The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1847-03-11
GOVERNOR CoRwIN's SPEECH.

The National lntellgencer contains this
speech in revised form, from which we ex-
tract the closing part, which will be read
with thrilling interest:
Mr.. President, if the history of our race
las Ll.-Asl ass.tls II r. Az.. CONF TiIi-
alton of what is written, ''lhe way of the
fansgressor is hard" lnordinaie ambition,
wan,oning in power, and spurning the hum
bic maxims of justice, has, ever has, and
ever shall end in rum. Strength cannot al
ways trample upon weakness-the humble
shall be exalted-the bowed down will at
length be lifted up. 1t is by faith in the law
Of strict justice and the practice of lis pre-
cepts that nations alone can be saved. All
the annals Of the human race, sacred and pro-
fame, are written over with this great 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 i, that we have been
drawn into this whirlpool of war? How clear
and strong was the light that shOne upon the
path Of duty year ago? The last disturb
ing question with England was setlled-our
power extended its peaceful sway from the
Atlantic TO The pacific; from the Alleghanies
We looked out upon Europe, and from the
tops of the Stony Mountains we could de-
scry the shores of Asia; a rich commerce
With all the nations of Europe poured wealth
and abundance into our lap on the Atlantic
side, while an unoccupied commerce Of
three hundred millions oil Asiatics waited on
| the Pacific for our enterprise TO come and
possess it. One hundred million of dollars
wilI be wasted in this ruthless war. Had
this money of the people been expended in
making railroad from your Northern Lakes
TO The Pacific, as one of your Citizens has
! begged OF you in vain, you would have made
highway of the world between Asia and
Europe. Your capital then would be within
thirty or forty days travel of any and every
| point on the map of the civilized world
Through this great artery Of trade you would
have carried the heart Of your own country
| the teas of China and the species of India 10
the markets Of England and France. Why.
why, Mr.. President, did we abandon the en-
terprises of peace, and betake ourselves to
the barbarous achievements of war? Why
did we s'lorsake this fair and fertile field to
battle on that moor?"
/ But, Mr. President, if further acquisition oil
territory is to be the result either OF conquest
or treaty, then | scarcely know which should
be preferred-eternal war with Mexico, OF
the hazards of eternal commoIlon at home,
which Iast1 fear may come if another prov
ince is 10 be added to our territory. There
is one topic connected with this subject
which tremble when approach. and yet
cannot forbear 10 notice it. Ii meets you in
every step you take, it threatens you which
way soever you 60 in the prosecution of this
war. allnde to the question of slaVey.-
Opposition TO It's further extension, it must
! be obvious TO every one, is deep-rooted de-
Termination with men Of all parties in what
we call the non-slave-h holding States. New
York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, three of the
most powerful, have already sent their leg
islative instructions here--so it will be,
doubt not, in all the rest. 1t is vain now to
speculate about the reasons for this. Gen
tlemen Of the South may call it prejudice
passion, hypocrisy, fanalacism. | shall no
dispute with them now on that point The