The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. $. BoRLAN 0
or ARKANSAS,

the consideration OF the bill from the House OF Repre-
aooropaons for the service OF the fiscal year ending
he 30h OF June 1882 the pending question being upon
ihe amendment OF the Committee on Finance, had
been amended, TO insert the following:
"Po, additional compensation for increasing the trans.
,raton OF United States mail between New York and
Liverpool, in the Collins line of steamers, twenty-six
ns per annu, sueh times shall be directed by the
postmaster General, and In conformity 10 his last annual
report Congress and h. letter Of the 10Th oi November
creased service the LIST of January 1852 at the rate OF
R pua fa Tha sss Ss N Ss s sa 3"
Congress- any time after The first day Of January 1854
TO the arrangement for any additional allowance
herein provided for ra
MIR BORLAND said Mr. President, il was not my
wish OF intention speak al all upon this deficiency bill
further than TO vote aye or nay upon the various items
which compose it, they might be seveally submitted
10 the Senate And il others on both sides OF the cham
her had not debated it at such length and in such way
as some have done. should certainly now remain silent
Bu the discussion has been extended and elaborate
and especially the amendment IN favor OF the Collins line
Of ocean steamers under consideration has been adj
voaed By is dssm SO oy usenh hyh ana upon
and those represent to record my views on the other
side.
cause they are my views, and mine alone that wish to
declare them Such reason could not-could never,
indeed-induce me to occupy the time of the Senate
But il is because believe those views are, in the first
place. founded upon facts and in the second place, in
accordance with those principles OF legislation and
those maxims of political economy which have long
to which | belong and, further because | have
not found those principles and maxims sustained
on this occasion by some OF those under whose
lead have heretofore been accustomed 10 contend for
theu-some whose fortune and whose pleasure it has
heretofore seemed to be to stand in the forefront OF the
battle in their supportsome whose duty and whose in
terest had trustngy honed would hold them alike to
the faith they had long and ably taught and to the
good works their practice had uniformly and brilliantly
exempfed. On the contrary by some OF these, those
views have been opposed do not mean by this that
no one in this discussion has sustained the principles and
the maxims espouse. could not mean that. while the
honorable senator from Virginia lM HUNTEn] is in my
eye and especially while the ability and eoquence with
which he has resisted this appropriation are fresh and
glowing in my memory. And there have been other
honorable senator's, newer on this theatre. who have
the rescue, and done good service the
SIDE From their political associations had not hoped
this of them. But Of patriotism, superior 10 that
of party, has lifted them above the barrier OF those
associations, and brought them, battling, TO the of
right-and that, too when the odds are against her /;
when, alas right is not might upon this field honor
them for it, Would that we could always have them
with US.
What the senator from North Carolina [Nlr. BADGERl
said Of the senator from Virginia, MIR HUNTER,l this
connexion the other day. well deserved II is In
deed true that If in number he is but one in force he
is a host" will not say his vaor or his prowess was
exaggerated by comparing him with .Achies upon the
plains of Troy, driving whole batlallons before him
But as my honorable friend mir BADcEa] has sought
classic ground for smiludes would suggest thai he
need have stretched his fancy far back into the
regions OF antiquity TO disturb the mythical shades OF
mythical poets demgods. An aper comparison, ap-
prehend might be found in the annals OF reliable
history some six hundred years later, when that Spartan,
whose name has come down 10 Us the synonym OF
hrmness and DEVOTION stood almost alone in the famed
pass OF Thermopyl9. And perhaps this comparison
might appear the more striking and appropriate were
II extended little further; Tor II does clear
TO my mind that II euery Greek had but proved true
10 Leonidas, the Persans could have prevailed
The repulse OF their onsaughts for three successive
days had driven them back, conquered and despond-
ing and IN my opinion, they never would have
newed the attack while, with the mountain barriers
Of the constitution on his righ, hand and the deep
sea OF good policy on his left, the bold front and
renchant blade OF gallant chief had continued
cupy that "tweniy-fve feet OF ground" which
aone by forward movemes: OF the enemy the heart OF
his country could be reached But, alas sir, for the
premacy OF constitutional legislation and sound political
economy in the middle OF the nineteenth century,
Tor Gecan Independence more than two thousand years
ago, there has been such thing sratagem n pol
ihcs as in war-back ways OF approach 10 an American
Congress- there were secret mountain passes" the
OF the Spartan camp Sir, surrounded we
are beaten not only see before me the inierminable
lines OF natural enemies, but hear in close proximity
and with painful distnctness behind me, the tramp of
some heavy cohorts had always deemed friends
now acting in concert with Xerxess fue millions OF Per-
sans Ay, sir, we attacked in front and And
you aware Mr. President, that in politics, in war,
II rs fearful hazard 10 be attacked front and rear
the time. You remember how the tried valor
oil General Scott quaed at its contemplation when he
Wen, TO Mexico. And il is very certain that such
attack as planned by Santa Anna, had IL been executed
VISA
repeat, sir, are surrounded and beaten. see il
ALL feel t-l know it, And SINCE in lamentng this
calamity, have been tempted by the example OF my
classical friend over the way, tMr BADGrR far back
INTO the sbadowy land for incidents OF comparison, be
at least must bear with while linger there, to lind
some likeness OF myself TO the faithful Euryus; for
Ike him. in conscious weakness have bded al pcnus,
and kept aoo from my gallant chief while the enemy
were all in 'front.' and he seemed able with his single
arm to beat them of and drive them back yet, that
be is surrounded and evidently doomed TO TALL |, too,
have left that postion-whence, from the loop-holes
nj - u.ukt -. a. lu,t
aar 10 silence and in safetyand hasten to his side in
That hour when, il ! cannot bring him aid 10 win
mumph, may at least share with him the maryrdom
ad glory OF defeat; Tor, intutve and strong my
hsngs Tor mojorny--and in this every inch dem
ocratye with the principles Of democracy have learned
~ part, al least, from you and the distinguished sena
9f from Michigan. Mr.. CAss,] who sits behind me,
have professed and practised would infinitely
prefer 10 record my name upon your Journal the single
one OF foorn minority against this than to be
the foremost ot the heaviest majority in favor OF il
which that journal could be made TO bear Amieus
Pato oicus Socrates, sed aagis omea Ueriios !an ap
noprae version OF which noble sentiment | adopt, in
me strong old English, from the proud avowa OF
listening Senate, but little way hence paling its fires
before the light of another world, and siilling its
mighty pulses on the margin OF an honored grave"
BAD RATHER RIGHT President pa SEN
ument sur 10 which no heart bows with a deeper
eence than mine, but which might fall with far more
nness and significance ,hs occasion IRON other lips
SUCH Mr. President, is the spirit which actuae me
such the purpose which engages me in this discussion.
In the execution Of this purpose il Is not at all neces
Sy' nor shall undertake, to occupy the whole ground
dispute consider every point oil interest Il presents
Ibis has already been sufcientlv done and we'll