The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-04-11

mocracy, which prevailed in the better days
of the republic, that calls have actually been
made for conventions of the people to recon-
struct the government. To carry out these
splendid schemes of national aggrandizement,
it has been found necessary to wage war d.
gainst the freedom of speech and the press Il
war infinitely more dangerous to the iber-
ties of the people than war of conquest.
The message Of December, 1876, contains the
declaration of war against free discussion, and
| beg leave to read it;
1.-The war has been, (ssys the President.)
represented as unjust and unnecessary, and
one of aggression, on our part, upon weak
and injured enemy. Such erroneous views.
though entertained by few, have been widely
circulated not only at home, but have been
spread throughout Mexico and the whole
world A more efectual means could not
have been devised to encourage the enerrfr
and protract the war hdn 10 Gdr0cGte anil da-
here 10 their cause, and thus gre them aid and
comfort"
Here, sir, is 4 bold, and was about to say.
shameless attempt, on the part of the Execu-
tive, to stife all inquiry into the origin, ne
cessity, justice and purposes Of this war. All
who dare call in question the power Of the
President TO wage war, and TO prosecute II
for the purposes of conquest and plumber, are
denounced as traitors to their country. And
all who doubt the necessity Of the war and
think it could, and should, have been avoided.
are held up as adhering to, and advocating the
cause of the enemy. These denunciations,sir,
coming from that high source, should not be
suffered to pass unnoticed and uncondemned.
The trainers of the Constitution, regarding
free discussion as the great safeguard Of liber
tv, declared, in the first article OF amendments,
that Congress shall make 10 law abridging
the freedom of speech or the press" This
right of free discussion belongs to the people,
and no power on earth should be permitted to
abridge or impair it. 1t is the great power that
overturns despotisms and builds up republics
it shakes tyrants from their thrones and
confsrs the blessings ofliberty upon millions of
our race-it kindlcd the fire Of our own rev.
olution and made us a free and independent
nation-and it is the best security we can
have for the preservation of our liberties. 1t
was Sheridan, believe, who, in speaking in
the House Of Commons on the power of the
press to avert the encroachments Of the Minis
try, exclaimed in one of his loftiest strains of
eloquence:
Give them a corrupt House Of Lords give
them 4 venal House of Commons give them
4 tyrannical Prince give them trucking
Court and let me have but an unfettered
press, and Twill defy them to encroach a
hairs breadth upon the liberties of England"
If the freedom of the press were so essen
tial to the protection OF British liberty, it must
be regarded Us infinitely more important to
the security OF Government like ours, found
ed upon and deriving its support from en-
lightened public opinion. But, to pass on:
gentlemen have searched for precedents for
this war, and the Senator from Illinois imag
ines that he has discovered one in the war of
1872. THAT war;" he says, ''was declared
in the same form and almost in the same Ian
guage as the present" Sir, did President
Madison announce to the country that war
existed between the United States and Great
Britain ? Or did he inform Congress that
long-existing difficulties between the two coun-
tries remained unsettled? that he had ex-
hausted all his powers in making pacific ct-
forts and that he was unable to bring the
controversy to a close; and that it WAS for
Congress to decide whether or not an appeal
to arms should be made in order to vindicate
our honor and sustain cur rights? Hear his
language
1--WE behold, in fine, on the side Of Great
Britain, 4 state of war against the United
States and on the side of the United States,
a state of peace towards Great Britain.
Whether the United States shall continue
passive under these progressive usurpations
and these accommodating wrongs; or, opposing
force to force in defence of the national
rights, shall commit our just cause into the
hands Of the Almighty Powers, and prcsery
ing constant readiness to concur in an hon
orable establishment of peace and friendship,
is solemn question, which the Constitution
wisely confdes to the legislative department Of
the Government. In recommending tito their
early deliberations, | am happy in the assu-
rance that the decision will be worthy the en-
lightened and patriotic councils Of virtuous,
free, and powerful nation
Upon this message Congress announced to
the country, by its legislative act, that state
Of war existed between the two Governments.
How was it with the existing war? What
was the character of the message receivcd11th
May, 1916? Did it set forth the wrongs
perpetrated by Mexico; that the President
had exerted all the powers conferred on him
by the Constitution to effect pacific adjust
ment without success; and that it was ques
ton for Congress to decide upon the further
steps to be taken TO vindicatc the rights and
maintain the honor of the country? No, sir.
The first announcement to the country of the
existence of the war was by Executive mes
sage. How, ask, could a war exist between
4 foreign Government and the United States
without the knowledge of the war-making
power? Had the President any authority to
declare war No, sir, that power is vested.
exclusively, in Congress. How then can
there be any analogy between the wars-that
| of 1912 having been declared according 10
the form of the Constitution, whilst the pres
ent war was waged by the Executive in open
violation of the Constitution. But the Sena-
tor SAYS the war of 1912 met with violent op-
position from the pulpit and the press, and he
has given us specimens OF the Examinations of
the one, and the rantings of the other. For
what purpose were these extracts read
Were they designed to instruct the Senators
in the discharge of their functions, or were
they intended to operate on public opinion
to excite prejudices in the minds ofthe people,
against all who 1elt it to be their duty to OPP
pose the policy recommended by the Admin