The North-Carolina standard., 1848-01-26
POLITICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
REvERDY JoHNsoN's SPEECH.

REVERDY JOHNSON'S SPEECH.
We make the following extracts from the Speech
Of Mr.. Reverdy Johnson, decided Whis, delivered
in the Senate of the United States the 10th instant:
"Sr need not say that l came into this body
differing with the administration upon almost every
subject of our public civil policy. This difference,
decided as it was in the beginning, so far from hav
ing been diminished, has been but more and more
strengthened and confirmed. believe they misap-
nrehend the true policy of the country and fundamcn
tv err upon great and vital points of constitutional
power Imay be mistaken; but believe as sincere-t
tv as believe in my own existence, that the, day
will come and is rapidly coming, when this will be
seen to be the general opinion of the people; and
that until then, the country will be deprived of many
blessing which the constitution intended to be-
stow. But, sir, questions have arisen, and are
now agtating the nation. We at war F.; and, upon
one of the questions growing out of it, find myself
differing, perhaps, with most of the senators this
side of the chamber-not, hope, with all-with
whom it is my pride and pleasure generally agree
need say Mr.. President to you to them, that
this difference exists, if it does exist, because am
unable, from of duty, to have it otherwise.
Party ties, party Prepossessions, party associations
strong they are, and should be, never be
sufficiently strong to make an honorable violate
what he feels to be his duty to his country; and
when in that duty is involved his countrys reputa-
ton, they should be- and are, weaker than the sp-
der's web.
Nor upon this occasion do feel any other concern
than that which the fact of difference creates
because L KNOW 50 wen Tie O0IdtOIS WHO dIc dIOuHu
me, that whatsoever regret they may feel that cur
opinions not upon all points Identical, should
cease to have, what am sure now have, their re-
spect and esteem, if surrendered my judgment,
and faltered with my own conscience upon measure,
vital, in that judgment, to the true fame of
mon country. We differ, SIR but differ friends.
We differ, sir, but we differ patriots. We have
alike the true honor of the country at heart
only agreed, perhaps, to what that true honor
demands.
Sir, he libels them, and he libels me, who doubts
our high and patriotic purposes. He violates the
decorum of private Hfe and the decences of official
relation, where it exists, who intimates that
capable, under any state of things, for any pur
poses of taking sides with the enemies of our coun
try. We aim alike at her honor; disagree, if we
do disagree to the true mode of yindlcahng and
maintaining it. Mr.. President, all of the good and
liberal of my counrymen will, have no doubt when
they shall have seen what am about to say, do me
the justice to believe that my motives are pure and
patriotic. There may be, and perhaps are, mere fol-
lowers of the party camp, whose hope 1t IS to feed on
the spols of the contest, who may profess to doubt
it; but to such do drop syllable to satisfy
Bred in the corruption of the motto of the political
freebooter that the spoils belong the vctorfght
ing not for principle, but for plunder-they as
feculent as their motto, and beneath the notice of
honest men-only, indeed, to be stunned as you
would shun any loahsome toad that might be In your
pathway.
Is the war lust and honorable or mott
think it is and hope, for the good name of my
country, that such will be the judgment of Chrsten-
dom. Sir, wish to be clearly understood. 1 am
nquirng into the conduct of the Executive, into
prudence its consttutionality. My single pro-
position now is, that as between the United States
and Mexico, the former had just cause of war on the
18th Nav, 1916, when the act of that date was
passed and that, that day, in fact existed by
means of the unjust and illegal act of Mexico Sir
repeat, before going further, that sincerely trus
as love the fair fame of my countrymen, that may
be able to make this plain. Sir, should bow In
deep and heartfelt modification for that fame, IT did
not believe it to be plain. would not have 1t even
eli 0ho 01hf
from the dread of the judgment which the civilized
world would then be compelled to pass upon US.
We live In an age when nations, individuals, lose
their power and usefulness, and sink into degradation
if they perpetrate acts of wrong and injustice. We
are thank God, surrounded by a moral atmosphere,
necessary healthful national existence as the
atmosphere we breathe is necessary to individual fe
we discard tiff we sink below lt-lf we substl-
tute for it that which is nseparable from violence
and injustice-the punishment Is at hand. The de-
cay begins, and progresses until we are involved In
hopeless ruin.
National character is national power; and the
purer the more elevated, the spotless that char
acer, the greater the power trust, therefore, In
God, that right in the opinion that this war Is,
upon our part, just and honorable. If motif not
clearly lust and honorable-then Will we be pro-
nounced by the Judgment of the world, band of
murderers. No other sentence can then be passed
upon If we are right, we are worthy descend
ants of sires who knew no moral 6lemlSh-Wno esn-
mated the national honor above all price, Ii we are
wrong, have disgaced the inheritance of freedom
they have left us, brought dishOnor upon our land
and aimed fatal blow at our constitutional freedom
ITSELF
If speak strongly, it is because feel strongly
wish to give offence to none-I take no offence If
others hold different opinion. am here to justify
my own vote before the Senate and the country;
and mean to do it with the freedom that belongs to
each of us.
have an sinstinctive repugnances to believe my
country wrong in any war In which she can engage;
and rejoice that in this instance my feelings and
my judgment are one. now proceed with the at
tempt to maintain that judgment. have not time,
s nor health, to state all the facts which our diff
cultes with Mexico have developed applicable to
this question. Nor, if / had, should deem it ne
eessary to trespass much upon the time of this
body My purpose is to refer only to such as am
sure cannot be successfully denied and which of
themselves, in my judgment, conclusive of the con-
roversy.
In 1884, the Mexican Congress passed decree,
requiring all citizens surrender to the government
their arms. The Legislature Of Coiahula and Texas
Oy decree demonstrated against it, and other acts re-
peang the constitution of Mexico of 1924, by which
mey had changed the government from federal to
central one