The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-02

6m opposition 70 the war which they believed wrong
and UNJUST they secured the popular appreciation, com
PEELED the tories the advocates of that make
peace with the colonies and finally drove them from power
and themselves assumed the control OF government win
especially suggest that Were the wings OF 1876 TO follow
the example OF those in the British Parliament OF 10, like
result would follow"
This, Mr. Chairman, is frank and explicit enough in
all conscience The object of federal and abolition
friends is distinctly avowed. II s to compel the admin
straon OF the country, who designated torres,
10 make peace with Mexico, on terms which our enemy
shall dictate and get the power OF the government into
their own hands And is not such language and such
conduct giving "'aid and comfort 10 enemies And
so it was in the war OF our revolution: The Americans
affected 10 honor and praise the wings In the British Par
lament because they aiding us, and were traitors
to their own country. We took advantage of their
treason, whilst we despised the traitor. And who can
tell whether America her independence most TO the
course which these British statesmen pursued in the
councils of their country, TO the OF France, and
the aid furnished us by Louis the Sixteenth One thing
we do know-that the great Lord Chatham his error
when too late that almost at the close of life, when
dying and full of grief and remorse al the prospect Of
losing the colonies he caused himself to be carried
the House of Lords, and, with his expiring breath i'm
plored his countrymen not TO acknowledge our indie
pendence not to surrender and give away the brightest
jewel in the dadem" OF his sovereign. But it was too
late. He and bis wing coadutors had done the deed,
and the colonies were free.
But ask in all humility is this the example, and such
the conduct, which held up for America follow in
regard to Mexico and by American statesmen honored
by seat on this 1oorl Even the honorable gentleman
from Massachusetts, MIR WINTHROP, who seemed anx
ous to come 10 the rescue and contribute his share
this crusade against the war and the administration,
could not adopt the example and the plea in justification
under which the gentleman from Ohio Mr. GIDDINGsl
chose 10 seek shelter Was he afraid they would CRATE
harshly upon the sensibes of the American people ?
But whilst protesting to honor and to admire those us
rons statesmen he did not his sway clear in ma
king their conduct in the British Parliament, in 77G the
exact model OF his own conduct here now" He would
rather turn to the example and authority OF American
statesmen hardly less distinguished and no less worthy
of adm
the example and authority of John Jay, and quoted the
opinions of that eminent federal statesman in lSi, a
short time previous to the conclusion OF the last war with
Great Britain Under the shield of this authority, he su
ered himself TO use the following language; court
y, perhaps than that used by the leader of his party be-
fore referred to, Mr. GDDINGs but certainly not the
less crimnative of the government and administration of
his country:
49, then, Mr. Chairman, fhe rulers ofour republic shall
themselves with ordinary of miscon-
duct with cheap and vulgar misdemeanor, the peo
Pile may arragp and impeach them their hearts
tent But LEI them only lift themselves boldly to tile perpe
ation OF hagran crime, let them only dare 10 commit
the very worst act of which they are capable and they
to find their impuny in the very enormty Of their conduct
and to be safely screened behind the mountain of their
'hs sir, the length which the President has gone
in his message: This Is the length to which gentlemen
have followed him on this floor.
81 utterly condemn the in which the war was
commenced, and the spirit in which it seems to be
prosecuted, and shall never hesitate TO say
'As to the org gin Of the war shall say but few words
1t should never be forgotten that its primary the
by peculiar advocates with of strengthening ex
tending, and perpe,uating the institution Of domestic
slavery
'.Sir. cherish feelings of I-wl towards Texas.
Now that she is member of our Union would speak
her in the terms which belong to the intercourse of sister
States. But fail speak plainly in regard the
unconstitutional act of her annexaton and the disastrous
consequences which have thus far attended it. Who foges
the glowing terms in which the addition OF that lone star
to our American constellation heraded How much
Of defence to our land was augured from III Who now can
reflect on its consequences as already developed who
think OF the deep wound which in the Judgment OF many
has inflicted constitutions OF the alterations and
heartbunings which has produced among different mem
bers Of the Unions of the fearful lookngso OF disunon
which has excited of the it has cost, and the
precious lives it has wasted in the in progress
of the poison it has in many ways mingled with the
previously beautiful current OF our national caeer without
being reminded Of another lone star, Which fell from
Heaven, burning as !, were lamp, and it fell upon the
third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of
waters, and the name of the is called Wormwood
and the third part of the waters became wormwood and
many died OF the waters because they bterr
'sThe more immediate of the the Ex-
ecutve mode of consunInatng this measure of annexa
ton"
This the length to which the President has gone IN
his message! Where does the honorable gentleman find
it, any thing which, by the emotest analogy or the
most forced construction can be tortured into any such
meaning9 No where, sir, but in his own heated and ex-
cited imagination Let us see, now, whether the honor
able gentleman from Massachusetts is more fortunate in
his example and his authority to justify his of
conduct than the honorable gentleman from Ohio Mr.
Jay, in 1914, retired American statesman; but his
political opinions and predictions well known He
was federast His political associates were those of
the Hartford convention school, and his sympahes and
views coipcidsd with theirs What their position at
the time when Mi Jay put forth the sentiments quoted
hy the honorable gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr
W1srHRopl with such sslf-complacent approval'
And hefel beg permission to relate an anecdoe, and
then TO quote an authority In 1922, had occasion TO
spend the winter in the city OF Albany, Whilst there
friend ri mine and myself day invited to take
tea and spend the evening with distinguished politician
of the State OF New York. since deceased, whose name
see no reason to conceal II was Solomon Southwick
During the evening the conversation turned upon the
subject of the late war; and the interior designs OF the
ederalists of New England He said that late in the year
lsi4 he happened to be in Boston and Hartford and that
from some unaccountable to him. the Hartford con-
yenon federalists took him to be friendly to their
views and admitted him TO their confidence. That he
was for some time in frequent and daily intercourse and
conversation with the leading members OF that conyen-
ton that he was told by them that their plan was near
ly consummated which was to secure the principal Of
fcers of the militia throughout New England to their
views that they had been already sounded upon the sub
ec that the convention had been called TO perfect the
plan and concert OF action and that AT moment
to be fixed upon they were TO publish isi q! grevan
ces propose an alliance offensive and defensive with
Great Britain, with whom the matter was in course Of
arrangement place themselves under the protection OF
that power call in prince OF the blood land his name
recoect was mentoned~t was the Earl OF Dalhousie)
as governor president or head Of the New England con-
ederacy declare themselves independent Of the United
States, and secede from the Union. when they had
sufficiently disclosed their views" said Mr. Solthwick
81 expressed to them my entire dissent, and exclaimed
The moment gentlemen your designs are fully disclosed
and You begin to act accordance with them, hall OF
you will be hung up traitors and here my IN
fimacy with the Hartford convention men ended" The
gentleman is yet living who heard with me this remarka-
BILE conversation He my neighbOr, and was formerly
a member of Congress II made strong impression up
on us both and though willing TO believe these
Hartford conventionists gny OF almost everything wick
ed and corrupt this plan appeared to us too bold absurd