Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-15
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CONGRESSIONM -
IN sENATE-THrRsDAr, JANUARY 6, ls4s,
INCREASE OF THE ARMY.

ma ,,o..i.n being on the passage ot the bill
M ALE said Feeling compelled from my convictions Of
ly "a take course reference TO this bill in which am
r rery m Senators will entirely Coincide have thought
humble as Is the sphere in which move, that was due 10
hos vho placed in the position occupy, TO let my vote
uoon The 90 out accompanied with the reasons which have
iluce me 10 take the course which about 10 take.
would haze been glad if older and ADLER Senator'S had favored
the with their views in opposition TO this bl would
have glad if the action of the Senate upon the bill had
delayed until the documents coming from the several
Departments, and which well nigh getting, had been
placed before us that might have bad all the light that
could be thrown upon that, which in my mind is dark SOP
ect the ghtes but seeing that the bill is likely TO go
through the forms Of legaiion and become law Wllhout
having those lights before us have thought Try 10
cspass briefly upon the time OF the Senate IN order 10 ex
press the views which entertain may be said that do
stand in position TO he aei by light nom any quarter
because haye already declared that stand here prepared to
agans; the in all its forms against any measures or
the supply OF troops, either regulars or volunteers and
there other kinds 60 agans them because stand
prepared against the appropriation Of single Dollar
beyond the simple amount-as have before suggested
which will he sufficient to bring home your troops by the
shortest aud cheapest Entertaining these views before
entering upon the discussion OF the bill want to say word
in regard sentiment which have heard avowed here
and else and is that when the country engaged IN
war lose all discretion; have nothing do but grant The
supplies that demanded Of appeal being made TO
patriatlsn patriotism only find rightful action IN
support OF the that there is no pa on whar i-
and that The Administrations which has been 50 fortunate or
unfortunate plunge the country into has only 10
appeaito the country and expect TO receive no oter TF
except hearty and unanimous sappo And this doctrine
has been carried far AID in such hlga places tha the
President the United States has denounccd as treason the
opposition Of Congress although they believe the war 70 have
been unnecessarily and unconstutonaly commenced, and
prosecuted for purposes which their Judgment condemns and
tending to the overthrow of our Institutions Of Government
recoleci but incident in my reading OF history which
analogous is stated by English historian that when
Queen Elizabeth had summoned her Parliament, and they
about organize for business, she sent her messenger
them with this royal mandate to be careful thatthey
did NEEDLE with Affairs of State, because said She
'such things altogether beyond the compass Of your
understanding" Wen, royal President did fol-
low exactly in the footsteps Of Elizabeth. He did not ques
ton the understanding Of Congress, but their patriotism
Now, let where this doctrine will carry US. Let
what j, will lead Suppose you should have an ex-
ceedngy bad and corrupt Administration do say
that this such Administration, that likely
ohaye such Inehe affirm deny aught hatmat
ter only use the supposion for the purpose Of illustrating my
Bltsupposetat such athng possible andthat
the OF the President had become exceedingly odous
oppressive bCTdensome and ntoerabe and that notes of
dsappoblton beginning to be heard from the people
sembled III their primary meetings. that the tones of ndg
nation at last penetrate the walls of the palace and the Pre-
sden finding that he stand against the united will of
injured people, begins TO look about for the of
Gaping from that OF popular odum which threatens
overwhem him. what has he to DO To desst in his
of wrongdong to retrace bis steps No. sir this is not
the path popularity According TO his school ofehcs
and morals he has only 50 and plunge the country into
war, and, If he eau skltuy 10 involve the
country once, much The heer-so much the
glory for him popularity greater than that OF Nash
ing'on and Jackson This the inference the plain and
msakabc inference War; instead of being as it is said 10
be by all writers ethics politics. the drest calamity which
Heaven in its wrath send upon naon is converted by
this alchemy into healing Bethesda, in which political pro-
igacy and corruption of the darkest hue may wash Itself and
lie clean
Sir utterly deny the soundness OF this doctrine that Con-
gress ought have voice beyond granting the supplies
If there is time whel opposition should be viglant,
scrupuou watchfu noticing every thing tina, wrong,
~ g .Eo
the country burdened with unnecessary wal. When
The peaceful pursuits Of life interrupted, the fruits of
dusty consumed the treasure of the nation wasted and
the lives OF lis citizens sacrificed for th support Of such
war; and tie country involved in all the horrors which il
brings in its train If there time that should put
upon their individual Judgment reflection, and response
hhty il Is such time and such condition
Primarily carried in the propose hereafter show,
fastened and precpated upon by the unadyed
sttuona and illegal acts Of the Pres dent, propose DO
what may feeble it may be, 10 place the country right
have learned in that school Of moral political science
which nche that by perscyenng in the wrong, shall
out right.
And SIR there another view that is sometimes taken
which cerany does not accord with my convictions,
and upon which wish TO say word two this time,
and do it with Difference the opinions Of ADLER men about
me- and which relates the which those shond
who believe tic TO be wrong radically wrong. think
! have heard idea something like this The country is
engaged IN war which is unjustiablewe confess it is
wrong 70 clearly is wrong-neyertheless
are nog al war; and the President calls on us for supplies
men and money and Senators say they viii and
money but, by some sort OF process which escapes any
conp'caehon, they imagine they are 10 throw the re
spensbiy In The President confess do not understand
no" hey are 70 escape from responsibility they must share
ihe responsibility with the President, let the character of the
act he what may. II the war he wrong IN, an end 10 II
at have doubt the President viii be exceedingly
gratifed with opp ston Of this kind You all hear nothing
about factous oppoz in the organ 81 The
The President would little o The opposition Of the whole
world If il were Of this kind II il very like Sam Weller
who happened find himself in prison. person whom
he met bcwsing the misfounes Of having thousand
pounds left to him by will which circumstance had been the
occasion OF his imprisonment 50 wish exclaimed Sam,
= all my enemies would try to ruin in tina, way.
Jus with he President. You tell him he wrong While
at the lime yoa him all the and money that
he asks yop for.
Believing that the Of this il radically wrong,
hold g he tie frt the plainesi, and the simplest duty
withhold supplies and compel the PeSdent TO do what
believe = tc right Believing there ISL strict and peinen
analogy between tho 70 be pursued by Congress
that waich Is taken by the British Parliament consider that
the course Of those whs think the wrong, PAIN clear
and admits q 70 mSse. Upon question vong supplies
the very fret thing = 20 inquired into by Congress IS whether
the object " which tie supplies demanded is which
comments sc = the favorable consideration Of Congress
II II be determined lat The OBJECT is proTer one let the sup
plies be granted if Otherwise withheld Them This is ms
understanding q the nature Of our Constitution have
heard our Movement spoken IL government Of check
and balances but when YOU speak Of the President having
The power to make war unconsnonsy and illegally can
not understand the propcy OF that course OF con-
ain H.