to The President every demand which he
makes for men and money, unless they assume
thai only position which is leir-that which.
in the history of other countries. in times IA
vorable TO human liberty. has been so often
resorted to as a check to arbitrary power
Withholding that money, refusal to grant the
services Of those men when demanded for pur-
poses which The Senate Of the United States
do not deem to be proper.
! will ask any Senator here 10 furnish me
with any means of escaping from the prose-
cution of this war for an hundred yeats TO
come. if so please the President Of he United
States to occupy this while. IIo for thai
timel Furnish me with any possibility Of
getting away from this war, conceding to him |
Us YOU have. the power to command your ar |
my wherever he pleases, aud then granting TO
The administration, as you call 1.-THE Presl- |
dent--every dollar in money, II necessary ev-
cry abe-bodied man capable ofbearing arms
in The United States, to prosecute that var
tell me, you who say that. heIns in war, and
conceding as the constitution has conceded |
to the President. The power to command yonr
armies in the field TO send them as he pleases
to Monterey. 10 Mexico. to Youcaian. 10 Pa
mama, 10 China. ifyou Please-under the pen
atty, too, of death, denounced upon the Off
GERS that shall disohey that command.--sive
him that power, and then concede 1t TO he the
duty of Congress--being thus engaged with
..tfho,,r lin I