The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-01-14
HON. CHARLES EIUDSON'S
SPEECH,

CN'th'
HON. CHARLES FzUDsON's
SPEECH.
The following is the Speech of the Hon
Charles Hudson, of Massachusetts, delivered
in the U. S. House of Representatives on
| Th rrsday, Dec 9Th 1916, the report of
which we copy from the National Intclligen-
| Ger:
Mr.. CHA1RMAN: am fully aware of the
charges which l shall draw down upon my
self, in expressing the views which | enter
tain upon the subject now before us. The
President of the United States himself has set
us the example Of donouncing as traitors all
those who dare to speak their minds upon
this floor and in this country and his hatter-
crs here have followed his example But,
sir, none Of these things move me. / look
with equal indifference upon the denuncia-
tons Of the President and of his hatterers on
this floor will speak my sentiments here
or elsewhere, and | will speak them fully
If believe the Executive is wrong in any
of his measures, | will make the declaration.
If believe he has usurped power, and tram
pied upon the Constitution of the United
States, none of the denuncations or sarcasms
Of gentlemen on this floor will deter me from
giving a full expression of these my views
and feelings Nothing, | say, that the Pres
ident can say or do, will deter me in any de-
gree from full and fair expression Of my
own opinions. Has it come to this, Mr..
Chairman, that President can arrogate to
himself the war-making power, can trample
the Constitution under foot, and wantonly in
yolye the nation in war, and the people must
submit to this attrocty and Justify him in his
course, or be branded as traitors to their
country? Why, sir, if this doctrine prevails
the more corrupt an Administration is, if it
has the power or the daring to involve this
nation in war, without cause, the greater is
its impunity for the moment it has succeed
ed in committing that outrage, every mouth
must be closed and every one must bow in
submission. A doctrine more corrupt was
never advanced a sentiment more dastardly
was never advocated in deliberatve assem-
bly,. Gentlemen who profess to be the pecul-
lar friends Of popular rights may advance
doctrines Of this character; and they may be
in perfect accordance with their views and
feelings and in conformity with their domoc-
racy, but | have too much of the spirit which
characterized our fathers to submit to dicta-
ton from any source whatsoever, whether il |
be a foreign monarch or an American Pres
ident.
| believe, Mr. Chairman, that the fist
principal declaration contained in the mess
age Of the President-that the war exists by |
the act Of Mexico, and that VIC have taken all
honorable means to prevent ito be an IN
truth and, believing so, will make that de-
claration here; and | will endeavor, in the
short time allotted me, to state some of the
reasons which lead me to that conclusion.
Az tn tho COnr2a cir Nyhinb Sboll ,,,,rcuo
in future in reference to the prosecution of
this, | will say, in advance that shall Judge !
for myself when the cases come up. | will
endeavor to DO the best that | can for the oc-
casion; to do my duty faithfully under all
the circumstances. But, sir, believe that, if
any of our revolutionary patriots were upon
the Aoor-if they stood here representing any
portion of the people, North or South and my
friend over the way, the Chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs, should come
forward in the name of the President, and !
ask for an increase of the army ora new levy !
of volunteers to prosecute such a war as this
those ardent patriots would say to him as the |
stern old Roman said to the emissary Of Ce-
sar,
" Bid him disband his legons;
Restore the Commonwealth to liberty;
Submit his actions to the publ c censure
Aud stand the judgment o' a Roman Senate;
Bid him do this and Cato is his friend.
Nay, more though Cntos voice was never raised
To clear tic guilty or to varnish crimes,
Myself will monut the rostrum in his favor,
And strive to gain his pardon from the people,"
Such believe would be the language and
feelings Of those who fought the battles offrcc-
dom, or delbcrated in the halls of Congress
in the early days Of the Republic. But
enough of this.
The Message, Mr.. Chairman, declares that
the existing war with Mexico was neither de-
sired nor provoked by the United States; on
the contrary all honorable means were resort
ed to avert it This declaration believe to
be absolutely untrue and it will be the OBJ
ect of my remarks to sustain this position
believe the President, in making that de-
claration, has made a statement which is not
but is in reality contradicted, by
the facts Of the case. How does the President
attempt to sustain this declaration? Why,
sir, the first charge he brings against Mexico
is, that she has committed spoiIatons upon
our commerce, and has refused to make re-
paration. Now my first remark in relation to
this part of the message is, that it is hardly
magnanimous in the President of the United
States to 90 behind the treaty of 1889. Sup
pose Mexico was guilty of faults previous to
that period she confessed those faults in that
treaty and promised PREPARATION. That should
have induced him to stop short at shat period