Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1847-12-10
SPEECH OF SENATOR MILLER.

@ AT meeting of the Wings of the city
OF Newark, New Jersey, held on Friday,
the gid ult.. to consider the State Of the
Union, and of their duty IN the depending
election in that State. an excellent spirit
was manifested. The Hon J. w. NIL
LER. one of the Senators of the U. S.
from that State, being present and called
upon for an expression Of the present cri-
SIS IN public affairs, delivered speech,
which we have pleasure in laying before
our readers, as follows: ss-s --s.
After the resolution had been read, Mr..
Miller being loudly called for. appeared
upon the platform, and after briefly MOTTO
ing the bfighting effects Of Locofoco mis-
rule, free-trade and the Sub Treasury,
spoke of the Mexican war as the question
which just now fills all minds "a war be-
gun without cause, and which had gone
on, step, by step, till he feared our nation
al honor and existence were brought into
jeopardy. d, ---.r 60 r.-- -.-.
To cause nation to pass from a state
OF peace into state of war, is measure
involving the highest consideration and
the deepest responsibilities. All expert
ence has shown that it is much easier to
make war than peace-rhuch easier TO-
let slip the dogs of war than to call them
off after they have tasted the blood of the
prey. War once begun, wrongfuly or
rightfully it is difficult to stay its course
or direct its end. Embracing within its
bloody arms national honor and national
interests, and frequently national exist
ence, onward and onward will roll its SAN
culinary car, until the blood and treasure
of one or the other of the contending par
ties is exhausted in the conflict.
The question of peace or war is always,
more or less in the hands ofthe Executive
of nation. Under our Constitution the
Executive is entrusted with our inter-
course with other nations upon his wis.,
dom and discretion depend the settlement
Of all international questions
If he desires peace, he will temper his
negotiations with discretion and forbear-
ance. If he be ambitious for military
glory, or desire the renown of conquest, If
he covet an adjoining province or an ell
gible seaport, he will seek some Pretext
for quarrel and readily find some plausi-
BILE cause of war, in order to crafty his
prevailing passion,
Thus it is that a weak or vicious Exc
cutive may plunge people into war
against their judgement and sheir feelings,
and by one rash act compel them to sacri-
flee their lives and property in a war
which they feel to be unnecessary and un-
just. ., ....- .. ...
This is our present position as to the
Mexican war, and the question is. what is
our duty in regard to 1t
The fist feeling which springs from the
heart Of every good man is, the desire to
put an end to this unnecessary war as
speedily as is consistent with the interests
and honor of the country. But how to
accomplish this is the great question.
Some say that Congress should do it by
Withholding all appropriations for the war
l have the highest respect for the author
of this opinion, and would willingly adopt
il if could see that by starving out the
war we could restore peace. But when
we recollect that the question of peace Is
now in great measure beyond the control
of Congress, that it is in the hands Of the
Executive, in the hands of him who made
the war, and who now carries it on with
views and objects of his own, 1t Is evident
that the Withholding of supplies would
only weaken, not stop the war. 1t might
starye out the army and bring dishonor