The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-03-09
Speech of MIR. COrWin.
In the u. S. Senate, on The llh instant ON
the "THree Million Bill"
&C. RICH.

the ''IHree Million Bill
Mr.. Corwin rose and said: Mr.. President
i do not pretend 10 attempt the perform
ance Of a task so futile and foolish as 10 go O.
yer the whole field Of discussion " hich this
subject embraces. 1t has already been occu-
pied by more vigilant and stronger hands
than mine. All that | may hope will be to
gather, here and there, sheaf or TWO, before
The harvest be fully gathered. I rise. Mr..
President, and have solicited The attention OF
the Senate only for the purpose Of perform,
ing the humble task of presenting to the body.
and through it, if possible, 10 the particular
constituents which represent some reasons
that have lmpelied me 10 occupy. " hat every
one must know, iii times like these, is. 10 say
the least oft. position not desirable.
have been compelled, Mr.. President. from
corscisuiiUus convictions " hicb have pressed
themselves upon my mind from the com
mencemeDt Of the session-from the time
received the Presidents Message, up 10 this
hour-io give certain votes npon certain very
important measures which have been present
cd 10 the Senate. which Scperate me not
merely from the other side ofIhe Senate, W lib
whom on those great questions | very
seldom can unite, but also from a majority OF
those gentlemen belonging 10 the same pOlit-
ical party,-of which suppose ] may call
myself mcmbcr,-onI his side of the House.
1t is not remarkable, Mr.. President, at least
il is not mailer OF surprise to any one " ho
has attended TO the various opinions which
have been expressed even in this Hall, that
there should be radical difference of opin-
ion resulting out of that variety of character,
ard that diversity in modes ofthoushi and ap-
plicaiion Of thought TO the business Of life.
lich. at least in the state IN which we al
presen, fnd mankind, is almost a natural ne.
cessiry. Ii must, however, have struck every
enc, sir, as very curious fact. hat two Sen
atois on the other side Of the Hall, in look
ing at the present aspect ef affairs, should en-
terrain such sing nlarly opposite views. The
profound and contemplsIive mind of the Sen
ator from South Carolina, (Mr. Calhoun.l in
looking abroad at the present condition of the
Republic, could see nothing all around him
but darkness, and doubt and dis,rus,. and
fearful apprehension, andimpenetrable gloom;
while TO the mind Of the Senator from Mich
igan. MIR. Cass, all was bright, and calm, and
placid sunshine. and prosperous breezss. and
smooth sea, Now. Mr.. President, fihis di
versity of opinion is found to prevail in minds
habituated and accustomed 10 think earnestly
and sincerely on public affairs, it will present
itself earnestly 10 every body as requiring in
him who is TO determine between these two
conflicting opinions all the attention which
il is possible for the human mind 10 give the
SUBJECT, under the awful responsibility which
rest upon every man, in determining upon a
question affecting so deeply the happiness &
interests of so many millions of human beings
Now. wish it were in my power 10 enter
tain those placid convictions which appear TO
have settled on the mind of the Senator from
Michigan. rather than have my mind disturbed
as il has been in common with the Senator
from South Carolina, by visions and pros
pects Of evl-by fearful apprehensions that
every step we are now taking may be the last
one which we shall be permitted to take in
our career and in our history as free peo-
pie and I'm heless inclined TO listen to the siren
song the Senator from Michigan sings 10 his
OWE soul in the present fearful aspect of pub
lie affairs, because, Mr.. President, ] have
henrd il before now Every one must rec
oliect the condition Of this conrtry two or
three years ago, when that other ques ion.
which was but the prelude and the precursor
TO the one which we are now obliged TO dis
cuss, was before the Senate Of the United
States, and anxiously attracted the attention
of The whole people of the United States-the
question ofthe Annexation Of the Republic OF
Texas. hut recently portiop Of this very
Mexico with whom we are now at war. We
we're told then. sir, that Texas. being an in
dependent Republic, had right TO dispose