The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-02
SPEECH
OF Mr.. CoIIamer, of Vermont,
ON THE MEXICAN WAR.
Delivered in the House of Representatives Of the u
February J. lS4S

The House having under consideration the refer
cnce of the Presidents Annual McSsage-Mr. COL
LAMER, of Vermont, said:
M Speaker:
Ihave listened, with q good degree of attention
and interest to the debates which have occurred IN
this House. on some of the ublccs contained III
the Presidents Message, and have been dcsrous
of extracting from them some general principle.
have heard gentlemen discuss them now Tor many
DAYS and have seen the parties rather their lead
era, who have spoken here, and who have explained
their respective views on the great questions which
nov agitate the country. l have, too with regret,
heard them ndulging in but iII-disguised person
aes in regard to the motives OF those VINO differed
from them in opinion. This has generally been
done with decent respect to decorun. iii point OF
form, but gentlemen have evidently been inclined
to think and to say that those who differed with
them the great points OF public policy, ana e'-
pecially in relation to this war; we're enemies OF the
country. They have at least, given the commune
~ so to understand and so to believe. Now, man
may differ with me in opinion, on question deeply
interesting to our common country, and yet neither
of US be enemy to that country. ne tTuth II,
men erect in their minds standard OF nat0'dt pros
peyity aud they take it for granted that II any one
OPPOSES their conrae of advocating that Dr0SperHq,
and especially if he actually repuadte it, he must
be an enemy Of his country's prosperity, because
their idea Of prosperity is, exclusively, that stand
ard thew have thus erected. 1t seems to me, sir,
that the two parties in this House, and in tins cou!-
try differ entirely in relation to the great point OF
wherein national prosperity consists, II not even III
the great ends and purposes of government. can
hut sneak for myself In relation to the r1at ends
of overnncnt | have all idea, more or less periec
and it is essentially this to promote the good OF the
proule to meliorae their condition. to advance ana
elevate them in their physical, moral, ntehectuaI'
and social condition. The means to the accom-
plishmen. Of this end consist in so directing our
Government as to develop our resources ana cil.
courage domestic industry, improve the means ol
intercourse and education, advance our agriculture,
n,I,,, 1f1ptII i'm
their administration. and thus make OF us homo
rcneous people, all elevated and adorned with a
taste and refinement becoming the members OF a
tl1iOus republic This, to my mind, is national
prosperity.
Mvcx,crience and observation here, has not been
of great extent AS it is not over five years since
became Il member Of this House; but, with that
amount of congressional experience, ana after care
fuy listening to the progress of this debate am con
strained to conclude that gentlemen IN the opposite
side of this House have erected in their minds very
different standard Of natioadL prosperity According
to their conceptions, the prosperity OF the nation
consists in what advances its military glory; ii
whatever extends the of territory possessed II
whatever gives eclat by blood and gunpowder and
feu,s o! arms With them this is national prosperity
do not say they are prepared to deny that me goot
Of our orn people is the true end of government, bu
il becomes exceedingly difficult for me to under
stand how that end can be reached by pursuing
their course of national prosperity. So long, how
ever, as they retain that idea they will, very natu
rally, regard all VINO ooitruct lhelr corse anu WIZ
would put stop 10 Su'M e,eef VI
enemies Dl .nG ",i" |,a then snannhIe
men, mem, az fmdamnnoI We differ entirely in tn
idea of what constitutes national glory and nat'ono
prosperity
40 snow t'"t , , tho snord ia ro"v hc che,
etpeIay II de %n e s"stn t tI 6resent Ex
sneG e T becomes necessary to take short retr
ecuVe' ~ tIo no,,r.e " eyents far the st fou
pecton OF inc eo"I n GSG, n III ii viii be ont
years. ana, M )" uo r nJ no ~t,r t
man lert ' h,d and headIog ha. BEEN the c6urs
h 10 ~ pe GOOD 6" our own peope the clear pr
v ,t rV of Eth the Constitution and the dictates of ete