Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-02-03
SPEECH OF JOHN P. HALE,
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

tional Military Force, was read third time.
The question being on the passage Of the bill 4:
Mr.. Hale said: Feeling compelled, from my
conviction of duty to take course in reference
to this bill in which am aware very few Sena.
tors will entirely coincide, have thought, hun.
BILE as is the sphere in which move, that it was
due to those who placed me in the position &C.
cupy, TO let my vote upon the bill go out accom-
panied with the reasons which have induced me
to take the course which am about to take. |
would have been glad if folder and ADLER Senators
had favored the Senate with their views in opposi-
ton to this bill | would have been glad ifthe ac-
ton oftte Senate upon the bill had been delayed
until the documents coming from the several de-
partmentS, and which we are well nigh getting,
had been placed before us, so that We might have
had all the light that could be thrown upon that
which, in my mind, is dark subject at the light
est; but seeing that the bill is likely TO 20 thro'
the forms of legislation, and become law with
out having those lights before us, have thought
il necessary TO trespass briefly Upon the time of
the Senate, in order TO express the views which
entertain. II may be said that do not stand
in position TO be aided by light from tny quar-
ter because have already declared that / stand
here prepared to vote against the war in adj its
forms; against any measures for the supply of
troops, either regulars volunteers land ii there
are any other kinds, go against lhem0 because
stand prepared to vote against the appropria-
ton OF single dollar beyond the simple amount
las have before suggested which will be sui.
hclent to bring home your troops by the shorlest
and cheapest route. Entertaining these views.
before entering upon the discussion of the bill, |
want to say word in regard to a sentiment which
have heard avowed here and elsewhere, and it
Is, that when the country is engaged in war we
lose all discretion, we have nothing to do but
grant the supplies that are demanded of us an
appeal being made to our patriotism patriotism
can only lind rightsul action in a support OF The
war; That there is no patriotism anywhere else,
and that the Administration, which has been so
fortunate or unfortunate as to plunge the coun.
try into war, has only to appeal to the c,untrv,
and expect to receive 10 other response except
hearty and unanimous support. And this doc
trlne mas been carried SO far, and in such high
places, mat lhe President Of the United States
has denounced US treason the opposition of Con-
gross, although they believe the war to have been
unnecessarily and unconstitutonally commcnc.
ed, and prosecuted for purposes which their udr-
ment CONDEMNS, and tending to the overthrow of
our institutions of Government.
recollcct but one incident in my reading OF
history which is analogous. 1t is stated by an
English Historian that when Queen Elizabeth
had summoned her Parliament, and they were a.
bout 10 organize for business, she sent her mes
seDger to them with this royal maudate: to be
S"'S'ui liat tiSy ulu hUlttCuuic WIFI affairs
OF State, because" said she, "such things are
altogether beyond tue compass of your narrow
understanding. We'll, our royal President dirt
MT follow exactly in the footsteps Of Elizabeth
He did not question the understand ng of Con
gress, but their patriotism. Now let Us sec where
this doctrine will carry us. Let US see 10 wha
1t will lead Suppose you should have an excec
dinghy bad and corrupt Admnstration-mind
do not say that this is such an Administration, o.
that we are ever likely TO have such an one.
neither affirm ner deny aught on that mater;
only use the superstition for the purpose Of illus
trating my argument. But suppose that such
Thing were possible, and thatthe measures Of thu
President had become exceedingly odous, op
pressye, burdensome, and intolerable, and tina
notes OF dsnpprobaton were beginning to bt
heard ircm the people assembled in their prima.
ry meetings; that The tones of indignation u
last penetrate the walls of the palace, and thC
President finding that he cannot stand agains
the united will Of an injured people, begins t.
look about for the means Of escaping from tina
torrent Of popular odium which threatens to over
whelm him, what was he TO do? To desst il
his course Of wrong. doing, or to rerace bis steps
No, slr this is not the path to popuarity accor
ding to his new school of ethics and morals ht
has only 10 go on and plunge the country int
war, and, II he can manage so skillluy as to in
volve the country into two walls at once, so nucl
the better SO much the more glory for him (;
popularity greater than that of Washington O
Jackson. This is the inference, the plain ant
unmistakable inference. War, instead Of being
MS II is said to be by all writer's on ethics or pol
itics, the drest calamity which Heaven in it
wrath can send upon nation, is converted BY
this alchemy into healing Bethesda, In whcl
political profligacy and corruption Of the durkes
hue may wash itselfand be clean.
Sir, utterly deny the soundness of this doc
triDc, that Congress ought to have no voice be
yond granting the supplies. If there ever is I
tine when opposition should be yigilant, watch
fnl, noticing everything that is wrong, it is at
time when, through the acts of the Administra
ton, the country is burcened with an unuecessa
ry war. When The peaceful pursuits of life are
interrupted, the fruits of industry are consumed
the treasure of the nation waetcd and the live
of its citizens sacrificed for the support Of sucl
war, and the country involved in all The hor
rors which 1t brings IN lis train. If there exc
is time that should put men upon their individ
ual judgment, reflection and responsibility it i
such time; and is notsuch our condition now
Primarily carried in the manner ! propose here
alter TO show, fastened and precipitOled upon u
by the unadvlsed, unconstitutional, and lega
acts of the President, propose to do what ma
feeble as 1t may be, to place the country rgh
have never learned in that school Of moral @
political science what teaches that by persever
ing IN the wrong, we shall ever come out right.
And, sir, there is another Wow that is some
tunes taken which certainly does not accord wit
my own convictions, and upon which | wish t
say word or two at this tine, fand do it wit
Difference TO the opinions OF alb Ter men abou, me
ard which relates TO the course which thos
should take who believe the war to be wron,
radically wrong. ] think have heard an idG
something like this; The country is engaged j
war which is unjustifiable; we confess il
wrong to go on-we see clearly ii is wrong
nevertheless, we are now at war, and the Pres
dent calls on us for supplies Of men and monel
and Senators say they will vote men and money
but by some sort Of process which escapes al
comprehension, they Imagine they are to thro
the responsibility on the President. ! confess
do not understand how they are to escape iro
responsibility they must share the responsible
~ with the President, let the character OF H.
act be what II may. If the war be wrong, pl
an end TO 1t at once. | nave no doubt the Pres
dent will be exceedingly gralfed with oppos
ton Of this kind, You will hear nothing abo,
factious opposition in the organ of the Admir-
istration. ! he President would care little 4
the oppositson Of the whole world, if it were
this kind il is very like Sam Weller, who hal
peled to find himself in prison, and persc
whom he met was bewailng the misfortune
having thousand pounds left TO him by will
81. III H.. Al