Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-02-26

from souih Carolina. Mr.. Calhoubl In looking
asFoad a. The present e0ndhion Of the Rspublie.
could see Boshng eli uround him bus darkness.
and doubf, and dislrust and fearful apprehension,
and impeDetfable gloom; while 10 ihe mind of
the Senator from Michigan (Mr. Cass) all was
bright, and calm. and placid sunshine, and pros
Derous breezes and a smooth sca. Nov, Mr.
Presidenf, fihis diversity Of opinion is found 10
prevail in minds habiuated and accustomed 10
think earnestly and sincerely upon public Il.
iain, il will present itself 10 every body hs re-
curing in him who is 70 determine between
ihese TWO conflicting opinions all the attention
which u IS possible for The human mind 70 give
ms sueleci under The awful responsibility which
rests upon every man in determining upon
question affecting 90 deeply the happiness and
Interests Of 50 many millions Of human beings.
! Now, wish II we're in my power TO entertain
those placid convictions which appear 10 have
seitled on the mind Of The Senator from Mjchi.
gan, rather than have my mind disturbed, ss il
has been in common with the Senator from South
Carolina, by visions and prospects Of svil-by
fearful apprehensions thar every step we are now
taking may be the last one which we shall Be
permitted 10 take in our career and in our hSloa
ry as a free people; and ! am the less inclined
10 listen TO this siren song the Senator from Mi-
chigan sings 10 his own soul in the present fear
fol aspect Of public affairs, because, Mr.. Presi.
dent, have heard il before 'nowI Every ono
must recoHect the condition Of this country Two
or three years ago, when that other question,
which was but the prelude and precursor 10 the
one which we are now obliged 10 discuss, was
before the Senate Of The United Siales--lhe ques-
ZION Of the onncxaiioB Of the Republic Of Texas,
but recently portion Of this very Mexico with
whom we are now at war. We were tod then,
sir, that Texas, being an independent Republic,
had right 10 dispose Of herself in whatever way
and TO whatever end and purpose she pleased,
aud the parent Republic oil Mexico having no
cause 10 complain, would urcr 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 slep should
be taken by the people ofthe United STATES. We
were told then as we are tod now, by The Sena.
tor from Michigan, that all was calm-al was
Tranquil; that as he said yesterday, the sentinel
might sleep securely on his tower-lhat all
would be peace, and that, that step could in no
sense disturb the friendly relations existing be-
tween the Republic Of Mexico and the Republic
Of The United STATES. We were asked not 10
anticipate the evil which was TO come, Just as
The Senator from Michigan begged me 10 anti.
cipate not evils which might be in prospect be.
fore Us. Sufficient unio The day is The evil
thereof" was then the song whirh the advocates
Of that measure sought 10 lulI into tranquility,
or into apathy, the excited feeling Of the public
mud in The country.
! And, Mr.. President, the day has come, as was
then predicted, and the evil predicted has come
with it. We are here, sir, now, not as then at
peace with all the world-not now as then with
laws that brought into your treasury everything
adequate TO its wants-noi now as 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
imploring hands 10 the monopoIists and capital.
lists Of the counlry--lhat sends oui its notes and
"promises 10 pay" into every mart and into eve.
ry market in the world-bcggng for piiance
from every hand 10 help TO swell The amount
now necessary 10 extricale US from a 3ar--in.
evilable rs il now seems il was-from that very
act which was adopted under such faering pro.
mses lwo years ago. Mr.. President, il is no
purpose of mine 10 arraign the conduct Of the
United States upon that occasion. 1t is no pur-
pose ofmine 10 treat the young and newly adopt.
ed ssler-lhe State Of Texas-as an alien or
stranger in The family Of Republics. aIlude 10
! this only TO show how little reliance is 10 be
placed upon those favorable anticpalions in
which gentlemen indulge in regard 10 conse-
quences which may flow from measures 10 which
they are strongly welded, either by feeling or by
parry attachment.
And is there nothing else, Mr.. President, in
the history Of the last war to Justify the Senator
! from Soulh Carolina in that important declara-
bo do bo oh. da,, ,ko IL
whole history of his ite--comprisiug the most
eventul periods in the history of this Republic
there had never been time when so much
danger was threatened 10 The interests, happiness
and liberties of the people of the Uniled States
as now. Why, sir, if any one would sit down
| free from the excitement, free from The biases
consequent upon constant inlermingling with
those busted in public affairs, and in those calm
and sequesered soIiludes where thoughtful men
Indulge themselves in reflections upon passing
evenls, and look over the history Of The last year,
and then Judging from all the examples Of form
er lmes-according 10 the history which wisdom
teaches and which history alone can teach-of
what must be the inevitable and unavoidable
result Of what has happened, it appears 10 me
that he would say that this Republic, boasting
that its liberties are secured and the various
functions of It's Government bound up in the
chains of a written Constitution, has torn thar
Constitution 10 latters scattered il 10 the breeze
and resolved itself into--lhat old and much u.
bused Constitution of England, mere omnipo.
tence of Parliament.
No! He would rather find in the events of
The last ten months or the last year, that that pow
er of this government which was evidently in.
tended 10 be the controlling power--ifthere may
be said to be any controlling power belonging 10
a Constitution which so divided out and parcel.
ed ont its powers with reference 10 The suprema-
cy of each in its own sPhere--had given itself
up voluntary slave 10 that alone, which, by The
trainers of the Constitution, was intended 10 be
Il