Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-18
CONGRESSIONAL.

ed ~ The Senate oil Inc oh"eu 90. ' il;,;on.l
Esh,narv in on the bill 10 raise Ten addi'iohai
1870 m serve during The war with Mexico.
"A, uUNTER.-Il The bill before US appear,
tn' - o,ber 6eht Than as mere measure OIL
sn,niss which raised only the question OIL Ten re-
oimenls, more or less, in our army, shouio not
have troubled you with any reasons lor inc Vo'e
which shall give. But, during the discussion,
far higher subjects have been involved IN us Con-
sideralion. The great question as to the manner
in which the future progress OIL Inc hnieieah
pcople is 10 be conducted, insensloiy influences
every mind in its determination as 10 me proper
objects 10 be pursued in this war. Inns, slt, -
The grand problem which The American ni'au -
Iah6rino 10 solve, aud upon the soundness OF us
nan.lns,on, must depend our future destiny for
veal ar tor woe No matter what the question
n,esented, il it be connected with this war, IL
seems Immediately 10 suggest these other con-
sid,ra,jops with which the public mind IS 80
anxiously engaged. OF all the great poiit'cal
problems ever presented 10 The world, peHeVe
mere has been none upon whose correct soiu'op
so much OF human happiness has been s'aked; LOT
no people ever existed, in my opinion, VINO nau
rho canaci,y 10 play SO great part IN The anairS
=, mankind. The question is surrounded,
o,r,ess nv difficulties and embarrassmens. II
!; o;ven IN no man 10 see much OF The future; anu
o,7 nasi career has been so rapid, so evenllul,
.,d so successful that we can scarcely conceive
!, ;mnossblr 10 .raliy any wish we may naveasto
ne ,n,nrs course OF our people. But, sir, The
hn,r h.s arrived when il is indispensable, mol
only 10 further and higher successes OUT 10 OUT
own happness, 10 determine Inc true oolects OF
onr mission and The real nature OF the functions
which We have 10 perform IN Inc social progress
~ ,nankind Il is no, surprising, then, that Sc.
MAJORS should address themselves from this Hall
~ The prblic mind OF the country TO influence It's
deliberations upon The momentouS issues before
!, For OF all the governments that ever existed,
Il i in his, PERHAPS, that sound public opinion
ia mos, indispensable for our prosperity and safe
". Our safety is not and never has been in the
written provisions OF this constitution, bull IN Inc
public virtue and intelligence which directed our
institutions The great merit OF our system IS,
that lis movements are true TO The popular opin.
ion which directs il; and they will be good or Ill
as that opinion is true or false. The system did
moi make our habits Of popular thought, Blu, they
made The system. The Mexicans had consli-
tuition very similar TO ours, but there was no
sound ard enlightened state OF public opinion 10
execute il, and the instrument failed IN their hands
which has been so successful in ours. Should
the public opinion OF this country ever become de-
based and degraded, there is nothing IN the pro-
visions Of this constitution which could save US.
To place our government in such keeping, would
be 10 consisn the delicate and complicated ma
which we should move with >wiler pace 10
common ruin. The Democratic principle in go.
vernment, like steam in the physical world, is The
mos, powerful of agents. but like steam II requires
The most careful and delicate management.
MIR. Pfesident-Il is the highest province OF
an American statesman 10 influence, and IN
some measure, guide public opinion; and ne
who knowingly deceives or ms'eads the people,
is responsible for The greatest political offence
md mr. & G N on
vermont. He poiscns the spring from which The
whole city is supplied, and deals death in the
water which is indispensable 10 life. have
great faith in the public mind OF this country
when il is truly informed and time is given for
deliberalion. Bul The march OF events mas been
50 rapid that we are suddenly called 10 acl upon
propositions which heretofore had scarcely form
ed the subjects OF speculation. Sche mes oil am
bi,ion vast enough 10 have iaSked even Roman
Imagination 10 conceive, present themselves
suddenly, as practical questions; and visions OF
spIendor, which ten years ago We should nave
classed amidst the decisions ot mirage, are
fas, assuming FORM substance, and reality. Inc
disin,eora,ion of all the social elements IN an
emnire covering more than 100000 square
miles OF territory, and compromising more IMAM
5000 600 OF people, according 10 inc es'iuld'e VI
Muhienpordt The annexation oil TIA! territory,
and The union Of those people, aliens IN race ana
hostile in feelings TO ourselves, with equai rshis
and privileges, or their subjugation as depend
ant province, are amongst The PRACTICAL ques-
lions forced upon our consideration. These ques-
,ons are here sir. here in oar midst, without even
the premonition OF those shadows winch are saiu
10 give warning OF coming events. So suddenly
have these considerations pressed themselves up
on us that The mere current oil events IS eaaius !
US TO The establishment OF precedens, II mol piln-
cjoles. which affect the entire ffameWolk OF our
government The most despotic OF all powers, |
Inc power Of The conqueror over these eisnl OF |
nine millions OF people, is exercised oy 'De e4ecu'
tive branch OF our government, without lne ieas'
participation Of Coagress-for which, oF no
means censure him, as il was perhaps, ine'lla-
hl, in the absence OF all law in relation 10 the |
subject Nor are we perhaps TO be blamed Tor
The want Of action in This mater. Our system
was not founded for conqnesIs; our HABITS as
people have mol been those OF war, ana mere was
no preparation Tor The present, because u was mol
toreseen in time 10 make il. But, Mr.. President,
diff .uil ami embarrassing as are these questions,
We have 10 NEE, them. Il is time tha, We were
determining upon The true objects 10 be pursued |
10 lhis war; and nothing would, perhaps, facili-
tate correct conclusion upon This subject more
than determination 10 the true ends OF our
national existence, and The proper mode OF con-
Quoting our progress as people. This, IN my
opinion, is The problem whose solution in the
pubic mind is 10 precede i s determination as
10 the objects Of the war. Nay, sir, il presents |
The great considerations which will mainly de-
lermne the iulure course OF our foreign relations
| waive all discussion as 10 Inc justice OF The |
wal or our capacity 10 sutjugae The Mexican
people entirely and completely. lshall treat The |
question as ii there was no doubt Of our power |
aud right 10 manage The whole matter in refer
ence 10 our own interests, in order 10 see II we |
may moi attain results, from this point OF view, |
which are consistent with our duties 10 humanity |
as we'll as 10 ourselves.
II we could choose our mode OF progress, (and
happily may, as believe, il we would Seiecl
the besL) in what manner should we regulate hs
Shall we accept il as our mission to plant ana
inbabi The wilderness, 10 refuge the waste 10 nu'
man uses, and Gil up WHAT is open 10 US with
homogeneous and ffalernal people? Are our lr-
umphs o,bc sough; in the peaceful arts, the no.
bic achievements Of civilization, the develop
ment ofhisheI forms Of social life, and the intro.
duc,ion OF purer principles OF political acton}-
Is il 10 be our aim 10 become selt-educatng, |
selt-sustainins, and set-soverning people true
TO themselves and 50 just 10 others, as 10 be able
10 increase their physical without loss oil moral |
power 10 an exten, never before witnessed in The |
generations of mani Or are we 10 pursue another |
course, and initiate Roman and British examples2 |
10 The history of our successes 10 be written on |
the ruins OF Others and are oar achievements 10
consist in subjugaug nations and conquering
provinces2 Is tito be our glory merely ,oexlend |
our boundaries without adding 10 our own happi- |
ness, and without reference 10 the rights or suffer
ings OF others7 10 other words shall we grow as the
oak which strikes the root deeper as il extends
the branches, and increases in size without i'm
pairing us symmetry or destroying The just pro.
portion OF any OF the elements OF lis strength and
eegance1 Or shall We climblike the vine which |
destroys what ii clings TO- and under an outward |
form OF beauty and of life, covers and conceals |
decay and death whin2 Mr.. President, we are |
now strong enough 10 feel that either career is
open 10 US. BoIh roads lie before us, and il is for
ourselves 10 determine which we shall pursue
But trust that We shall moi long hesitate a. to
the choice The more consider The nature of
our government, and The circumstances of our