Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-03-12
PLAQUEMlNE:
Saturday, March 70, 1859.
Senator Clemens.

We have only space to give two or three ex
tracts from the eloquent speech Of Senate
CLEMENS, in opposition to the sentiments o
SoULE and CAss, upon "Progress" and the prin
ciples of aggression pertaining to our "mani
fest dcstiny:''
* Sand last, sir, though not least, the
signs of this danger ['symptoms OF an ap
preaching hurricane at home'] may be founG
in the ill-rcgulated but fierce and strenuous cf
forts of "Young America to bring about 6
war with any body or upon any pretext.
"All these things indicate that spirit Of
change is abroad in the land. may be told
that word is written on every earthly thing
Perhaps it may be so; but justice, honor, mer.
cy, are the children of God, and know no
change In the sublime morality of the Chris
tian's creed we may find a guide for our foot
step which cannot lead to error: do unto 9th
ers as ye would they should do unto YOU 1t
is not in the book of revelation that we are
taught to covet the goods of our neighbors-
1t is not there we are encouraged to indulge a
lawless spirit of war and conquest We do
not learn from thence the duty of progressing
backward from peaceful age to period of
barbarism, when the strong hand was the only
|
puted questions.
"Sr, l have heard much of this thing called
progress. In the eyes of some gentlemen, it
covers all defects and makes atoncment for ev-
cry error. | am not its enemy, but | wish to
know exactly what it means, and in what di-
rection am to progress. If it means that glo-
rious spirit which sweeps abroad upon the
wings of peace, shedding light, and life, and
happiness on the land and on the sea- which
sends the missionary among the heathen, and
gathers the infidel and the unbeliever beneath
the gospels ample shield; which doubles the
productions of earth, and lays bare the trea-
sures of ocean; which plants the church of
God in tbs wilderness Of the West, and sub
stitutes the Sabbath bell for the howl of the
panther; which carries literature and science to
the log-cabin Of the pioneer, and connects ev-
cry part of this wide Republic by links so
strong, so close that the traveller feels every |
spot he ireads his home, and every hand he |
grasps brothers hand-if this be the pro-
gress which is meant most gladly do | enlist |
under its banner"
The following paragraph is an eScoriating
sarcasm upon the filibustering efforts of the
gentlemen mentioned above, as we'll as others
Of his party:
"The Senator from Michigan has expressed
considerable surprise at what he terms our
from meeting the questions raised by
his resolution. Sir, there may be other causes
than fear, which render us reluctant to vote for
hem. When boy read a story of the civil
wars of England which taught me a lesson not
YET forgotten. An adherent Of the Parliament
lad been cruelty treated by one of the opposite
'arty. His houses had been burnt down, and
lis fields made desolate. Some time afterwards
le met an acquaintance to whom he told the
story OF his wrongs. 1t was done simply and
plainly, without q single threat or execration
When he had finished, his friend asked him,
With surprise, "and did you not VOW revenge" /
No" was the reply, "ihosewho take the trou>
lie to make vows are very certain that q time 7
will come when they will need VOW to steady
heir purpose. / never doubted what | would
o, and made no VOWS" Sir, there was more
anger n one such man than a whole regiment |
f noisy babblers. Silence is almost invariably
he concomtant Of determined resolution; and
ne world will be quite as likely 10 believe US
earnest, and will respect us as much for res n
lsing to pass, year after year, series of threat
ming resolutions" .sza--s 81.
The following is the beautiful peroration Of $
,e speech Of the young and eloquent Senator S
ON Alabama: #- ,.~.s !;
"Mr. President, I find that | am taxing my h
rength too much and I must soon close
he pilgrim who, in obedience to vision Of
ntimes repeated, seized his staff and set out Q
search Of land in which he had been pro- I
ised all The joys Of Paradise, after trayersing
any lands, steadily pursuing his dangerous :,
ay through forests and deserts, reached at last Il
e only mountain whirh shut out from his p
I've the promised land. Slowly he commenc- Ia
the ascent, then paused, overcome by con- h
nding emotions. If from that mountain top y
} should indeed look upon valley such as
ID appeared to him in his dreams, beautiful in
ID glorious, where the flower had lost its thorn, E
here the sweetest melodies were continually
ured into the ear, and the very air was redo ~
Mt with perfume, how cheaply would it be pur- N
ased even by all the tolls and dangers he had pr
countered. But then came the fear that that 81
cam had deceived him; that he might find :,
rren waste of thorns and brambles, desert, ~
eerless, and inhospitable. Anxious to know tn
. truth, yet dreading to have it revealed, he
,od upon the mountain side unable to ad- !