Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-02-26

deui-eyery dollar m money, and ifneed be eve
~ abls-bodicd man capable Of bearing arms in |
the United Ststes 10 prosecute that war-lel me, |
you who say that being in a VAR. and conceding. |
as The constitution has conceded TO the President
lhe Powet TO command your armies in the field.
TO send them as he pleases TO Manterey, to Mex
ico, 10 fucatan, TO Panama, TO China. If you
Plesse--under penalty, too, of death, denounc-
ed upon the officers that shall disobey thai com.
mand-give him that power and then concede
Il 20 be The duty Of Congress-being thus engag
ed without your consent at FIRST, without appeal
ing 10 you TO give him that power-io leave 20
him the whole conduct OF the war, and as many
men and as much money as may crafty fully
his schemes of ambition or avarice, or whatever
else YOU attribute TO him, and then tell me, what
is the Government Of the United States, but one
OF the blankesi, levelest, most Odious and most
hateful despotisms that il has ever pleased ner.
cilul God TO allow a nation TO be afflicted with
on the face Of the enrlhl
have looked a, this subject with a painful
ehdeaYor 10 come to the conclusion if possible,
that il was my duty as Senator of the United
States, finding the country in war, to slight it
out" as we say in the common and popular
phrase Of the times, TO a just and-honorabe
peacel | could very easily concede that to be
my duty If | found my country engaged in just
war-in war necessary even to protect that
iancied honor of which you talk so much. |
should have some apology in the judgment Of
nv countrymen, in the determination Of my
conscience, aud in an appeal which you, and /,
and all of us must soon be required TO make be-
fore tribunal where this vaunted honor Of the
republic, | fear me, will gain but liule credit as
I.f. H., . kn-1
in the Senate of the United States.
i But when | am asked TO say that will prose.
cute war, cannot answer that question, yea or
nay, until have determined whether that was a
necessary war; and cannot determine whether
!, il was necessary until know how it was that
my country was involved in it. And it is TO that
/ particular point, Mr.. President-wilhout reading
Z documents, but referring 10 few facts which
understand not to be denied on either side OF this
] chamber-ihal wish TO direct the attention oI
! the American Senate, and so far as may be, that
. Of any Of The humble aud honored constituents
! whom represent here. know, Mr.. President
S the responsibility which assume in undertaking
$ TO determine that the President Of the United
f States has done great wrong 10 the connry
Y whose honor and whose interest he was required
!. to protect. | know, Mr.. President, the denun
G Citations which await even 50 humble an individI
d al as myself, when he shall dare TO put hmsel
in opposition TO that high power-that idol goo
Y which the people Of this country have made
d TO themselves and called President.
n But it is my very humility which makes M
:, bold, know, sir, that he who was told in Older
q time how TO govern turbulent people was ad
s vised TO cut off the fullest heads. Mine vii
i escape! Sill, holding a seat here, Mr. Presi
I dent, and finding it written in the Constitution o
6 my country thai had the power to grant to The
. President at his bidding or not, as pleased, mer
r and money! did conceive that it became my du
1 " to ascertain whether the Presidents reQues
d was n reasonable one--whcther the President
c wanted these men and this money for prope
Y aud laudablc purpose or not and with these oil
at fashioned ideas--Qute as unpopular, ! say, o
le this side the chamber as we find them TO b
,e on tho oiher-l set myself TO this painful inve
II. tgation, aud | found no, quite enough alor
" with me 10 have saved that city in oden tim
u. A laugh.l
IN There was not five Of us but only thrce
nd laugh looked around and us aIlusion WI
- made by the Senator from Michigan yesterdo
oi in very singular and conspicuous manner tn
er we read of in the Old Testament, by name, 10
w in my desolation finding myself only with IN
er other men on this important question, did go
Pn that book to see if could not find some cons
es aion in my despair; and when these votes wei
as called and was compelled TO separate myse
10 from all around me could have cried as did Il
he man of Jz in his affection in the oden time
tn "What times my friends waxed warm, the
U. vanish" A laugh. "While it is hot The
nre consumed out of their places" Renewt
be laughter.
e. Well, could not leave the position in whc
te il had pleased the State of Ohio 10 place me, al
Oh ! returned again and again to the original al
lat primary and important inquiry-how it is tn
ny my country is involved in this war! looked
M the Presidents account of it, and he tells me
he was a war for the defence of The territory of Il
de United States. ! found it written IN that me
ng sage, Mr.. Pr3sid mt, that this war was II
Vi sought nor forced upon Mexico by The people
IS, the United States. | shall make no question
as history or the truth of history with my mastC
lot tho Commander.in-chief, upon that particuI
or proposition. On the contrary, ! could veri
ght every word that he utters. Sir, know that Il
aid people Of the United States neither sought n
xl- forced Mexico into this war, aud yet know III
'nr the President of the United States, with the COZ
he mand of your standing army, did seek that W,
we and that he forced war upon Mexico. am
i'm about 10 ufllict the Senate with detail of testn
hat ny on that point. Twill simply state facts viii
as not man in America will deny.
lon One ofthese facts, Mr.. President, is this: II
ION in the year of grace, 1886, The battle of San
zen cinlo was fought. Does anybody deny that?
ION one here will deny that fact. The result of Il
battle was that a certain district of country ca
ors ing itself Texas, declared itself "A free and in,
diff pendent Republic. hope the Senate will p
on don me for uueringa thought or two viii
was strikes me jus, now while see the Senator lr