Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-19

% an alarming extent at the North and East which much
m e m se more destructive to dearest interests than it
mas aohe 70 our brave soldiers in Mexico And thus sir at
period perhaps The most that has occurred 10 our
history and when all ealouses sectional and PERSONAL and
me ous oi INDIVIDUAL ambition should be resouiey dse-
garded oe OF every secon who anxous 10 stand bv
the republic and rescue her institutions from the dancers that
gather round hom shon their strength dsracd and
parayzed by their own divisions
Sir, does any Of my Wing friends consder ~, r ~
gerae the probability that the issue will be spch as Me-
assumed From the evidences before them do thew cons
der questionable Why, SIR, il there was nothing ese
to them of the nature Of the coming sn,ogIe ,h
speech Of the honorable chairman Of the Commee an MI
tay Affairs, seems to me, ought suffice Have Won
not seen that able Senator, up recent period Of his lie
distinguished for the phosophc vein which runs through
all his writings and speeches. fling aside his philosophy and
proclaim the superiority OF instinct the conclusions of
reason IN estimating military glory element Of nation
al strength giving himself up to the encouragement and
support OF all the exravaganzas of progressive Democracy
In declaring that he great Of alarm in the
idea OF extending dominion the whole continent
mean no offence to that distinguished Senator; have
high regard both for his talents and his private virtues but
must say that am utterly amazed by his remarks upon
this SUBJECTS must say of his course that though il
may be fortunate for him, must be deeply affective to
ms country But upon the introduction of the resolutions
offered upon this subject by the distinguished Senator from
South Caroline, (Mr CALHOUN land may this Senate
ever boast one or such Senator's who may possess the
moral courage to rise above party que son like this
and give himself to his country alone-wha did
hear from the honorable Senator from Michigan Sir, il
that the questions the resolutions were mere
abstract propositions which, adopted could have no prac
teal operation or influence in preventing the catastrophe
against which the resolution pointed. s"Why sirn
exclaimed the SENATOR f the people will the annexation of
Mexico, nothing in power do can prevent it, YOU
as well plant yourself upon the brink Of the cataract Of
niagara and bid the waters be stiIi.n
Well does the honorable Senator really believe that no.
thing the Senate do, resolution that can be adopted
here, no declaration OF opinion upon this great question will
nave any elect with the country among the people And
has the Senate sunk low to be shorn of all influence
And SO that the Senate, which is presumed TO be COM
posed OF gentlemen of large experience in public affairs
statesmen distinguished for their ability and patriotism in the
States they represent question involving the greatest
and such may decide forever the experiment
OF free republican institutions, have influence with the
yeonen OF the counywith the farmer at his plough the
merchant at his his desk the mechanic In his work
shoPa class which always look only TO the good of the coun
try which disturbed biased dreams Of person.
al amblon and who value their constitution and the Union
The guarantees they Of their domestic happiness the
cuy OF their lives and property and the their
privileges civil and religious Sir can subscribe to no
such conclusion Sir does the honorable Senator really sup
pose that the declaration of his individual opinions and sen
nens on this great question, any other this floor can
have no weight with the people Of this country If he does
can assure the honorable Senator that he greatly undertakes
he estimation in which he is held in this country both for
lis talents and his patriotism Sir whenever that day shall
ome that the opinions OF the American Senate can have no
niuence IN correcting the impulses of popular feeling the
hastily formed and consdeed opinions Of the people upon
question involving their beres shall not calculate how
ong those liberties may endure, how they may perish
Mr.. President, have reflected much upon the question: in
III its grave aspects and feel compelled express con-
con that, people enjoying the fruits Of free system
II government, stand the very brink Of fate. we
10 not stop this before another year, step
urher in present and shall be borne by
esbe current, beyond retreat rescIe irretrievabe
misfortune and ruin II we saved it will be by the pro-
7idence of God, not of man.
There something Mr. President in present relations
with Mexco-something unusual, not to say wonderful
n all the incidents Of this warthai, superstious,
should say that higher power than holds the of
and for COMPREHEND The
individual sesacce, Of reckless yet successful adven-
OF such frequent occurrence in this carry back
search OF parallel examples the heroic ages antiquity
and filter subjects for fabulous and narrative
than the sober pages Of truthful history. There record
in the history of modern warfare ancient either of more
brilliant and uninterrupted series of welought battles and
victorious results against such odds that which forms
part of the mpeshabe annals Of the republic and when we
contemplate the ntrepdiy and skill officers the impe
tuous yalor which has distinguished every corps of army,
whether of regular soldiers Of Volunteers vaor-whch
neither natural distractions, military defence force
often five times numerous could in their rapid and
victorious Involuntary reminded Of the similar
and thrilling exploits of Cortez the fields of military
fament the land which, by this double of conquest
devoted
Il about three hundred years since that extraorna
ry man. with land of than seven hundred
number, urged by Of the strongest passions Of
nature, cupdy and religious anatcsm landed upon
known shore, burnt his ships, attacked and after enacng
scenes mixed Of craft cruelty and blood yet gded
with eats OF high cyay and dauness courage that the
Of history pause her task and hesaes praise blame
overthrew popuous and powerful empire. These victorious
adventuers the ancestors and counymen Of that
which since has held sway the conquered country
whatever form the Government has assumed whether vice
ega or free IL Indian that peopIed the empire
which Corez overturned and they the and
ounymen Of the which inhabt the land of
heir fathers They made serfs the hewers of wood and
he drawers OF water to their three ago
with some ameloraion they continue be this day
though free in name they still the badges Of subject
pcopes, remain the victims Of conquest and Of their prime
val caste and complexion. Whatever faction rules for the
hour they still the sufferers. What religion fails
from hem their proud and nsoent conqueors extoi under
the pretex OF Government support, or maintain an army
which oppesses them peace and gives them no protection
tues the descendants Of the original spoilers should be made
to suffer the penalty Of the wrongs committed by their fore
fathers that they in turn should be odden under the iron
heel Of warbe made under the yoke OF the conqueror
Mr. President If may be permitted to moralize upon the
extraordinary and mysterious ycisstudes and condolences
the fortunes OF nations, would ask what are motives
what purposes the further prosecution Of this Are
sure, that among those who direct this who put
all this chyalry in motion in foreign land
tainted with the lust Of conquest Are that, what
ever have existed at its origin other motives
and other objects have supeened less deiensbe in their
than the rights and honor Of the country, the only
legitimate Of the war Are the invaders Of this a,ed
country of the nineteenth century, pure and upright in all
their objects and far elevated above the passions Of those
the sixteenth that they may hope to escape the etbuton
which awaited them and which has awaited the
queror and oppressor
1t is said Of scipionot he that Hannibal but