The daily union., 1852-12-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MR. UNDERWOOD,

Delivered ia s Seaats, December ~, 1852 on me resou-
tion offered bg Mr 8iaoo~, calling on hs President Tor
Ue eoryssDorasncs belpeea the SsereaTy U State and
Ms Eaxss o.d French ambassadors. IN rsiaton 10 NE
island Of Cuba, &NNe
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. President. this morning, be-
fore the resolution under consideration offered, The
learned senator who has Just taken his cent od US mat
OF the blessings resulting ffom our laudinous de-
bates to be found in the instruction which might DC
communicated the people, the excitement Of thought
among them, and the aid we might thus give IN the
formation OF correct public opinion For such reasons
he thought was no Waste OF time, as Z had been sag
gested BY the honorable senator from Mississippi, Mr.
ADAMsl TO consume hours In discussing matters and
things general and OF which example has Just been
furnished My learned friend, in the Of his re-
marks, did me the honor Of calling my particular alien
that part of the message OF The President in which
he says this IS an age OF progress; as mach as TO
intimate that have been of those nd-sll poi.
clans who have not marched forward upon The line q
political knowledge" the language OF the British
statesman. Mr. Canning, and that 1t would be well
enough for understand that the head OF my poiti
cal sect had stated fac, which heretofore had not
known, and which, il properly considered, might have
saiutaTy influence my future conduct This gives
occasion TO do what intmaed 10 my friend from
Michigan at the last session, would like 70 have an
opportunity Of doingt speak upon the subject of hu
progress and 10 undeceve the senator by ayowing
myself totally opposed TO what he has SO often on this
floor denomnated the stand-sll policy
Mr.. BUTLER. Will the senator allow me to Interrupt
him TO inquire what s The question before the Senate
luton offered by the senator from Virginia.
MIR. BUTLER. wish that the resolution may be
read 5e u.
|, was accordingly read
MIR. UNDERWOOD The question involved in that
resolution has been made the by the two gentle
men who have prereded me, for looking at the whole
subject Of the foreign policy Of This county They have
found in the resolution basis upon which TO build
speeche not only covering the broad field Of our foreign
policy but embracing variety of Subjects ncud
ing English abuse OF account oil the institution OF
slavery The wide scope taken by those gentlemen JUS
lihes me IN taking milable range IN following the
lead of such examples and hope the chair will not ex
Sir. sm friend to progress whatever be said to
the contrary 1t is impossible to stand still We must
60 forward in some direction But there are two lines OF
pogress Neither is horizontal both Inclined planes
one goes upward, while the other descends. II is
easy 70 roll down the one into the depths OF human
degradation Ss !, and nd, misery y iosome IA and difficult
human progress favor the more d u bu ending
grade Government. and parlicula his national gov.
ernment OF ours can exercise great and beneficial nfu
upon the progress OF all the nations OF the earth And
how government that legitimate and sal
which enter INTO human happiness These interests are
lhreefod First the interest which relates the body
next, that which relates TO the intellect and lastly The
interest which relates to the sou thus embracing all the
interests of mans triple nature How, then. gov
eminent promote the first OF these interests, that which
relates to the body What do you want for the body
You want food, you want rament and shelter, and you
want all the furniture, implements, and equpage which
render human life comfortable How lhase things
be obaineds They are TO be obtained by facilitating, as
much - possible, all the operations OF agriculture,
OF the mechanic arts, and Of commerce Spread know
ledge by agricultural bureau department; pro-
tect our own labor and manufactures against Q rnous
foreign competition, and unfuI your commercial flag
every and every shore Establish liberal exchanges
with all the nations OF the earth. and thereby give the
commodities which produce Tor those which Pc
cular 10 the climates, soils, and manufacturing establish
ments OF other nations In this way you multiply faeil
ties for obtaining ood clothing and every human
nience, comfort, and luxury In this way, by such
change Of commodities, you avail yourself Of all that God
has done 10 benefit the whole human the creation
OF variety Of climates and soils and sndowng each with
its peculiar mineral, vegetable, and animal productions
BY the operations OF commerce you give 10 men in
every region the productions OF every other region, and
yos employ the labor Of every people in those pursuits
and occupations bsst sued TO their peculiar climstes,
SOILS and circumstances, and thus you accomplish
for the whole than would be possible under the sys
blessings al,anabc BY and through the treaty ing
power OF the federal constitution am for freely utng
that power TO enlarge our intercourse with the nations OF
the earth. II is the way TO give cheap and abundant
food and clelhnS, comforts and luxures to all mankind
No intellectual and moral progress can be made among
starving people The first necessity IS to provide well for
ouu physical wants. so as 10 save some time which we
to intellectual and moral Improvement The
man the nation whose whole time is consumed in
hard struggle for daily bread make but little progress
in moral and intellectual elevation II is therefore, in
my opinion first duty with governments, so far as they
have The power TO comfortable subsistence for the
people and allow them time for moral and Intellectual m
provemen The duty OF our government in this respect
consists protecting the labor OF its own citizens, and
opening the markets OF all the world BY commercial
reaties That, IN my judgment ls me nrsl step IN our
onward and upward progress as a nation. The CONNER
cal intercourse Of nations directly leads 10 the social in
iscourse of their respective citizens and thus ia gene
aled that codiaty and fraternity OF which we hear
much said and of which sometimes think fsel but
| little. .S s.st .silsaI at 6ssfsHl
! Commerce is the handmaid, the instrument of intel
lectual improv eRen; Tor in the exchange OF commod
ties OF different countries, necessarily smplant ne
ideas opinions, and senumens In reference 10 the first
siep OF human progress-he supply OF physical wants
defy my friend from Michigan TO 60 beyond me- and
will proceed TO show how the second step ~ 10 be
takenn relation 10 the intellectual mprov venent OF our
far depends upon the legitimate operations Of
this government am tor taking the second step IN
human progress by throwing wide open every channel
10 the acquisition OF IDEAS and new facts II we
are TO do any thing for mankind politically II to
elevate through fundamentally The oppreased people
Of the earth above the condition OF mere ses. governed
by arbitrary power we are 10 make them republicans,
capable OF maintaining free institutions like ours, by
which each citizen secured IN ha enjoyment OF those
natural rights hch the God OF Nailire has given him,
we must begin By instructng and enghtening the mind
10 the knowledge OF those great yet simple principles
by the Observance OF which liberty, equality and re-
publican government secured and maintained The
American people have been instructed other nation
on this earth haa been in reference TO those principles
They have been instructed a. by the very hnee OF God
They received lesson after lesson Their colonial oond
ton They taught by the sblest and most skilIul
nasicrs during the seven years war OF independence
Our fathers le Europe for the sake o freedom and they
and their children have had more than two hundred
years experience OF it's blessings, and that experience,
through every vcissude has taught Them not only the
value of republican liberty. but the best methods of
securing and maintaining A. aMfi.tll.
! was happy TO hear the honorable gentleman IRON
RI : .| -. a. n ~.lt -