The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-03
SPEECH OF HON. p. EWING,


on the state of the Union on The Homestead bill
Mr.. EWING sad
Mr.. CHAIRMAS do not propose to contine my
self to the merits of the bill Immediately under the
OF the committee, although i con-
ceive it has merits, and am inclined TO give it my
vote. look upon 1t at least as one OF the most
harmless Developments of that idea OF progress.
now prevalent in the country; and IN the gene
raj distribution Of the public lands, which is threat
ened, know OF more worthy recipients who
are likely to be benefited than those proposed in
the bill Besides, there is perhaps no other mode
by whch any portion of The citizens OF my own
State will ever be made to share in the dlstribu-
ton.
In reference to this idea of progress, Mr.. Chair
Inan-one much derded upon the one hand, and
perhaps cxtravaganty lauded upon the other
allow me TO say, that there never a humbug
Cd empty, never philosophy SO vain, which met,
for any length Of time with any response from any
quarter, which had not at its basis some foundation
OF truth. And 1t does not become us TO reject even
popular error, without sitting out and separating
the truth which has given 1t currency.
We are told that progress Is an empty word
that il every thing, that it means nothing.
Not go, sir. II may be shadowy indefinite
that IN ysterious uncertain future TO whlchlt refers,
and in which it lives. IL Is no fixed measure or
series of measures 1t is spirit, viviiying
principle. Why, MIR. Chairman. he who breaches
content, breaches n false philosophy. he who
tells US to be satisfied with the present existing
state of things any time will teach In vain
That restless dissatisfied spiritthat irrepressible
longing after something new, sonnet hing better IN
the future-that never-dying hope, urging Ia ever
onward-was implanted in US by Him who made
ne, doubtless to induce US to seek n better world
than THE; and inherent and ineradicsb!e as II IL
in man, il nanifes5 itself in all with which he has
10 DO in every relation which he Is called 10 act
individual social and political. lbelieve there Is
idea generally prevalent at the present time In the
country, that has arisen-tbat another
political cycle has rcvolved itself-that new mea-
surcs must be adopted, new principles evolved
perhaps attitudes and relations OF parties.
The time has come, as l humbly conceive, III the
convictions of the American people, when we
should stop and inquire whether there % IN this
country party, in any all political organiza-
tons, In whatever geographical section, with suth-
cent power TO control the destinies OF the country
and having sincere love and admiration for the
Constitution-the whole Constitution, in all it's
psrts and provisions-and living faith in the
Union and lts permanency, who are ready TO act
upon that faith and SO acting, to go in the de-
velopment OF the happiness and greatness of this
country, to make it what it should become-the
grandest empire the world has ever seen. When
parties are divided upon principle, the spoIs, as
necessary concomitant, follow the victors and
though on evil, tolerated an inevitable one.
bot when party array and party confiict5 dcgen-
crate into nothing else than struggle for the
spoils. an indignant and impatient people Will re-
Jcct the Outrs geous imposition.
But, cir, the idea of progress under the broad
shield of its popularity covers many errors Some
men think that change is progress. Mere novelty
innovation, the simple abandonment OF ancient
pnnciples-is not nece-sarly progress IL 10 some
tlmcs counter rev OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. The re-
volution which gave into the hands Of Robespierre
and his associates the power in France, which
they terribly hbused, was no more an example
Of progress than the revolution Of the 9Th Their
Inidor, which restored il to those who exercised
II with more humanity; nor the revolution Of
the 18th Brumaire, which placed Napoleon in
power. any more than the restoration Of the Bour-
bone. There errors now abroad under that
popular name, to which they have right or title,
like the beresy which corrupts and perverts the
true religion. kossutnism Is deiunct, and should
insut your good sense either 10 advocate or op
pose II on THE floor. That king OF spouters, that
hero Of sounding periods, has made hIs campaign
Of five hundred speeches in less than four months-
! conidc in his Estimate, rather than under
take the enumeration myself-and accomplished a
signal though a brilliant failure. lie has strutted
as hero his brief hour upon the stage; be has
drunk the trimming cup OF adulation, until
steadier, wiser brain than HE, might have reeled
with the delicious intoxcation; he has been called
a second Washington, for what reason j know
not, unless perhaps because Washington was said
90 be a master of retreats, and he himself has
achieved one of the most extraordinary retreats
record from the time Of Aenophon dOwn-a
retreat from a hundred and thirty five thousand Of
his own men, with five hundred field pieces. Sir
II has been said to be Of the rnost striking and
beautiful figures Of rhetoric or poetry TO magnify
an idea by The comparison Of it with something
infinitely superior. II this Toe true, there never
was more poetic idea, a more daring flight Of
the imagination, than the comparison OF kOssuth
with Washington. Bot HE hour has gone by; he
only lngers the stage alter his part "a played.
ils mao schemes, with bis twelve hundred saddles
for imaginary horses, and his forty thousand two
dollar muskets Tor visionary men; his crtraordi-
nary plans for the conduct of a war with Russia
and Austria, by charitable contributions, as good
people would support a missionary in the Sand.
wich Islands do not startle us only because in the
extravaganza Of their insane folly, they sink into
contempt.
But there arc distinguished gentlemen in the
other end Il this Capitol Statesmen, eIponents Of
great political parties, scckng to become the heads
OF those parties, and by that means the heads Of
tins Government, who thought a short time since
that here a Rodsend-a happy orc in the
dead political calm which was to waft them into
the haven Of success They thought this was 20 be
the popular tide, which, taken at the flood. should
bear them into power. ] was much reassured some
weeks since, though confess not entirely relieved
by the assurance VI my esteemed friend from Cali.
Ocnin, (Nir. MARsHALL.) not now present, that
biz iayOrite, Judge DOUGLAS, was sound upon the
question Of the relative position Of the two sides Of
the earth. the up side aud down. side laughter
much fear II tie dsstn,s of this earth
trusted into HE hands-and believe he aspircs TO
no lsss-nn ocean bound republic, ;" with all the
islands included, has become too small theatre
iDr bis yaulting AMBITION has shfunk into too
narrow field for his extraordinary scbcnnCs. The
time has come when in his opinion should have
foreign policy" much fear that the dostinies
~ tins good mother earth would not be very safe
m he hands, that the old beldam would rock to
her ioundatiOn--wc would have to write upon It
az We DO upon glassware, fright side up with
his pfogfe-siNc Democracy, her progress through
the heavens would be altogether too tardy. her
very revolutions would secm too monotOnous and
reguiar-Dot half 50 stirring "a a Hungarian or
French revolution, almost antique and obsolete
the principles Of our own. ! admire the bold.
noes Of his schemes, while ! am startled at their
novelty. They prove him to be n true and lineal
descendant Of that other great DoUglass-'that
sprghty Scot O. Scots," whom that renov ned
philosopher, John Falstah, sad "would run up hill
pe'pendicular % horseback" The Senator from
Michigan, tMr. Gaze, following after, with lag
Rlng sort OF old iogy pace, in THE race Of progress
only exciting the contempt and dcrison OF his
more youthful and nimble coadjutofs and contest
ants, - satshcd, Tor the present, with greater
share in the government Of the afars Of this
world than the simple expression. in n Congres
sionsl form, OF his "doep concern" at the Outrage
pefpctfated by Russia, leaving II for those who
after us. when We shalt have progressed
sull turther-to the still younger Democracy--to
chOOse between the tentative Of lighting or
backing cut. lie gives Ms many worthy pre-
Cedent and example in. history IN which natl 10
savr protested, and expressed their deep concern,
but which bad resulted IN no war, nor, indeed, as
- perhaps worthy Of remark. in any thing ,lse.
IL n true, ulat able Senator has been recently IN