Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-01-27

ID TIC Scnete Of the United States. on the l0tf
Of January, apron the Ten Regiment Bill
~ reported by Mr.. Cass.
My purpose, MI. President, in now ad
dressing the Senate, is to give my opinion
.supon certain points connected with the pres
ent war, which it seems to be conceded may
be properly discussed upon the present bill.
4,They are these:
First Is the war iast and honorable one,
or is it unjust and dishonorablee
Second Has it been heretofore properly
prosecuted
l., Third How should it hereafter be prose
cuted'
Fourth What end consistently with the
good name Of the nation, should be attained
by IL
MIR. President, upon each of these propo-
sitions propose to present my views with
the frank ness and freedom which become a
senator, and at the same time, with the
Difference which sincerely feel for the
opinions of those upon both sides OF the
chamber with whom shall be found to diff
fer
Nothing, sir, rs more ANNOYING to me than
to refer, at any time, to anything personal to
myself; and it is especially SO to do so IN the
presence in which stand. But there may
be circumstances which render it duty.
feel myself in that condition. and therefore
ask.the kind indulgence Of yourself and the
Senate TO say a word or two of personal
character.
As to popularity, sir, I estimate it as moth
ing if it is sought after. Its real worth IS,
when it follows good ends, accomplished by
good means. 1t becomes disgrace when ca !.
tered for.
/ would not avow any political OPINION
vtijch I did not sincerely entertain, nor con
ceal one which did entertain. to win any
tonor which my countiymen could hestow
Honor so Won, if WAS capable Of SO winning
IT, would be to me but hourly abascment
Sir. need not say that came into this
body differing with the administration upon
almost e, erv subject OF or public civil pol
lev. This difference, decided as it was IN
,.ie beginning, SO far from having been di-
,ninshed. has been but more and more
strengthened and confirmed
Is the war Just and honorable, or MOI
I think it is, and hope. for the good
name of nv country, that such will be the
su,lrment Of Chrssendom Sir wish to be
CLEARLY understood. am not inquirlng INTO
che conduct of the Executive, int, its 2r'l
de.ce pr its con,ti utonahy My single
proposition now is, that, AS between the Uni-
ted States and Mexico, the former had Just
c.,,se of war ou.the 9Th of May. 1916, when
she war act of that date passed; and that
nm that dav, war in fact existed by means OF
the unjust and illegal act Of Nj xico. Sir, |
reDeat. before going further, that | sincere ~
trust. That AS love the fair fame of my co'sn
trvmen, that.I may be able to make THIS
plain. would not have il even to be myol-
we'd in the slightest obscurty of doubt, from
the dread Of the judgments which the civil
ICED world would then be compelled to pass
anon us. We lve'in an age when nations,
nc individuals, lose their power and useful
md sink into degradation, II they per
,s+r.te acts Of wrong and injustice. We are,
III God. surrounded by a moral ainos-
.ha.e az niece ssary to beautiful national ex
;,ence as the atmosphere we bi eAthe Is nee
.s..ry to'indvdual life. II we discard lit
~, below tiff we substitute tor 1t that
r ,hicb is inseparable from violence and MUS
,;cs-,he punishment is at hand. lie decay
heg;ps. and progresses until we are involved
in hopeless ruir.
National chai acter IS national powers anu
the p,,rer,s the more elevated the more spot
Ies, that character the greater the power
80 therefore. in God. that am right Ill
49,. ,',,;non that this war is. upon our part
s''s, mi honorable. If motif not clearly
and honorabe-then will we be pro
nced by the judgment OF the world,
2.J ,f murderers. No other sentefce car
~ he passed upon us. If we a:e right
.re worthy descendants OF sires who
-, moral blemish-who estimated the
kn: honor above all price. 1t we are
's. we have disgraced the inheritance o.
f.esdom they have left us, brought d'shonol
',non our land, and aimed fatal blow at con
st;tationalty itself,
,f sreak strongly. If is because Zee
strongly. wish to give offence to no one
1taLe no offence if others hold different
,,;non. am here to justify my own before
cxnate and the county: and mean to dt
:. 9TH HE freedom that belongs 20 each Q
have an instructive repugnance TO beiev'
country wrong in any war in which sh
~" sorare: and re loice that in this instance
80 feelings and. nv judgment are one.
-. nroceed with the attempt to maintain
.ho. judgement. I have no time, sir. no
.'n.,,S - state all the facts which our ditfi
1.;.s with Mexico have developed applica
~ =, This question Nor if had, should
49, Z necessary to trespass so much upo
~ time of this body. My purpose is to re
car,y TO such as am sure cannot oe sue
sf,ilv denied. and which are OF themselves
=, nv. Judgment, conclusive OF the controvtl
1914. the Mexican Congress passed de
-. :. o,,iring all citizens to surrender to tn
,arnment their arms. The legislature !
.,;,a and Texas by decree rem 'nstrate
sSa;nst + and other acts repeating the cons'
b., ~ Mexico of 1924, by which they ha
ehauoed the government from federal TO
central one. .,ss