The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-11
SENATE.
[Coatiaued from the "Union" Of yssterdayl
THE THREE MILLION ELL,

tCoatiaued from the "Union" Of yssterdayl
the THREE MILLION ELL,
Mr. CASS said In the remarks propose TO submit
Mr. President shall invert the natural order OF ar
anaement intend TO present my views of the causes
aJ course OF the war thus far, and also the reasons
khch will induce TO vote for the appropriation OF
|hree millions of dollars. To which ! shall add my
ws OF the best mode OF proceeding the prosecution
ii the war shall begin however, with The two latter
Subjects,
lonenty described BY the distinguished senator from
Sonh Carolina do not consider this country It's in
katuions in the slightest danger Never was il more
lee powerful, OF prosperous than at the present mo-
nen when untimely warnings come 10 assall us. The
ublc sentinel may sleep upon his watchtower.
The distant horizon, not cloud as big as the proph-
rs hand is to be seen, which is TO overspread the
heavens and which is TO burst in thunder and In tempest
Upon us We are indeed engaged in foreign war; which
demands the eolcitude OF every good citizen But the
cene of lis operations is two thousand miles distant; and
come the wors. that may, can at any time Withdraw
into our own country. Disgraceul, indeed, would be
such movement; but it would be still better than the
evils predicted and according TO the nature OF the appre
tensions expressed, it would terminate the danger
Mr. President II gives me great pam to hear any allu
sons the dissolution OF TINS confederacy and OF all
the places in this republic, this high place is the last in
which they should be expressed The constitution is in
no danger. Il has survived many shock, and il
will survive many more There are those in
the Senate-and | am among them-who were born
before it came INTO being.
with our strength, till the approach OF physical nfrrni-
ties the kindly warnings OF nature, bid prepare for an
other and untred world And the constitution too, has
GROWN with growth and strengthened with ITS strength
till from 100000 it governs 20,000,0oo OF people, and
has made them the happest community upon the face OF
The globe But il is yet fresh in its strength. No nrmi-
has come to tell us that ITS dissolution is near II is
no longer experiment., but experiences no longer
oise but performance. 1t has fulfilled ALL and more
than ALL that its most sanguine advocates dared predict.
this moment stronger In the affections OF the Amer
Is,f L IL
he cliff OF eternal granite, which overooks the ocean, and
drives hack the ceaseless that assa Its base, SO
vii this constitution resist the assaults, that may be made
upont, come how or when, or whence they may In the
providence OF God such lot conferred
upon people What we have been and are, the past
aud the present have told and are telling us What we
are TO be- the future will tell to those who to come
after us, 10 their 10y cherish reject
the blessings we enjoy. If we are not struck with
judicial blindness as were Gods chosen people of old,
and punished for national offences by national punish
nens, we shall cling TO this constitution as Tie mariner
cngs 10 the last plank when night and the tempest close
around him and we shall cling to it the stronger as the
danger is greater
Mr. President, shall not touch any OF the topics
before us as a sectional man. ! view Them and shall
present them, as American citizen, looking to the
honor and interests Of his country, and of his whole
country In these great questions OF national bearing
acknowledge no geographical CLAIMS. What is best for
the United States Is best Tor me- and IN that spirit alone
] shall pursue the discussion.
strong desire pervades this country. that region ex-
lending west OF our present possessions TO the Pacific
should be acquired and made part OF our confede-
raey The attempt to purchase it was made during the
administration OF Gen Jackson, and the hope of succeedg
has never since been wholly abandoned | will moi
detain the Senate by spreading out the which
render such measure desirable. Ii would give to us
large territory, great deal of calculated for American
settlement and cultivation and it would connect us with
the great western ocean, giving front along its shores
conneXion with Oregon OF perhaps 10 Ii degrees
latitude. 1t would give us also the magnificent bay Of
st. Francisco OF the noblest anchoagcs in the world
capable OF holding all the naves of the earth and from its
commanding position, controlling IN some measure the
trade OF the northern Pacific But, sir besides these adj
Vanlages, commercial and geographical there npor
ant political considerations, which point TO extension
as one OF the great measures of safety for
our Institutions The senator from South Caro-
lima has presented some views upon this subject true
as they striking. AT the commencement of his life
aud OF nine, this country contained 100000 of nhnb-
tants, giving rate OF increase which doubles num-
bers every % years There those yet living who will
live TO conederacy numbering population equal
to the Chinese empire This stupendous progress out
strips the imagination. The mind cannot keep up with
the TACT 1t tolls after it in vain and we increase in
numbers and extend in space. power OF commnca-
ton is still more augmented The telegraph has come
with its wonderful process TO bind still closer the portions
OF this empire, these Iecede from lis capital II is the
most admirable invention OF modern DAYS. We can
now answerthc sublime inerrogatory put to Job ''Canst
thou send lghtnings, that they may co. and say
unto thee Here we are" ies,the coruscations
of Heaven, man has reduced to obedience and
they say unto him. Here we are No man can tell what
viii be the effect of this discovery upon the destiny OF
the world How may bring nations together and keep
them together And what influence II may produce By
events almost the other side OF the
earth al the very moment of their occurrence have
been ndustriously engaged seventeen DAYS in coming
from Detroit TO Washington and the Journey between
here and Baltimore once cost me two DAYS We have
now process within reach, by which we can send
10 California, and receive from there more than
twenty times day shall not pursue these nvestiga-
IONS, they are sufficiently obvious in their general
thu II
ure is beyond the reach OF human vision.
We are al war with Mexico brought on by her inius-
nee Before peace is established, have right to re-
cure Of her reasonable indemnity either pecnniary or
territorial, BOTH for the injuries we have sustained
oue compensation is Just IN itself, and in strict
cordanee with the usages OF nations One memorable
proof OF this has passed 10 times. When the
aies entered Paris, after the overthrow of Napoleon
hey compelled the French government TO paw them an
indemnity OF 5ooo0oo0o OF frances equal to 800 600 900
OF dollars n the condition Of Mexico, there is no dis
position In this country 10 ask of her an unreasonable
sacrifice On the contrary the wish is everywhere pev
aent, and ! am sure the government participate in il
mat we should demand less than we are entitled TO-
NO one proposes ngd standard by which the indemnity
shai oe measured But there are certain territorial acausi
hon which are important TO u.s. and whose cesson cannot
inlure Mexico, as she hold them permanently
WeaTe willing, after settling the indemnity satisfactorily
10 pay for the in money The senator from SonL
Carolina has stated the proposition very distinctly any
excess on our part we willing 10 meet as ought bv
me ecessary payment TO Mexico"
Information received by the President, during the last
session OF Congress, induced him TO believe that IL an
appropriation Tor this purpose were made the difficulties
Oetween NE two countries might be terminated by
al amcable arrangement proposition for that pur-
Wa submitted to us IN secret session. debated and
approved BY this Senate II then introduced into
We legislature with open doors, passed the House OF
representatives, and came tous Here Il was discussed
uul the stroke OF the clock when the hand on the dial
pae pointing TO ~ struck its funeral knell In his mes
sage at the commencement oil this Congress- the Presi-
ueht renewed his suggestion, and the whole matter is