Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-02-25
SPEECH OF MIR. COLLAMER,
On the Mexican War,

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEB. ], lS4S
The House having under consideration the
reference of the Presidents Annual Message
Nh. CoLLAMER, of Vermont, said
Mr.. Speaker IL have listened, with a good
degree of attention and interest, to the debates
which have occurred, in this House, Oh some of
the subjects contained in the Presidents mes.
sage, aud have been DESTROYS of extracting from
them some general principles. Ihave heard gen.
temen discuss them now for many days, and have
seen the parties. rather their leaders, who have
spoken here, and who have explained their res.
pective views Oh the great questions which now
agitate the country. have, too, with regret,
heard them INDUCING in but ill-disguised per-
sonaltes in regard to the motives OF those who
different from them in opinion. This has zen.
orally been done with decent respect to deco
rum. in point of form, but gentlemen have eyi.
IDENTIFY been inclined to think and to say that
those who differed with them on the great points
of public policy. and especially in relation to this
war. were enemies OF the country. They have,
at least, given the community so to understa nd
and SO to believe. Now, man may differ with
me in opinion. on question deeply interesting
to our common country and yet neither of us be
an enemy of that country. The truth is, men
erect in their minds Il standard of naiional pros
prty, and they take it for granted that if any
one opposes their course of advancing that pros
perity, and especially if he actually repudiate it,
he must De an enemy OF MS coun'rys prosper-
ty, because their idea of prosperity is, exclusive
ly, that standard they have thus erected. 1t
seems to me, sir, that the two parties in this
House, and IN tins country, dliier entirely in re-
lation to the great point OF wherein national
prosperity consists, II not even in the great ends
and purposes OF government. can but speak
E,ru ,v.alf N In tho 4. e
ernment have an idea, more or less perfect,
and it is essentially tins to promote the good OF
the people, TO mel'orate their condition. to adj
vance and elevate them in their physical, moral
intellectual. ana social condition. The means
to the accomplishment OF this end consist in SO
directing our Government as to develop our re.
sources and encourage domestic industry, i'm
prove the means OF intercourse and education
advance our agriculture, commerce, and manu-.
features, improve our laws and their administra.
ton, and thus make OF us a homogeneous people
all elevated and adorned with a taste and refine.
ment becoming the members of a glorious repub
lie. This, TO my mind, is national prosperity.
| My experience and observation here has moi
been of great extent, as it is not over five years
since became member OF this House but
with that amount OF congressional experience
and after carefully listening to the progress o.
inns deoate' am constrained TO conclude that
gentlemen on the opposite side OF this House
nave erected IN theIr m'hds very different
standard OF national prosperity. According to
their conceptions u'e prosperity OF the natloI
consists IN wl'al advances us military glory; II
Whatever eN'enus 'le area OF territory possessed
III w.a,c'or snes eo,s W;. ~ u'oou ana s"nPowue
anu .ea;s Vi a, I "n" 'neih 'la' IS nallona
"ospe Ky H., ~ oa a1' S"y ."ey a'e prepared I
aeny e,a' ne suou y. our own people Is th'
n "J ',u or p% aecu hn exceed
can he reached he nursnn% ,heir cours a.at rn'