Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-01

Mr. UNDERWOOD said: hr. President, this morning, be-
fore the resolution under consideration was offered the
learned Senator who has taken his that one
ofh blessings resulting from latudnous debates was
to be found in the instruction which might be commrn
Gated to the people, the excitement of thought among
Them and the aid might thus give in the formation of
public opinion For such reasons he thought
il waste of time, it had been suggested by the
honorable Senator from Mississippi mr. ADAMS, to
hours in discussing matters and things in general
and Of which example has just been furnished My
learned friend in the Of his remarks did the
honor Of calling my particular attention to that part of
the message Of the President in which ne says this is
age Of progress; much intimate that have
been of those sand-st politicians who have not
marched forward upon the line of political knowledge
the language Of the British statesman Mr.. Cam
ming and that II would be we'll enough for to under
stand that the head Of my political sect had stated fact
which heretofore had not known, and which, if proper
ly considered, might have saluary influence my u-
ture conduct This gives an occasion to do what
ntmated to my friend from Michigan at the last session
would like to have opportunity Of doing-to speak
upon the subject OF human progress and to undeceve
the Senator by avowng myself totally opposed to what
he has so often on this floor denominated the stands
policy.
Mr. BUTLER viii the Senator allow me to interrupt
him to inquire what is the question before the Senate
Mr. USDERwooD There is none, except the resolu-
ton offered by the Senator from Virginia
Mr. BCTLER wish that the resolution may be read.
II was accordingly read.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD The question involved in that re-
solution has been made the occasion by the two gentle
men who have preceded for looking at the whole
ec Of the foreign policy Of this country They have
found in the resolution a basis upon which to build
speechesnot only covering the broad field of our foreign
policy, but embracing variety of subjects even incud
ing English abuse OF us on account of the institution Of
slavery. The wide scope taken by those gentlemen JUST
hes me IN taking imitabe range in following the lead
Of such examples and hope the Chair viii exclude
any topic which may be introduced in the debate.
Sir am friend to progress, whatever may be said to
L. % We
20 forward in direction But there are two lines of
progress Neither is horizontal both inclined planes
goes inward while the other descends 1t is EASY to
roll down the into the depths of human degradation
and misery; 1t is toilsome and difficult to ascend to the
climax Of the other My views of human progress favor
the mere difficult but ascending grade Government and
particularly this National Government of ours excr
else great and beneficial influences upon the progress of
the American people, and also upon the progress Of all
the nations of the earth And how can our Government
exercise that legitimate and sautary influence II is by
promoting all the interests which into human hap
Piness These interests threefod: first the interest
which relates to the body next that which relates to the
lnteect analasy the interest which relates to the
SOUL thus embracing all the interests of mans triple ma
ture. How, then Government promote the irst of
these interests that which relates to the body VIVA. do
you want f5rthe body? You want food you want raj
ment and shesr and you want all the furniture, nipple
ments and equipage which render human life comforta
BILE How these things TO be obtained? They are to
be obtained by facilitating as much as possible all the
operations OF agriculture of the mechanic arts and of
or department; protect labor and manufactures
against runous foreign competition and unfurl your
commercial nag on every sea and every shore Establish
liberal exchanges with all the nations the earth and
thereby give the commodities which produce for those
which are peculiar to the climates soils and manuactur
ing establishments of other nations In this way you
multiply facilities for obtaining food clothing md every
human convenience, comfort, and luxury In this way
by such exchange Of commodities you avail yourself
OF all that God has done benefit the whole human race
IN the creation of variety Of climates and Soils and en-
dcwng each with its peculiar mineral, vegetable, and
animal productions.
BY the operations OF you give men in every
region the productions of every other region and you
employ the labor Of every people in those pursuits and
occupations best suited their peculiar climates soils
and and thus you accomplish more for the
whole than would be possible under the system Of
japanese secuson and nonintercourse These blessings
are attanable by and through the power
OF the Federal Constitution. | for freely using that
power TO enlarge intercourse with the nations Of the
earth II is the to give cheap and abundant food
and clothing comforts, and luxures to all mankind No
intellectual and moral progress can be made among
starving people The first necessity is to provide well
Tor our physical wants, some time which we
can devote TO Intellectual and moral Improvement The
man or 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 nv
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 inn
provement. The duty Of Government in this respect
consists in protecting the labor OF its own citizens and
opening me markets OF all the world by commercial
ties That, in my Judgment is the first step in our on
ward and upward progress nation. The com mercal
intercourse OF nations directly leads TO the social inter
course of their respective citizens and thus is generated
that cordially and fraternity Of which hear SC much
said and Of which sometimes think feel but little
Commerce the handmad, the instrument Of intellec-
tual improvement; Tor in the exchange of commodities
Of different countries you necessarily mplant IDEAS
opinions and sentiments In reference TO the first step
OF human proressthe supply Of physical wants. defy
my friend from Michigan to 60 beyond me and viii now
proceed to show how the second step to be aken-n
relation TO the intellectual improvement Of our race so far
as depends upon the legitimate operations OF this Gov
eminent am for taking the second step human pro
gress by throwing wide open every channel to the acqu
siuon OF new ideas and new facts. IL to do any
thing Tor maknd politically; il 70 elevate through
our fundamentally the oppressed people u the earth
above the condition Of mere ser governed hy arbtrary
power; We are TO make them repubEears capable Of
maintaining free institutions like ours hy which each e
ten IS secured In the enjoyment Of naerz rights
which the God Of Nature has given him We mist begin
by instrucung and enghenng the mind in the knoueige
OF those great yet simple principles BY tie okservauce
OF which liberty, equality, and republican government are
secured and maintained. The American people have been
instructed other nation this earth has been In
reference 70 those principles They have been instructed
as ~ the very finger a God They received lesson
after essgn IN their colonial condition They were auoh,
ny t ssssi and most skful masters during the seven
yeprs n independence Our fathers left Europe for
The sake ~ freedom and they and their children have had
De an two hundred years experience Of its blessings
ana iat experience through every vcssitude has taught
them not only the value Of republican liberty but the
bet methods Of securing and maintaining IT,
was happy 70 hear the honorable gentleman from
Michigan say that this American invention by which
Federal Government has been devised exercising power
Tor general and for national objects and allowing the