The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-18
SPEECH OF MR.. HALE.
THE TEN REGIMENT BILL.


On motion of Mr.. Cass, the ten regiment bill
was then taken up and read third time The
question being on the passage
Mr.. Hale, of New Hampshire. was induced by
his convictions Of duty, to define his views upon
This bill. Although he knew that there were few
Senators who wOud concur with him. vet he ow-
cd 1t to his constituents, and to his position before
the country, not TO let his vote 20 TO the world
without giving his reasons for it. lie would have
been glad TO have left this duty to older and ADLER
hands, He would have been glad, in order TO get
all the possible light on this subject, which appear
ed so hard and unfathomable; but he supposed
the bill would pass through the forrns of a law.
ami that It was only left for him to give his rea-
sons and his votes against il. But no matter
whether the lights of public documents were to
be had or not his course was decided upon. He
should 80 against the bill-he was opposed both
to regulars and volunteers; and if there was anv
other description of troops, he should vote against
them. lie would oppose the appropriation of a
single dollar to the force in the field beyond the
amount that was necessary to bring them home
by the very shortest and cheapest route 1t was
held to be patriotic to go for war, when we get
INTO 1t, night or wrong and the President at the
last session, had officially declared all those Cd
posed TO his war as guilty of treason. Queen T.
lizabcth doubted the understanding and wisdom
OF the members of parliament, and advised them
not to NEEDLE with state affairs. So had our Pres
ident doubted the patriotism of Congress. Mr.
Hale argued that this doctrine of Presidential as
sumption of right or wrong and of absolute pow
or, pending war, was most pcrnicious. The
polcy npon this doctrine, however, appears TO be-
that II we arc IN war, we must prosecute it, right
or wrong. 1t Is popular TO keep it going on and
if James X. Polk could get into two wars at once,
he would expect to be more popular than Gener-
ais Washington and jackson together. Warnow
was not regarded as the blacklist of crimes. rs il
had been by the proudest writers but it was re-
garded rs Pool of Bethesda, in which the most
detestable political prohigacy of the blackcst die
could wash itself and be cleanscd As the blood
of our fellow men docs not belong to that school
OF morals, or such being pcrverscd, in not coming
right another question is, what course docs it he
come those who believe the country involved in
war which is so unjust, are to pursued Some
Senators, by a sort of argument | cannot comprc-
hcnd think that, while the war is unjust, they are
bound to vote men and money, throwing the re-
sponsibility upon the President. ! cannot sec how
this Is done Such opposition is just what is
wanted. If you follow this course, YOU will not
find any articles in the government organ about
iactious opposition 1t is just the sort Of opposi
ton they desire. They would rather have it than
your support They want nothing better than
that YOU should vote the President all the money
& men lie wants. and then TO oppose his policy.
Nor do / agree with gentlemen who say that upon
bill to increase the army is not proper place to
inquire into the justice consti;utiOnaliiy Of the
war. hold that is upon every bill to carry out
any act of the executive which is Illegal is prop
or occasion TO object to its further proceeding
further believe that the true cause of this
lies deeper than has been alluded TO by any gen
teman who has preceded me. IbeLeTe, sir, that
tie caEse Of this rdr IS for the ortensioH Of human
SdreT and auy Ott- cause as IN my opinion. foreign
Il r IL
whole history ofthe country in relation TO the an
nexatiOn of Texas. But sir, the men who arc at
the head of the government openly and plainly
avowed the object. They were, will in substance
say men of no higher principle than set of po-
liticians, which VIC have at present day, who avow
themselves Northern men with Southern priDci-
piles. To show this, sir, will ask that the docu-
ment which hold i'll my hand may be read
Here were letters of Duff Green of August 22d,
ls43 read by the Secretary Here, sir, you will
observe that a scheme was on hand. The writer
of this letter says that it was project to send
some finatical Aholitionists of the North to tam
per with the institutions of the South. He SAYS
that the establishment of a government torblddmg
slavery would be a most unhappy result.
thought sir when | read it first that the word I'M
happy was a mistake Of the printer, but | have
read several copies and it is still unhappy. What.
sir, is this The establishment of free govern
l1eut iOTDlulhS SHiNclNi - ldNe iiiSN via ~
most unhappy results This, sir. is the language
of the American government. What language is
this 1t Is full Of import to Massachusetts and
New Hampshire. Was it for this that the Puri-
tans left slavery Mt home. and sought freedom
here7 Was it for the erection Of slavery that
they fed from country to country. from Holland
to America Was it for this that the May Flow
er sailed No sir. no such purpose. This, sir.
was the object of the annexation of Texas; and
this annexation the cause Of the war; 1t being
done when Texas was at war with Mexico. The
President, in his message of the 9Th OF May ana
in his several messages since then uses the words
'this war was commenced by tic act OF MeXlco--,
Il is his favorite phrase. He has informed Con-
gress of it fourteen times; always this war was
the act of Mexico" 1t has become the only
phrase of the President. 1t has become part OF
his religion; and he will listen to nothing else
But no such thing. Sir. the sending of an armed
force 10 the very utmost bounds ofits claimed ter
ritory. was the immediate cause Of the war And
this. sir. is known to the President. He was as
firm sir and positive in his assertion that the
whole of Oregon was ours. He said so in his in
augural message. heard him when he delivered
his in1uc7fral standing amid the drppinrs of that