The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-25

Of Italy, crossed the Adratc, the Mediterranean and The
Alps, liberty fell PROSTATE; the Roman people became
rabbe; corruption penetrated every department OF the
government violence and anarchy rned the day, and mil
tary aesposm closed the scene Now on the contrary
rtoral extent and probably OF not inferior population,
without the personal liberty OF the subec being materially
RS'ssd' or the government subject to violence or an
Now, shall not here stop 10 discuss the meaning OF
the term prouiace 1t obvious that the senator's view
OF the matter is that the extension of territorial dominion
by Rome had the effect OF prosating her liberties. |
tainly not IN Gbbon, Niebuhr do think il can be
found in the pages OF any other phosophc historian who
has written OF that wonderful people On the contrary.
the freedom OF Rome commenced with territorial con
quests-grew and strengthened continually with farther
compassionate never became very seriously impaired
until the god Terminus began to think of receding
"Bu though Terminus (says Gibbor) had resisted the
majesty OF Jupiter, he subnltted TO the authority of the
Emperor Hadrian. The first emperor of Rome for the
first time announced the noterntory policy to Roman
ears and. accordingly the same lustrious historian just
quoted says the principal conquests of the Romans
achieved under the republic and the emperors, for the
most part, satisfied with preserving those domnions
which had been acquired by the policy Of the senate the
active emulation of the consuls and the martial enhus
asm of the people. The first centuries filled
with rapid succession OF rumphs but reserved
for Augustus TO elinquish the ambitious design OF
quenng the whole EARTH and to introduce spirit OF mod
| Grafton into his councils"
The senator from South Carolina was pleased 10 desig
nate period in Roman history the commencement Of
the ruiz of free Institutions, nearly four hundred years
anterior to the age of the Antonines selected by Mr.
Gbbon as the beginning of the decline and fall of Roman
power lie says: AS as the Roman power passed
from Italy beyond the Adriatc the SIDE and the
Alps on the other, and the Mediterranean their liberty
fell PROSTATE" Well, if the senator is correct in this
statement Roman liberty persisted before the five hundred
and eth year from the building of the city, and nearly
two hundred years before the reign OF Augustus asl
early the year SIS A. U. c.; Spain conquered by
Scpio in the year SAT OF the era and the Macedo
man kingdom was overhrown, and all Greece delivered
from the tyranny of Nabis, about ten years later To
recognise Roman liberty having been Frustrated thus
early, would be to take away from the honor of free in
stutions more than am willing to do; and would inc
vitality cast multitude OF great names, heretofore
Grated with the career of Roman liberty, into dim and
dusky eclipse which would be seriously dsprtng TO the
champions OF freedom throughOu the world.
The truth s, sir, that there never year when
Rome free that she not advancing rapidly along
the pathways of territorial conquest Let cursoriy
mention few names of conquered and annexed peoples
who had fallen before the Roman power anterior to the
period of postraton specified by the senator rsm South
Carolina Commencing with the Adams, we have then
the Latnes the Sabnes, the Fdenatians the Fascians
the Venetans, the Prenesnes the Campanians, the Sam
nites the Herncans the Tburians, ahe Prvenians the
Apulians the Etruscans, the Umbrans, the Marsians
the Pelignians the Equans, the Volsnians the Lucani
ans, the Tarennes, the Bruttans the Salentnes the
States of Sicily Carthage Spain, Sardinia Corsica, the
Llgurans, &c, &c, &c. How wonderful i must seem
to the senator from South Carolina, that Roman liberty
not Frustrated much earlier than the date of its
extinction which he has specied
But will not pursue this topic further; and indeed,
should not have discussed it at ALL but for the apprehen
sion which felt that the powerful argument of the hon
orable senator from South Carolina on this point going
wholly unanswered, might have effect upon the pub
lie mind more or less detrimental in its character
If the senator had ascrbed the prosation of Roman
liberty to her badly balanced frame of government into
which ''the most homogeneous and antagonizng ele
ments had found entrance and maintained nnceasng dis
cord"-to her defective system of jurisprudence, which
until the days of Jusnian, confessedy of the
most imperfect known-to her of the represent
mr. nj GOV mont
to her want Of trial by jury; and her want of the
means of rapidly communicating intelligence from
place to place OF her extended empire; and had
ended with asserting that corruption, the means of
perpeatng which had been supplied, to extent, by
system OF robbery and contscation in foreign and
mote regions, (Which is impossible nths country, under
our consttution,) should have concurrcd with him most
heartily But TO give all these considerations the go-by,
and ascribe the downfall of Roman freedom to single
as practical as to settle the matter summarily by re-
peatng the language of poetry, and saying with Byron
"The Goth, the Christian Time War, Flood and Fire,
Have dealt upon the seven-hled city's pride,
She saw her gories, star by star expire,
And up the steep, barbarian monarchs ridey
Where her car cimed the Capitol"
But let advance little further in examination of the
honorable senator's view of the danger likely to arise to
our institutions from the incorporation or provinciaza-
ton of Mexico one of which, he says, will have to
DO IN short time 4 we 40 not come over to his defen
Mexico, he says, will bring us to the necessity OF
choice between these alternatives.
Admitting the Standardization of Mexico to be at
hand then contend that, without falling back a de-
ensive line, and without establishing provincial govern
ment the incorporation of her people, in their present
condition at least measures could yet be taken, without
varying all from the policy necessary to be pursued in
order to insure vigorous prosecution of the war, and
indeed in pursuance of the military occupation policy
now promulged by General Scott that would inevitably
lead to the gradual civilization and Amercanization Of
Mexico, and possibly her eventual annexation to the
conederacy, when qualified for this honor. propo-
sing nothing for present adoption would be presump
tuous in me to do So The views which am about TO
express, my own, and may be, for aught know in
official unofficial, all responsible therefor Though
am happy TO believe that they will be generally con
Cured in by those whom | represent here, and
that, in the MAN, they sanctioned by two distinguish
ed citizens of my State, Judging from their publish
ed vews) whose high reputation for Abilities for moral
worth, and profound acquaintance with this particular
subject, will secure for any opinions which they may be
known to approve the utmost respect from their country
men. allude TO the late Governor of Mexico General
Quitman and another parsonage, whose name for GER
tam delicate public reasons may not mention here; but
who was once my predecessor this floor. has since
associated himself in deathess connexon with the great
principles of freerade and who may well be recognised
as the Golden and Mansfield combined of this western
world
Thus promising, proceed to declare that if hereafter
driven by stress OF circumstances such have been an
cpated by the senator from South Carolina to despair
altogether OF the efectuaon of treaty with Mexico
and we should be forced to keep possession of the
try in spite OF willingness to surrender it TO its own
present inhabitants fair and honorable terms why
even them should not unite with the senator from South
Carolina IN the sentiments of profound hopeessness to
which he has given such eloquent expression in our
midst but should endeavor to educe much good as