The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-23

nation upon which the sun of heaven has shown,
which has exhibited so much OF prosperity as our
own AT the commencement of this Government,
our population amounted TO about four millions
1t has now reached upwards OF twenty millions.
Our territory limited chiefly and principally
TO that bordering upon the Atlantic ocean, and that
which includes the southern shores of the interior
lakes of our country. Our territory now extends
from the northern provinces Of Great Britain TO the
Rio Grande and the Gulf of Mexico; from the At
lantic ocean on the side to the Pacific ON the
other---the largest extent of territory under one
government existing upon earth, with only TWO
solitary exceptions. Our tonnage, from being no.
thing, has risen TO a magnitude and amount 70
rival that of the nation which has been proudly
called the mistress of the ocean. We have gone
through many wars; one with that very nation
from whom in l776, we broke OIL, as weak and lee
BILE colonies, when asserted our independence
as a member of the family of nations. And, SIR,
came out of that struggle-unequal as 1t was,
armed as she was at all points IN consequence OF
the long struggles of Europe, and unarmed as we
were at all points in consequence OF the habits ana
nature OF our country and It's insututions--we
came out of that without the loss OF any honor
whatever; we emerged from it gloriousy. In every
Indian war--we have been engaged IN many OF
them-our arms have been triumphant. And with
out speaking at all as to the causes OF the recent war
with Mexico, whether they were right or wrong.
and abstaining from the expression Of any opinion
as TO the justice or propriety OF the war when II
commenced, all must unite in respect to the gal
lantry OF our arms, and the glory OF our trunphs'
There Is no page-there are no pages Oh history
which record more brilliant successes. With re-
spect to the one in command of an important por-
ton of our army, need say nothing in praise Of
him who has been borne by the voice OF his country
to the highest station i'll IL, mainly on account oil
his glorious military career. But of another mill
tary commander, less fortunate in other respects,
must take the opportunity OF saying that for skill
for scence-for strategy-for bold and daring
fghting-for chivalry Of individuals and of masses
hat of the MeYicap which
Quoted by the gallant Scott, as chief commander,
stands uprvalled either by thedeeds of Cortes him
self, or by those of any other commander in an
Gent or modern times.
Our prosperity is unbounded. Nay, Mr.. Presi
dent, sometimes fear that it is the very wanton-
of prosperity that leads us to these threat
ching ills of the moment that resessness and these
erratc schemes throughout the whole country,
some Of which have even found their way into le-
gislative halls We want, fear, the chastising
wand Of Heaven to bring back to a sense of the
Unreasonable benefits and blessings which have
been bestowed upon us by Providence. AT this
moment, with the exception OF here and there a
particular department in the manufacturing bust
ness of the country, all is prosperous and happy
both the rich and the poor. Our nation has grown
to magnitude in power and in greatness, TO COM
mand the respect If it does not call for the appre
tensions Of all the powers of the earth with which
can come in contact Sir, do depict with colors
too lively the prosperity which has resulted to us
from the operation of the Constitution under which
Now, let me go little into detail as to the sway
in the councils Of the nation whether of the North
of the South, during the sixty years of unparal
leled prosperity that we enjoy. During the first
twelve yearsofthe administration of the government
northern counsels rather prevailed and of them
sprung the bank of the United States; the assump-
ton OF the State debts; bounties to the fisheries
protection to the domestic manufactures allude
TO the act of 1859; neutrality in the wars with Eu-
rope; Jays treaty; alien and sedition laws; and
quasi war with France. ! do not say, sir, that
those leading and prominent measures which were
adopted during the administration of w ashington
and the elder Adams were carried exclusively by
northern counsels. They could not have been, but
were carried mainly by the sway which northern
counsels had obtained in the affairs of the country
So, also, with the latter party, for the last fifty
years. do not mean to say that southern coun-
sells alone have carried the measures which am
about to cnumerate. ] know they could not ex-
cusivcly have carried them; but i say they have
been carried by their preponderating influence,
with cooperation, 1t 10 true and large co-opera-
ton, in some instances, from the northern section
of the Union.
And what those measures during the fifty
years that southern counsels have prcponderated?
The embargo and other commercial restrictions OF
non intercourse and non importation with
Great Britain; the bank of the United States
thrown protection to domestic manufactures en-
larged and extended; U allude to the passage OF
the act of 1915 or 1916 j the bank of the United
States re-established; the same bank put down |;
re-established by southern counses and put down
by southern counsels Louisiana acquired Florida
bought; Texas annexed; war with Mexico Cali
fornia and other Territories acquired from Mexico
by conquest and purchase; protection superseded
and trade established Indians removed west
Of the Missouri; fifteen new States admitted into
the Union. | may very possibly have omitted
some OF the important measures which have been
adopted during the latter period or time to which
believe are the most prominent.
do not deduce from the enumeration of the acts
of the side or the other any Just cause of re-
proach to the one side or the other, although one
side or the other has predominated in the two pc
RODS TO which have referred. 1t has been at least
the work of BOTH and neither need justly reproach
the other; but must say in all candor and sin
certify that least Of all ought the South to reproach
the North, when we look at the long list OF inca
sures we have had under sway in the councils
of the nation, and which have been adopted as the
policy Of the Government, when reflect that
even opposite doctrines have been prominently adj
vanced by the South and carried at different times.
A bank Of the United States was established under
the administration of Mr.. Madison, with the CO.
operation of the South do not, when speak OF
the South or North, speak of the entire South or
North-I speak OF the prominent and larger proper
tons of the South or North II was during Mr..
Madison's administration that the bank Of the
United States was established. The friend (AIr.
CALHoUN) whose sickness ! again deplore, as il
prevents us from having his attendance here upon
this occasion, was the chairman Of the COMMITTEES
OF the House Of Representatives and carried the
measure through Congress voted for itwith all
my heart, although had been instrumental in
putting down the old bank Of the United States
had changed my mind; and ] co-operated in the
establishment OF the bank Of 1916. That same
bank was again put down by southern counses,
with General jackson at their head, at a later pc
rod. Then, with respect to the policy of protec-
ton; the South, in 1871 mean the prominent and
leading men Of the South, Lowndes, Calhoun, and
others-united in extending certain measure OF
protection 10 the domestic manufactures Of the
South, as well of the North. You find, few
years afterwards, that the South opposes the most
serious objection TO this policy at least member
Of the Union stalking upon that objection the disso
luton Of the Union.
Let US take another view and Of these several
views one is brought forward in any spirit of re-
proach, but in a spirit Of concilation-not TO pro-
woke or exasperatc, but to quiet and produce bar
mony and repose, If possible. What have been the
territorial acquisitions made by this country, and to
what interests have they conduccd? Florida, where
slavery exists, has been introduced. All the most
valuable parts Of louisiana have also added 10 the
extent and consideration Of the slaveholding por-
ton Of the Union for although there is large
tent Of that territory north Of 1852 30, yet, in point
Of intrinsic value and importance, would not give
the single State Of Louisiana for the whole OF IL.
All louisiana, with the exception OF what lies north
of $50 30, including Oregon, to which we have OBJ
81 a IL. -