Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-03-10
SPEECH OF Mr.. CORWYN.
In Me United States Senate ON the fth inst ON
THE THREE MILLION BILL"
Specially Reported for the New York Tribune

HI tHC OHtcu kStUteS kSCHUtG ON 1e i J. IN inst on
THE THREE MILLION BILL"
Specially Reported for the New York Tribune
z Mr.. CORWIN rose and said: Mr.. President
DO not pretend to attempt the performance of
task so futile and foolish as to go over the
whole field of discussion which this subject en-
braces. 1t has already been occupied by more
yigilant and stronger hands than mine. All
that | may hope will be 10 gather, here and
there sheaf or two, before the harvest be full
ly gathered. rise Mr.. President, and have
solicited the attention of the Senate only for
the purpose of performing The humble task of
presenting to the body and through it, if pos
sible, to the particular constituents which rep
resent, some reasons that have impelled me to
occupy, what every one must know, in times
like these, is to say the least of it, position
not desirable.
have been compelled, Mr.. President. from
conscientious convictions which have pressed
themselves upon my mind from the commence
ment of the session-from the time | received
the Presidents Message, up to this hour-to
give certain votes upon very important meas
ures which have been presented 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 party,-of which / sup
pose | may call myself member-on this side
81 the House. 1t is not remarkable, Mr.. Pres
ldent. at least it is not matter of surprise to
any one who has attended to the various opin-
ions which have been expressed even in this
Hall, that 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 ne
cessity. 1t must, however, have struck every
one, sir, as very curious fact, that the two
Senators on the other side of the Hall, in look
ing at the present aspect of public affairs, should
entertain such singuarly opposite views. The
profound and contemplative mind of the Sena-
tor from South Carolina (Mr. Calhoun) in look
ing abroad at the present condition of rhe Re-
public, could see nothing all around him but
darkness, and doubt, and distrust, and fearful
Apprehension, and impenetrable gloom; while to
the mind of the Senator from Michigan Mr..
Cass) all was bright, and calm, and placid sun
shine, and prosperous breezes and smooth sea.
Now, Mr.. President. if this diversity of opinion
is found to prevail in minds habituated and ac-
customed to think earnestly and sincerely upon
public affairs, it will present itselfto every body
as requiring in him who is to determine between
these two conflicting opinions all the attention
which it is possible for the human mind to give
the subject under the awful responsibility which
rests upon every man in determining upon
quection affecting so deeply the happiness and
interests of so many millions of human beings.
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
Michigan, rather than have my mind disturbed,
as it has been in common with the Senator from
South Carolina, by visions and prospects of evil
by fearful approximations that every step we
are now taking may be the last one which we
shall he permitted TO take in our career and in
our history free people; and | am the less
inclined to listen to this siren song the Senator
from Michigan sings to his own soul in the pres
ent fearful aspect Of public affairs, because, Mr..
President, | have heard it before nowl Every
one must recollect the condition of this country
two or three years ago, when that other ques-
ton, which was but the prelude and precursor
to the one which we are now obliged to discuss,
was before the Senate of the United States,a
anxiously attracted the attention of the whole
people of the United States-the question of
the Annexation of the Republic of Texas, but
recently portion of this very Mexico with
whom we are now at war. We were told then
sir, that Texas, being an independent Republic
had right to dispose of herself in whatever
way and to what end and purpose she pleas
ed, and the parent Republic of Mexico having
no cause to complain, wonld utter no complaint
at the disposition she was then about to make
of herself. We are told that war with Mexico
would not-could not ensue, ifthat step should
he taken by the people of the United States
We were told then as we are told now, by the
Senator from Michigan, that all was calm-aI
was tranquil; that he said yesterday. the senti-
mel might sleep securely on his tower-that all
would be peace, and that, that step could in NO
sense disturb the friendly relations existing be-
tween the Republic of Mexico and the Repub-
lie of the United States. We were asked not
to anticipate the evil which was to come, Just
as the Senator from Michigan begged me to an
tcipate no evils which might be in prospect be-
fore us. "Suffcient unto the day is the evil
thereof was then the song with which the advo
Gates of that measure sought to lul into tran
guilty, or into apathy, the excited feeling OF
the public mind in this country.
And, Mr.. President. the oay has come, as was
then predicted, and the evil predicted has come
with it. We are here sir, now, not as then, at
peace with all the world-not now as then with
laws that brought INTO your treasury everything
adequate to its wants-not now as then free
from debt and the apprehension of debt and tax
alton. its necessary consequence. But We are
here with treasury that is beggared-that lifts
up its imploring hands to the monopoists and
capitalists of the country-that sends out its
notes and ''promises to pay" into elery mart
and into every market in the word-beggng
for pittance from every hand to help to swell
the amount now necessary to extricate us from
a war-inevitable as it now seems it was
from that very act which was adopted under
such catering promises two years ago. MIR.
President, it is no purpose of mine to arraign
the conduct of the United States upon that oc-
casion 1t is no purpose of mine to treat the
Young and newly adopted sister-the State of
Texas-as an alien or stranger in the fam lily of
Republics. allude to this only to show bow
little reliance is to be placed upon those favora
BILE aniicipations in which gentlemen indulge