Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-18

changed IN any the opinions and the principles upon
which founded. Again and again have reiters.ed
those opinions and vindcaed those principles: and a.
consistency and seadastness this point have been soly
drawn into question in some quarters be padoned for
lew citations from speeches OF my own, in which have
had occasion aude the subject both this House ana
elsewhere.
Here sir in the first place. is an extract from speech de-
ivered by me in Faneu Hall the 23d day of September
1896 hardly more than six week after the occasion which
have just described
Sir upon all the great points Of this question there is no
difference Of opinion whatever All agree that this ought
never 70 have been commenced All that ought be
brought to close at the earliest practicable moment No man
denies that originated primarily in the annexation
OF and secondari the marching Of the American
army into the disputed territory beyond the Nueces And no
man present fails TO deplore condemn both Of these
measures Nor is there Whg in this assembly nor in nv
opon Whg throughout the Union, who does not depre-
from the bottom OF his heart any Of this
lot 'ae purpose o. aggression invasion, conquest
deepest concern this day Here when i @ .v ~e ~ g ns
and zvhat are 10 be Unique sonably we are not to
forget that Mexico must be willing 70 neSo
before own Government be held wholly responsible
ipr 'ae failure o. treaty OF peace rejoice. for one that
shown for bringing the to conclusion have given them
credit elsewhere for hsr original last autumn and
shall not deny them whatever credit they for their
renewed But Mr. President it is not every
thing which takes the the form OF overture Of
which entitled respect SUCH If proposes un
just and unreasonable terms; if it manests oyerbearinp
and oppressive spirit; if it presumes the power those
who make it, the weakness of those whom Offer
ed to exact hard and hearless conditions if especially it
be OF character at once offensive and injurious the rights
Of one of the nations concerned and the principles Of
large majority OF the ohe then il prostitutes the
peace and its authors only entitled the contempt which
belongs to those who add hypocrisy to injustice:
sudden and serious emergency demanded Of Congress
the means Of meeting into which he had already plunged
be ready all settle the existing disputes between us
and Mexico whenever Mexico should be willing either to-
he g
Now, sir was part OF our existing disputes at that time
whether should have possession Of California any
other territory beyond the Rio Gande. And the President
In prosecuting plans OF invasion and conquest which look
the acquisition of such territories win as
se to his pledges he the honor and interests
his country.
81 believe that speak the sentiments of the whole people
of Massachusetts know speak my own-n saying that we
territorial to become the nurseries
Of new slave States hard enough with that the
and money nation should be employed for the defence
osuch acquisitions, already made but originate
for extending the of slavery by force of arms
revolving to the moral sense ofevery American freeman
Sir, trust there is man here who ready
by the constitution Of the country there Is man
here who not willing to hold fast to the Union ofthe States
the other side, Of the line OF his choice. For myself
will contemplate the idea Of the dissolution Of the Unon
land Of rock river, Of desert mountain, which Will
not try at carry out my love of country whenever
of dissolution comes shall bring the evidence Of is
irresistible necessity with it. avert my eyes from all
eognon Of such necessity in the distance Nor ami ready
for political organizations platforms less broad
prehensve than those which include and uphold whole
Wing party of the United States But all this is consistent
the evils Of slavery with an earnest opposition to every
thing designed proong extend with firm
all its encroaehments Northern rights and above ALL
with incorporating hostility ali measures for intro.
ducng slave States and slave Territories into
Uh on. %
come next, Mr. Chairman, to speech delivered in this
House the 9Th Of January ls47, when found
sary oppose the passage Of bill for raising additional
military force. think the bill called the ten regi-
nent bill.
On that OCCASION after audng to the probable influence Of
the under consideration the chances of peace
with Mexico, proceeded to say as follows:
And where, is ourdomeshc PEACE if this pocy is
be pursued According Presidents plan of obtaining
ample indemnity for the expenses Of the war; the longer the
ass and the expensive it is made the terri
tory we shall require to indemnify u.s. Every dollar Of ap-
preparation for this thus
Of Mexican soil Who knows how much of Chihuahua, and
Coahua and New Leon, and Durango will take
nerate tor the of these regiments OF regulars
who to be enlisted for five years And to what end
thus about add acre to and field field TO fur
5 ne thai e a0%s dsss,s which has al
Mr.. Chairman, have time to discuss the subject of
slavery this occasion, shon desire to discuss 1t
this eonnexon if had time. But few
plain words this momentous issue which has been
all New England and many other States
New England-when that upon this question our minds
are made up So far as we have power or
there shall lie rher extension Of the territory Of this
Union subject to the institutions Of slavery
lbeeve the North is ready to stand by the constitution,
with all its compromises is. do not intend,
over throw out any threats dunon whatever be
the result do intend, to contemplate dis-
union for any imaginable evil At the same time
do not intend be driven from firm expression Of purpose,
and seaas adherence principle, by any threats Of dis
union from any other quarter The people of New England
whom have privilege speak for do not DESIRE as un-
dcrstand their viewsI know my heart and prn
cpes and least speak for theto gain foot OF ter
roy by conquest and the result the OF the
with Mexico do believe that the aboonists
OF the Nohthough of the last persons who would
be entitled speak their sentmentswould be unwilling to
be found in combination with Southern gentlemen, who may
fit espouse this doctrine We desire peace We be-
eye that this ought to have been and
do wish to have il made the preext Tor plundering
Mexico of of her lands But the 10 to be
shall and forever the principle that far
concerned these Territories shall be the exclusive
abode OF freemen
"Mr Chairman, peace peace is the grand compromise of
this question the North and the South Let the
President abandon all schemes Of further conquest Let h
Now before any have been experienced by the
American arms he do with the highest honor. Let
him exhibit spirit of magnanimty towards weak and dis
neghbor Let him make distinct proclamation of the
which he is ready to negotiate and let those terms
be such shall involve injustice towards Mexico and
gender sectional strife among ourselves But at all events
let him tell what those terms to be. proclamation
of Executive essential Legislative
harmony. The North ought know them the South
ought know them the whole country ought to understand
for ends its blood and be expended is
high time that specific terms OF accommodation we're
be reasonable will hesitate to unite supplying
whatever means may be necessary for enforcing them"
come, lastly, Mr.. Chairman, to speech which made
this House the 22d of February ls47 and from which
shall venture quote still longer extract was on this
occasion. sir in remarks that