Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-01-21

upon the dongs Of Congress A point has
apparently been reached at which all parties
seem disposed TO pause and to seek the shelter
Of inaction FOR while, lest any further step
might lead to unknown consequences.
In the absence Of controlling mind at the
head OF the Government, the elements OF the
political sphere are tending towards confusion.
There is uncertainty every where. The def
mite purposes ofthe war policy are not known
the prosecution OF the war itself is marked by
rresolution and inetiiclency the President, by
his reserve. by his wantof frank and open dea-
ling with Congress, has lost the confidence of
that body and along with all these causes of
embarrassment there are certain grave issues
of domestic nature beginning to assume an
imposing prominence in the political affairs OF
the country.
We quote two passages from the proceed
ings Of Congress ON Thursday first ex-
tract being from the remarks OF Wing Sena-
tor; the other from the speech of friend of
the Administration in the House. The two
quotations relate to two OF the main subjects of
perplexity which now involve the deliberations
Of Congress- We copy from the National In
telligencer's report Of the debate in the Senate
on Mr.. BESroN's proposition TO increase the
regular army
"Mr CRIrTENpENcontinued lift were pre-
posed, he SAID, 10 carry on this war Tor any
length of time, he thought it would be far bet
Ter to increase the army by enlstrnents than 10
make sudden and frequent calls for volunteers.
He thought that the necessity of the case re-
quired that they should carry on the war vigo-
rously. His sentiments in relation to the war
itself were well known and need not TO be re-
peated He regretted the war, he deplored it,
and wanted TO see II ended, and he should vote
for such measures as seemed best calculated to
bring it TO a speedy and honorable conclusion.
| And, in his opinion, according 10 the best
view that he could take Of the subject, there
were no means better calculated to effect this
object than 10 prosecute the war with ylgor-
And so long as be remained of this opinion he
should be ready 10 vote for the supply OF ade-
quate- means for its vigorous prosecution. ms
has heard other modes suggested, one Of which
was that our army should fall back and take
position on such a boundary as this Govern
ment intended to adhere TO, and leave the
Mexioans to act on the offensive and to pros
ecute the war against us or not, at their option.
He wished be could believe that this mode
was the one which was most likely to bring
the war TO speedy and satisfactory conclu-
sion. But if they adopt this course he feared
that they would be totally at loss 10 know
only that could put an end to it; If they
We're to cease from active operations they
would be obliged TO stand with arms in their
hands, ready at all times to meet any attack
which the enemy chose TO make; and it seemed
TO him that war carried on in this lingering
sort of way would lead TO the worst results, as
regards considerations of humanity, or any 9TH
err. He would be obliged TO any gentleman
who would convince him that there was any
other mode more humane, more economical
of expenditures, OF bringing II 10 close; but
until convinced that there was such mode,
and believing that their only alternative was TO
bring it to an end by a vigorous prosecution Of
the war, however deplorable the consequences,
he was ready TO vote for such measures as ten
ded to promote a vigorous prosecution of the
war"
| The next extract is from speech of Mr.,
Grover, Of New York, who belongs TO the
party Of the Administration in the House Of
| Representatives. In reference 10 the proviso
that Slavery should not be admitted in any ter
ritory that might be obtained from Mexico, he
said:
I .'There was another reason why the proviso
should have been introduced at that time. II
| had been published throgh all the North that
the result of this Mexican war would be the
/ excelsior Oh lile area VI SldNeIt. TIC CidieS
had been iterated and reiterated though all that
region, that this was war Of the Administra-
ton. got up by the South for the very purpose
of extending slavery; that conquests in NIeIi-
co would be pushed with view to plant that
institution where it did not then exist MIR.
G.. did not believe this he could not, he
would not believe it. He could not bring him
self 10 believe tina. there was a single Repre-
sentative on that floor who could for one mo-
ment cherish the purpose of using the power
of this Confederacy TO convert territory, I'll
then free, into slave territory. But he wanted
some public legislative declaration IN order TO
satisfy the Northern mind.
s'The people of the North feltin doubt wheth-
er they should support the war; for though
they thought itjust in itself, yet they were not
willing TO engage even in Just war, il il was
20 be made the instrument for extending the
institution of slavery. The Northern mind re-
quired. he thought, to be disabused. He there
fore said to his friends, give US declaratory
resolution that you have no such design or OBJ
ject in view and that it shall not be DONE
And what had been the result} The South
said that TO make such a declaration was CIV
ing aid to the enemy, and embarrassing the
war. But he appealed TO the great Northern
heart--that heart that throbbed in the breast of
All ule ptOpic vi POIuOu vi luc oHiOH, "
say whether such a charge was just. They
were willing TO make bare their arm in the
cause Of their country they were ready to
furnish both men and means 10 fight her bat
ties but they could not engage cordially,
they could not 60 into the contest with ell their
soul, if consequences We're 10 attach TO victory
which they most deplored. Mr. Ct. sought
the ppvso in order that he might geta more
thorough support for the war. His colleague
(Mr Klsc) had been willing to give the two
millions asked for TO get peace, but he want
ed TO satisfy the North that there was no de-
sign in its application to extend the limits of
slavery.
"Mr. BoYp, Of Kentucky, here rose, and
asked permission 10 quito the gentleman from
New York an interrogatory.
''Mr. GROVER Asserting
"Mr' BoYDwishedt 10 know whether thatgen
tleman meant 10 say, and To act outthe decla-
ration, that he would not give men and means
for this war unless the restriction should be
adopted prohibiting slavery in the new terri
tory
..Mr GROVER replied that he had never
said so, nor did he design 10 say so. He
would give his views very frankly on that
question / was TO him immmterial what the
South might do. the North We're prepared 10
sIlpnolt and they would snDnOrt this war. even !