Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-02-18

- NN wv " 'bh hAlOAllNt hAb
Unto the rainbow, or with tapef-light
To seek the beauteous eye Of heaven TO
garnish-
IL wasteful and ridiculous excess"
What has been the conduct of the famous
men OF America! Great Statesmen are the
mountains Of the world which earliest show
the dawn and latest hold the lingering rays
of the departing sun; foremost prophets Of
the day when morning promises TO come
most conservative Of light when darkness
shrouds the vulgar plains. But great politi-
clans are but the steeples Of America, whose
topmost summit bears-a weather-cock.-
There are, in America, amongst her children,
four famous luon. We shall not now discuss
their general merits, nor attempt 10 decide
whether they are politicians-who interpret
the interests of a party, or statesmen that IN
carnate principles In a nations life. These
four tower far above the vuig2r mass that
drive a thriving trade in politics.; are most
conspicuous men-bcheid far OH at sea. They
have been long in public life, and all iUur may
he deemed competitors for the chair OF Tue
President. What has been their conduct!
Mr.. Benton spoke nobly against annexation,
and-voted for it. Voted also for the war.
Mr.. Calhoun-so often superior to party ties
is the author OF annexation, and voted for
the war. These two belong TO the party in
power, and men might have looked for their
allegiance. The two others are hostile to the
administration have they been hostile to the
warl Mr.. Clay is a private mainland there
fore has not been called on to take any oiIi-
cial stand in relation to this matter. But in
December. 1916, at the celebration Of Il menu
orable event in tbs history Of America, he
was tOdSted at table, and made 4 reply, which
was thus reported in the newspapers of the
time "Although leading a life Of retire
lnGnr, | am not wholly unobservant Of the
proceedings relating TO The condition. welfare,
and prospects of our country. And when |
saw around me tonight, Gen. Brooke, and
other old friends, LETT haJ' inclined 10 asa for
sumo noU& or corner la tie army, ia which /
might serre, TO arenge the ,Orongs done to my
country. hare thought that I might get be
able TO capture or Stag u Merican. | shall not
be able to do so, however, this year, but hope
that success will still crown our gallant arms.
and the war terminate in an honorable peace"
To add yet more 10 the shame of America.
this speech was delivered at the dinner OF the
Sons of New England, on the 22d of Deem
Der, met to celebrate the Ian ling of the Fore
fathers of New England on Plymouth rock.
Poor men in that puiitanic blood of theirs
was there no hinge from the heart of the Pill
grimsl Could they not, on that day, amid
The feasting, the wine, and the reveiry, amid
the politicians, and the generals, and the
.'.great applause" could they not for a mo-
ment think of those outcasts of the world
who came in the name Of Justice 10 found 4
state! Oh, no. How could they think OF
thatl There stood one of the foremost men
of America, hoping TO "capture or Stay 4
Mexican ~ the son Of some woman that new
CT injured him-who might 20 down, heart
broken and refusing to be comforIed, in sor-
row to her grave. hlas-could be have
known it-vain man, how soon is he doomed
to weep at he "inscrutahle Providence" by
which his own son, the dear one, lies slain,
in battlefront slain by a great statesman, but
by some vulgar bullet of a nameless soldier,
who fought for his country, her affairs, and
her homes, while the American volunteer fell
inglorious and disgraced, a willing murderer,
in that war so tTeacherous and so cruel. The
father who had hoped to "slay a Mexican"
shall find but sad consolation kissing the cold
lips of his only son. Is Providence so in
scrutable I" lie who would deal death upon
the sons Of other men-shall he not feel II in
his own homel
But the great champion Of the north, that
man Of giant intellect which dwarfS his three
competitors TO littleness, himself perhaps I'M
equalled among living men in magnltlcence
OF understandlng-te has stood on Plymouth
Rock, and his words which found a footing
there have gone as pilgrims 10 be foreiatheTs
of mighty deeds-at least in humber men
How broke the lhgnders Of that unequalled
eloquence, which SO oft before had shaken
every heart! Did he thunder in the Senate
and tighten all over the land till wondering
nations saw it from alar! Let us look a
this. He had condemned annexation. ~
struck a blow at the influence of our lns,ltu
lions. Thank God | did not slumbGr owe
that danger" He had condemned the war
it was illegal, ; unconstitutional, unjust 4
war of p~relexts,' "A presidential war; ! tn
Presidents action was ian Improbable Of
fence - the MeXicans were weak, distracted
the prey of military tyrants. She " has hac
nothing that deserved to be called a govern
ment;'' and America is stIong and united
In making war, the President had "ver,
much nullifed an important provision of tn
Constitution" Yet Mr.. Webster could say
al, Philadelphia, Dec. Cd, 1916,
.sNevertheless, war is upon US, armies ar
in the field, navies are upon the sea. W
believe that the government ought immediate
IN, in an hono, able and satisfactory manner
10 bring the upr 10 a conclusion, if possible
But while the war lasts, This unjust an
demonstrations war; while soldiers ar
on land, and seamen on tho sea, uphold
ing the flag Of our country, you feel, and
fell and ererv american feels, that they mus
hs succored and sustained. They have don
honor to the country 10 which they belong
Where can we look for such steadlness, calm
rrss, bravery, and modsSty, as IN These 70.
u|p,,erst Tie mcst ~ci'trEgljcd lnciHcnti