Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-03-10
Whole No. 161.

| ate OF the OnileQ StateS DOdy Oh men cuhree~
able with Observation-Disclosures in heart-trait-
ors to the United States.
] trust, Mr.. President, that our master will
be appeased by the facility with which, imne-
diately after the rebuke of his mnion, the SEN
ate acted upon the bill and gave him the army
which he required: trust that he will now for
| get the law which.as Comma nder-in-chief ofthe
army of the United States and President of this
great North American Republic for the time
being, he promulgated to us in the message and
commands which he was pleased to deliver as
the opening of this Session, to his faithful and
humble servitors in both branches of the Amer
lean Congress, admorisbing us that we should
beconsidered as giving said and comfort to
his enemy-not ours-his-if one word should
be said unfavorable to the motives which might
have brought the royal will to the conclusion
that he would precipitate this Republic into
war with Mexico! | trust his Majesty, in con-
sideration of our faithful services in augment
ing the forces of the Republic agreeably to the
commands which we have received from the
thrones will induce him to relax little when he
comes to execute that law of treason upon one
at least as humble as myself! do remember,
Mr.. Presdent--you will remember Mr.. PEST
dent-your recollection of history will furnish
you with case which will, think, operate ia
my favor in question of that sort. 81
/
IN England, when poor Englishman, for diff.
ferng from his Majesty, orher Majesty,on some
subject-it might be religious faith-was con-
demned to be hanged,quartered, and emboweled
out of special grace, in particular case where
penitence was expressed the hangman was adj
monished to give the culprit time to choke be-
fore he began to chop up his limbs and take out
his bowels!
Now, Mr.. President, have already stated
that do not intend to occupy the Senate with
a discussion of those varieties of topics which
naturally enforce themselves upon my attention
in considering this subject. 1t must have oc-
Cured to every body, how utterly impotent the
Congress of the United States now is for any
purpose whatever but that of Welding to the
President every demand which he makes for
men and money, unless they assume that only
position which is left--that which in the histo-
ry of other countries, in times favorable to hu-
man liberty, has been so often resorted to ar q
check upon arbitrary power-withholding that
money, refusal to grant the services of those
men when demanded for purposes which the
Senate of the United States do not deem to DO
proper.
| When revie W the doctrines of the majority
here, and consider their Applicant on to the exis
| ting war, confess am at loss to determine
whether the world is to consider our conduct
at such absurdity in people calling themselves
free. The President, without asking the con-
sent of Congress, involves US in war, and d
majority here, without reference to the justice
or necessity of the war; calls upon us to grant
men and money at the pleasure of the President
who they say is ehared with the duty of carry
ing on the war and responsible for its result.
If We grant the means thus demanded, the Pres
ident can carry forward this war for any end,
or from any motive, without limit time placr.
With these doctrines for our guide, | viii
thank any Senator to furnish me with. any
means of escaping from the prosecution of this
or any other war, for an hundred years to come
if it please the President who shall be to con-
tinue it SO long. Tell me, We who contend that
being in war, duty demands of Congress for its
prosecution all the money and every able bod
led man in America to carry il on if need be-
who also contend that it is the right of the
President. without the control of Congress, to
march your embodied hosts to Monterey, to Yu-
catan, to Mexico, to Panama, to China, and
that under penalty of death to the officer who
disobeys him-tell me, demand it of you, tell
me, tell the American people, tell the nations
of ChrisIendom, what is the difference between
! your American democracy and the most odious,
most hateful cespotism that merciful God has
ever allowed a nation to be afflicted with since
government on earth began You may call
this free government. but it is such freedom, and
no other as of old was established at Babylon,
at Susa, at Bactriana, or Persepolis. Its par
ale is scarcely to be found when thus falsely
understood, in any even the worst forms of civs
il polity in modern times. Sir, it is not so;
such is not your constitution; it is something
else, something other and better than this.
L have loked at this subject with the painful
endeavor TO come to the conclusion, if possible;
that it was my duty, as Senator of the United
States, finding the country in war, to eight it
out" as we say in the common and popular
phrase of the times, to a Just and honorable
peace then could very easily concede that
to be my duty if found my country engaged in
a just WARM war necessary even to protect
that fancied honor of which you talk so much.
| should then have some apology In the judge
ment of my country, in the determination of my
conscience, and in that appeal which you and
and all of us must be required TO make before a
tribunal where this saunted honor of the Repub-
lie, fear me, will gain but little credit as de-
fence to any act we may perform here in the
Senate OF the U. States.
: But when am asked to say whether / will
prosecute war, cannot answer that question
yea or nay,until have determined neither that
was necessary war; and l cannot determine
whether it was necessary until know how it
was that my country was involved in it,. And
it is to that particular point, Mr.. President
without reading documents, but referring to
few facts which understand not to be denied
on either side of this chamber-that wish Ia
direct the attention of the American Senate, and
SO far as may be, that of any of the noble and
honest hearted constituents whomI represent
here. l know, Mr.. President the Responsible
ity which assume in undertaking to determine
that the President of the United States has done
a great wrong to the country, whose honor and
whose interest he was required to protect. l &
know the denunciation which await every one
who shall dare to put himself in opposition to
that high power-that idol god-which the peo-
pie of this country have made to themselves and
called President.
But it is my very humility which makes me-