The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-01-07
SPEECH
Of Mr.. GENTRY, Of Tennessee, on The Presi-
dents Message.

= OfMR. GENTRY, Of Tennessee, on The Presi-
dents Message.
The committee resumed the consideration
r Of the resolutions submitted yesterday by Mr.
5 Brodhead, in relation to a reference Of the
Presidents Message.
Mr. Gentry addressed the committee. He
had intended, at some more advanced period
Of the session, when it presented itself in a
tangible shape, to say something on the ques-
ton Of the Mexican war; But the debate
yesterday, as well as the denunciation Of his,
Mr. G.'s party, had induced him to change
his purpose, and to speak now 1t was more
to show that he was not afraid to speak, than
from any other object that he did speak then
The President had descended from his high
position, and violated its proprieties, by de-
claring in his message that they who presum-
cd to cal in quest on his prudence and wis
dom in conducting the war, were, in fact,gui!-
ty Of treason and the Presidents liegemen
seemed ready to volunteer in the work Of re-
itcrating that denunciation against every
American freeman who had the insolence to
call in question the conduct of the Executive
| Now he Mr. G, spoke in order to bring him
self within the range of these denunciations
| He and his friends were put on their mettle
as well as their patriotism. They were called
on to proclaim their independence as freemen,
or to truckle to Executive menace There.
fore, he spoke. lie did not intend an elabo-
rate discussion Of those constitutional ques-
tons which had been introduced by learned
gentlemen in the course of the debate but it
was to announce his own opinions on the war,
and assume their full responsibility. A man,
he held, might be loyal, and yet opposed to
| thn prnsi1nDt Attopbmont 70 tbo
tive was no necessary mark of patriotism
The mistakes of law and fact which had been
made, arose from the melancholy impression
which appeared to prevail, that the President
was the Government, and possessed unlimited
power. They seemed to be rapidly advanc-
ing to that maxim of monarchial allegiance,
that the king could do no wrong Though a
II man might vote supplies and fight on the
battle field he was, forsooth, no patriot, I'M
less, spaniel-like, he knelt at the feet of the
Executive. That was the spirit which had
characterized the debate. He protested
against it. Let those whose servility of soul
qualified them for the mental task truckle to
the Executive but he and his friends had
nobler destiny to fulfil. They stood for the
defence of the constitution. They had no
disposition to truckle to petty usurper, who
came into power against the wishes of the
great men of his own party, and whose per-
sonal character was unworthy the favor of
the meanest minion that shouted in his train
The American spirit yet lived: and would
not sustain the acts of the present accidental
President of The United States. lie held it
as u general rule, and would, in ordinary cir
cumstances, gladly conform to it, that in time
Of war all should unite and wait until its end.
then to call its public officials to strict ac-
count. But they know not for what object
the war was waged--they had no assurance
that peace would be soon made. In view of
! all these circumstances silence was a crime !:
and it was the duty of all representatives of
the people to speak freely about the objects,
motives, and conduct of the Executive. The
President was the executive officer Of the
| Union; and even as communicative chief he
was but the executor Of the will of the nation,
and had no right whatsoever to make war
for any objects except such as had been de-
clarcd by the national legislature. He Mr..
| G. felt called on to join issue with the Presi-
dent in point of veracity. He did not be-
lieve the assertion Of the President, that the
war had not been waged for conquest What
had happened with regard to the Oregon
territory? They all remembered what the
President said about their right to that terri
tory. They all remembered that it was
common rumor Just before the project of the
| President was submitted to the Senate, that
the Secretary of State said to the Senators
who staked themselves on the right to all of
, Oregon, he would sooner lose his right arm
than sign such treaty. They all remember
ed the famous anathema of a distinguished
senator Mr.. Hannegan] on that point
And yet that project was submitted to the
Senate, and the President thus shifted the re-
sponsibility by saying he could not act with
out advice from his constitutional advisers,
well knowing what the advice would be-
And what did the American minister say in
reply to an invitation to public dinner p
Why, that he knew the views of his govern
ment before he eft, and that in laboring for
a settlement on the 4th parallel he was carry
ing out those views He MrG. believed that
conquest was the object of the war, Proof
Of that was abundant and conclusive. The
people Of the United States would be at no
loss to find the proof; and if loyal to their
, free institutions there could be no doubt as
to their action. He quoted from Secretary