Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-03-04
SPEECH OF MIR. C0RWlN,
OF OHIO,
In The United States Senate, on the lh
FEB. on The "Three Million Bill"

III Mr.. Corwin rose and SAID MT. President
I II do not pretend to attempt the perform
ance Of a task so futile and foolish as to go
over the whole field OF discussion which this
subject embraces. II has already been occu-
pied by more vlgilant 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. rise, MIR.
\ President, and have solicited the attention OF
the Senate only for the purpose OF perform
! ing the humble task Of presenting 10 the
body, and through it, II possible, to the par
! ticular constituents which | represent, some
reasons that have impelled me 10 occupy
what every one must know, in times like
these, is, to soy the least Of il, position not
! desirable.
Il have been compelled, Mr. President, from
| consc entious convictions which have pressed
themselves upon my mind from the com
me nc ement Of the session: from the time
| II received the Preside nt's Message, up to
this hour: to give certain votes upon very
! important measures which have been present.
ed to the Senate, which separate me not
! merely from the other side of the Senate,
with whom on those great questions very
| seldom can unite, but also from majority
of those gentlemen belonging to the same
political parly.-of which suppose ] may
| call myself member,-on this side OF the
| House. Il is not remarkable, Mr.. President,
/ at least il is not q matter OF surprise TO any
one who has attended TO the various opinions
| which have been expressed even in this Hall,
TINT there should be a radical difference Of
| opinion resulting out Of that variety OF char
acter, and that diversity in modes of thought
and application Of thought to the business OF
life, which, at least IN the state in which we
at present find mankind, is almost natural
necessity. II must, however, have struck
every one, sir, as a very curious fact, that
the two Senators on the other side oftbe Hall,
IN looking at the present aspect OF public af-
fairs, should entertain such slngularly oppo.
cite views. The profound and contemplaiive
mind of the Senator from South Caroline,
! (Mr. Calhoun,) in looking abroad at the pres-
ent condition of the Republic, could see moth
ing ell around him but darkness, and doubt,
and dis,rust, and fearful apprehension, and
npeneueble gloom, while to the mind ol
the Senator from Michigan, Mr. Cass,) all
was bright, and calm, and placid sunshine,
and prosperous breezes, and smooth sea -
u Now Mr.. President. II this diversity OF opln
ion is found To prevail 10 minds babituated
and accustomed to think earnestly and sin
cerely upon public affairs it will present II.
\ to determine between these two conflicting
opinions oil the attention which it is possible
for the human mind to give the subject, under
4 the awful responsibility which rests upon
every man. in determining upon question
affecting so deeply the happiness and inter.
ests of so many mllliods OF human beings.
i Now, | wish it were in my power to enter
tain those placid convictions which appear to
have settled on the mind OF the Senator from
I Michigan. rather than have my mind disturb.
ed, as It has been in common with the Sena
tor from South Caroline, by visions and pros
poets OF evil-by fearful apprehenslons 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 Dnd am the less inclined to listen TO
this siren song the Senator from Michigan
sings 10 his own soul in the present fearful
aspect of public affairs, because Mr.. Presi.
dent. have heard it before now Every one
must recollect the condition OF this country
two or three years ago when that other ques-
ZION, which was the prelude and the precur-
: sor to the one which we are now obliged to
discuss, was before the Senate OF the United
4 States, and anXiously attracted the attention
of the whole people OF the United States
. the question of the Annexation OF tie Repub-
lie Of Texas, but recently a portion Of this
very Mexico with whom we are now al war.
We are told then, sir, that Texas being an
! independent Republic. had right to dispose
of herself in whatever way and to whatever
end and purpose she pleased, and the parent
| Republic Of Mexico having no cause to com
plain. would utter no compliant at the dis
position she was about to make of herself
We were told that war with Mexico would
not, could not ensue, VI that step should be
taken by the people Of The United Sates.-
We were told then, as we are told now, by
the Senator from Michigan, that all was
calm all was Tranquil, that, as he said yes
terdsy, the sentinel might sleep securely or
his tower-that all would be peace, and thai
that step could in no sense disturb the friend
ly relations existing between the Republic
OF Mexico and the Republic Of the United
States. We were asked not to anticipate the
evil which was to come Just as the Senator
from Michigan begged us to anticipate, no
evils which might be in prospect before us
Insufficient unto the day Is the evils thereof,
\ was then the song with which the advocated
of that measure sought to lull II TO tranquil
Ity, into apathy, the excited feeling OF The
public mind in this country.
And, Mr.. President, the day has come, a
was then predicted, and the evil predicted
! has come with il. We are here, sir. now
not as then at peace with oil the world-no
. now as then with laws that brought into you
4 treasury every thing adequate to it's wants
J: not now as then free from debt and the op
e prehension of debt and taxation, its necessary
:; consequence. But we are hero with irea
a sury that is beggared--that lifts up its i'm
e ploring hands to the moDopolsts and cspi
= talisls Of the coubtry-that sends out NJ
!; notes and promises TO pay" into every mar
u and into every market IN the world-beggine
: for piilance from every one 10 help TO swell
the amount now necessary 10 exlrlca'e u:
= from wur-incvtablc, as II now seems .
was-from ,ha, very act which was adopted
c under such na,terIng promises two years ago
q Mr.. President, it ia no purpose Of mine TO ar
II ragn the conduc, Of the United States upor
u that occasion. !, is no purpose OF nnno Il
y ,rca, the Young and newly adopted sister, ih'
+ state of Texas, ss an alien or stranger u
this family of republics. slludc to this on
y llv 10 show how little reliance " 10 he place
= lssgI