The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-11

But, Mr.. Speaker, why have gentlemen been so I'M
willing permit these messages to have the usual refer
ence! The present is not time to be consumed in idle
discussion. Prompt action Is demanded. Yet | can
readily the motive which controls the opposition
in their strange proceedings. There some things in
the peace message which gentlemen do not wish 20 to
the peope-ai least without effort TO break their force
upon the public mind Yes. sir the picture there pre-
seaed is too encouraging-too glorious to the country
and the administration The colors must be softened
and dmmed materially before they shall be submitted to
the gaze of the public! 800 ,-5
But the great facts cannot be conceal ed from the Peo-
pie, This administration, and the Democratic party
which has sustained IT, cannot be deprived OF the credit
Justly due TO them for the magnificent results OF the pol
icy OF the last four years. Gentlemen OF the opposition
had been estimating the public debt at hundreds OF mil
hons OF dollars; but we have its exact amount
stated IN this message at sxtyhve millions only m
istraon Great financial difficulties and embarrassmens
were predicted and the tariff OF ls46 was pronounced
wholly inadequate to the emergency BIT all these sun
the war, with the public credit unshaken aye,
rmer and better than il ever has been The estimates
of the Secretary OF the Treasury have been fully realized
and thus the great feetade tariff OF 1916 has vindcaed
It's unreasonable superiority over the antagonist system
of 1912 And the President tells U.S. with undenia
bic truth, that under the operation OF the existing demo-
public debt be paid off before its maturity. from the
accruing revenue. without any additional taxation. |
repeat SIR that this is splendid picture OF prosperity to
succeed that uninterrupted series OF glorious
and brilliant victories which have marked the from
its commencement.
90 not wonder tnat tnOse who nave opposed every
thing, and predicted all kinds of ruin and disgrace to the
country, should endeavo TO counterfeit the impression
which the full and fair announcement of these facts is
calculated 10 produce. They seek to diminish the est
mated value and Importance of the new territory But
the chairman of the Committee OF Ways and Means be-
trays lurking disrust OF his judgment upon this
subject. when he works himself into rage at the pros
pect of yielding to Texas the territory far the Bravo
There would scarcely be deep solicude in this
spec that territory were really SO worthless as gentle
men pretend to think it, No 1t far from being worth
less Its value to our people can hardly be estimated in
dollars, and time will convince all OF the truth OF
this assertion To the test Of time-and no very long
time either-l appeal with confidence.
The gentleman from Vermont Mr. CoILAMER] adopted
another mode of depreclang the value Of this great
question: He relates the anecdoe of the achemst who
seeking the universal solventa fluid which was to
dissolve every other substance. friend inquired what
he would keep it and then for the first time did the
wise chemist discover the folly of his efforts &c. ays the
gentleman in this new territory, have the universal
solvent, which is TO destroy everything What shall
do with it How shall we keepit!
Now, sir, think the gentleman will find this import
ant acquisition very powerful solvent; but it will be
solvent only of the wing party Yes, sir, the late war;
commenced BY the enemy, on our part prosecuted with
unexampled vgor and success. attended with the proud
est and noblest achievements, which have exalted
character in the eyes of the whole world and concluded
upon terms which secure ample indemnify, and pre-
ended against the bitter opposition Of the wing party at
home, and amidst disastrous financial commissions in
other parts OF the world yet leaving with the highest
public credit and the most iourshng revenues-a this,
something else in the present aspect Of affairs, has in
deed proved the universal solvent to the wing party
and has already exerted mighty influence in dissoving
party have heretofore been held together To this phe
nomenon shall direct the balance OF my remarks It is
rather change OF The subject Mr. Speaker but fully
warranted by the speeches OF gentlemen the other
side.
The wing party has resolved to enter into this canvass
temp to foreshadow the policy which they propose TO
substitute for that which has been successful under the
democratic administration Not only did the Phiadel-
PLATFORM but Gen Taylor himself has emphatcally de-
cared in public letter, that he will make declaration
OF his principles have been an attentive listener to
the debates in this House, and sometimes in the Senate.
Repeated attempts have been made to wiring from the
supporters OF Gen. Taylor avowal of his principles
upon the most important questions These attempts have
failed in every instance Instead OF making open and
honest avowal OF principles, gentlemen here have
ningy evaded the quesons and resored to beld attacks
upon the platform which the democratic convention did
erect and upon the principles which Gen. Cass has freely
avOwed. aftt 10 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In the prosecution of this willy political game by our
adversaries have Witnessed some of the extra
lnary and audacous attempts to deceive and mpos.
upon honest people. haze before me the speech OF
distinguished senator from Delaware, [Mr. CLAYroN,l
which this bold assumption paraded in glarng cap
itals, and made the text OF the whole harangue:
merely a Wig. ta. q THE GREAT REPkEsEATA,
RIGHT OF MAN TO SELFGOvERNMENT."
The right of man to enlightenment. forsooth Now,
what is this right! Is it to be secured by voting for
for the presidency wholly unknown to those who
called upon to vote bindy for him Mr.: Speaker, l
always heretofore OF opinion that self-govemment
required thought, intelligence Discrimination and that
involved The necessity of settled opinions upon great
questions OF governmental policy. thought, when a
freeman undertook to exercise the sacred privilege OF
selfgovernment, he always proposed to himself OBJ
ect be accomplished great system of wise poll
cy to be promoted But it seems self government
consists in blndly voting for candidate who advocates
policy and declares opinions lin taking up sue
cessfu military cheftan, making popular idol OF him,
and placing the desDies OF the country his hands,
without the slightest idea of the in which he
Executive chair There was time, sir, when eminent
whg statesmen considered this far from being legit
mate self government that they declared WAR, PES
THENCE, AND FAMINE to be infinitely preferable
to it, The wing party generally concurred in this sent
ment But now this old principle OF that party has van
ished at the touch of the universal solvent
In France, recently, when arms were cashing m the
ed together the regular government military
called to the head OF the republic He crushed
the attempted revolution, and the cutters of Paris
flooded with the blood of the French people. Trobe is
still threatened, and General Cavagnac continues to be
the President of France No less than four generals are
in his cabinet and this bundle of swords" is suspended
the heads OF that unhappy nation The emergency
justified this proceeding in France But where the cir
cumstance, in the condition of country. which in
duces the wings, in opposon to their x-chershed
principles, now to select military man, without
civil qualifications fresh from fields OF blood, to be
clothed with the executive power of this great country!
Was 1t self-government in France when General Cavag
mac was invested with dictatoral pow,rs Will there be
legitimate self government here il General Taylor should
be elected President of the United States, without any
pledges or declarations of opinion?
aware, sir, that this modest claim that General