The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-30
NO 313.

49,, am ayerse to this whole tning we
NOV" s;,nnle and economical Government !;
wan wbie agree with the distinguished SEN
and, sr n illinois, IMr. Shields, that 1t Is
aV, orrI and proper in the majority In TINS
gFSoohtn, 20 render whatever of honor they may
chaunOS; st;nUuishcd leader of their opponents
w. WI link Il is not expedcnt for that major
s'n disregard the principles upon which they
ny !" urofassed TO stand before the American
nav those principles of economy, prudence,
eoP"i;,v and moderation, which constitute
the highest claims of Democracy 20 the
Tinu of the American people at all
M. principles do not sanction the measure
nov now = President concur in much Of what has
va 80 ,rall and so eloquently said by the SEN
pe eor Sron, illinois Mr.. Shields in regard 10
SYO' hr;ll;ancy of the achievements OF our army
.uV tha MEXICAN campaign. 1t was my fortune
u W. ,,;sGortune TO be one of those who thought
wm' .La rar was unnecessarily commenced:
s.''s nv fortune or my misfortune to be one OF
!. w." ,rbo Thought that the war was inappropri-
W. ooaod for after the country had been act-
I'll I'll, conquered, and our armies were IN posses
G"ny 81 the Mexican capital, and Government,
go than Mexico had ever known, was estap-
E.Sod il was our duty to retain the control we
Ia acouired. and afford an opportunity 10 the
Wey;can people to establish really free Govern,
,,snts under American auspices Ana, sr,
differ from that Senator so tar rs ne seems W
tbink that the victories of war are greater IMAM
the victories of peace Far otherwise; am Will
ING TO accord whatever need OF gratitnue
Hateful country desires 10 bestow upon It's dis
t;ngnisbed servants in the field but In my
;udvment--
,psaeo hath her victories, not less renowned than
war.
Ave MIR. President, peace has victories far
- ,lorious than those of war. In my judy
n,eot those conquests in the domain of Ma
hro which have been achieved by a Fulton
and n Morse, are worthier of distinguished
Gonors from Democratic people than the high
a.f military achievements He who subjected
tho mighty power of steam to the purposes OF
man and he who taught lightning to perform
,our errands over boundless continents-these
man ara far worthier of titles and distinctions,
e titles and distinctions are to be conferred
than the most successful soldier.
Ave MIR. President, and he who utters a
mighty thought or embodies great conception
in living language, and sends it forth to en-
Eshtep and civilize the world, and to live
through all ages, bestowing its benefits and
blessings upon all men he, too, in my judgment,
Ba greater conqueror than the mightiest war
ror, because he conquers in the domain of
the human intellect When Jefferson penned
the Declaration of Independence, and an
pouncsd, as the only true basis of Government,
the great truth chat all men are created
eluaLn and sent that truth forth to fulfil its
sublime mission, oyerturning thrones, princi-
paitieS and powers, he achieved mightier
conquest than any warrior who ever led armed
hosts to bat lie. Peace, then, Mr.. President.
has had her great and illustrious victories
but the victories achieved on the field of peace
are not distinguished by euloges and tri-
umphs decreed by Legislative acts. These
ylctOrs are content with the voluntary homage
of a grateful world They have had their re-
ward in the sublime consciousness that they
have done their duty to their race
Whatever view, then, Mr.. President, | take
of this proposition, feel myself constrained,
while honor the distinguished individual whom
it is proposed to distinguish by it, as much as
any gentleman in the Senate, to record my vote
against its adoption.
Mr. HALE Mr.. President, when the propo-
sitiOn was up to render vote of thanks to
Gen Taylor and Gen Scott, for the services
which they performed in the Mexican war, and
10 thank them for their brilliant achievements
in the war; | voted against it. voted alone
slr-ln minority of one on both those questions
| voted against it because acted upon the same
principle with those men in the British House
Of Commons, who voted against thanking Brit
bh officers for victories when they gained them
over the American colonies, because they be-
lleyed that the American colonies had the right
and the British Administration had the wrong,
10 the contest in which the victories were won
Those distinguished gentlemen said they could
not separate a vote of thanks to the officers for
the victories which they achieved from an ap-
proval of the war in which the battles were
fought. They had not subtlety enough to dis
tnguish between thanking the men for winning
the victory, and approving the object in the
pursuit of which the victory was won.
Itboaght-and am glad of an opportunity
20 say it now, for | am glad to let it be known
that have not been converted-I thought the
Mexican war unjust, atrOcious. | thought il
one that marked the nation as rapacious and
| The age as barbarous ! think 50 now. It has
lost notning In my mind of the character which
then had, and which then expressed be-
ileVe now, SIR, that 1T was war commenced i'm
mIustce-that 1t could not commend itself 10
tne Judgment And believe, sir. that when
nie impartial pen OF history writes the tale of
'hs' war, the justice of the sentiments which [
.nen pronounced, and which five years of refec-
uon nave strengthened in my mind, will be
indicated. believe that the real and sub.
s'anual causes that we had for this war in
Nhlch these brilliant victories were achieved
we're three-iold The first was that Mexico
was weaker than we were. The second was
mat she had provinces which we wanted, and
se did not want to give them up. And the
uiru was, that we wanted these provinces in
''uer 70 extend slavery over them.
| believe, that so far as the mere war, after
Hwas commenced, was concerned. it was car
,ed on as scientifically, as bravely, as honora-
Oily and as gloriously~yes sir, will have as
NUN glory as anybody-as any war that was
rur carried on in the world. And if, sir, it
we're possible, which some men seem to think
gpSS' Die, to separate the vote according thanks
81. ~ MINORS 10 those that fought these battles
nS I'm ~ oil implied commendation of the causes
wo 'TS war IN which the battles were fought,
cam, 'neeriuily vote for them. But, sir,
in mn cannot The war has these features
Of p5l n",i1 and as long as the triple partition
leraoa tha " 'he powers that divided it chal-
1oI;o sn' condemnation Of the world. so long.
Stotos w "iII tue war which these United
when cha ba'o upon a sister Republic, at time
fr Tho ' a' was rent by intestine connections,
vos az pai poses Tor which believe that war
ALL n aT Ion; on believe this must run par
ter;tv al slie 50 tar as the judgment of pos
wa sIl . concerned, with that other war which
~ al 80 much condemn.
An o ",n suggest to gentlemen that there was
Errs oS'@ 4a on which they might have con-
uucoDst Upon 1en Scott a title-clearly not
tb nk u to be conferred-one that
mento, would have been vastly more compli-
prSs 'D'y 70 his services, and satisfactory to his
from - one SIR that would have come, not
from W., tue Representatives of the people, but
that , ine people themselves 1t seems to me