The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-02-18
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF
Mr. CLEMENS, of Ala.
In the U. States Senate Feb. z, 1853.

said, Mr.. President, in the outset that we
we're approaching a period of trial and OF
danger-but that danger does not threaten us
from abroad. In that quarter the skies are
clear and bright. 1t is at home that the
symptoms of an approaching hurricane are
manifest. These symptoms are everywhere
about US and around us. They may be found
in the restless and disturbed state of the
public mind, in the speeches Of dinner
orators, dignilying war with the name Of
"progrcss," and clothing wholesale robbery |
with the mantle OF patriotism. They might
have been seen in the frenzied enthusiasm
which followed the footsteps of that sturdy
beggar, Louis kossuth, IN the wild aud
reckless attempts of American citizens to
take possession of the Island Of Cuba. Sir,
deplore their fate as much us any man can,
and condemn as strongly the cruel and bar /
barous conduct of the Spanish Governor. |
but refer to them as evidence of state Of
things TO which all eyes ought to DC directed.
And last, SIR though-not least, the signs of
this dIngcr may be found in the il-rcguated,
but fierce and strenuous efforts Of "Young A.
merica" to bring about war with anybody
or upon any pretcxt.
! All these things indicate that a 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,
mercy, are the children of God, and know no
change. In the sublime morality of the
Christians creed we may find guide for our
footsteps which cannot lead to error: "Do
unto others as ye would they should do unto
YOU" II is not in the book of revelation that
VIC are taught to covct the goods of our
ncighbors. 1t is not there we are encouraged
to indulge lawless spirit of war and con
quest. We do not learn from thence the
duty Of progressing backward from peace
fuI age to period of barbarism, when the
strong hand was the Only law, and the steel
: blade the only arbiter OF disputed questions.
Sir, have heard much OF this thing called
f progress. Ia the eyes Of some gentlemen, it
g covers all defects, and mlkes atonement for
+, every error. ] am not its enemy, but wish
to know exactly what it means, and in what
direction | ain to progress. II it means that
: glorious spirit which sweeps abroad upon the
wings Of peace, shedding life, and light, and
|, , happiness, on the land and on the sea, which
sends the missionary among the heathcn, and
gathers the in!idcl and the unbeIicver beneath
the gospels ample shield, which doubles the
, productions Of earth, and lays bare the treas
urcs OF ocean, which plants the church of
God in the wilderness of the West, and sub
sttutes the Sabbath bell for the howl of the
panther, which carries literature and science
to the log cabin Of the pioneer, and connects
every part of this wide Republic by links 50
strong, so close that the traveller feels every
spot he trcads is home, and every hand he
+ grasps brothers hand,--if this be the 'pro-
gress which is meant, most gladly do enlist
under its banner.
But, sir, am not permitted so to under
stand it. understand progress, as interpret
ed by modern politicians, to be quite diff
Iercnt thing. The first lesson they inculcatc
is sort of general defiance to all mankind,
an imitation of the worst practice Of olden
chivalry-the practice Of hanging a glove in
some public place as a challenge to every
pusser-by to engage in mortal combat-a
practice, in no degree based upon wrongs to
be rcdrcsscd, or injuries to be avenged, but
upon pure, unmitigated love of blood and
strife. They have borrowed also from the
crusaders another vicious and indelcnsble
habit--that OF impovcrishing themselves AT
home to raise the means of transportation to
other lands 10 erect atars and incucatc
principles by the edge of the sword. They
propose to grasp the territory of an old and
ialthiula ally, not on y without the shadow Of
claim, but without even the robbers plea of
necessty-to hush the busy hum of commerce
10 withdraw the artisan from his workshop,
IN lrhp fol IL =
and the man of letters from their high pnr-
suits--to convert the whole land into one vast
camp, and impress upon the people the wild
and fierce character of the followers of king
Clovis
Sir, ] wish to indulge in no exaggerated
statements, but let us, in the cant phrascology
OF the day, Establish n foreign policy" Let !
US set about convincing the world that we
are indeed" "a Power upon earth" Let us
rob Spain of Cuba, England of Canada and !
Mexico of her remaining possessions, aad |
this continent will be too small theatre up
on which to enact the bloody drama of A |
mcrican progress! Like the prophet of the
East, who carried the sword in one hand and
the Koran in the other, American armies will !
be sent forth to proclaim freedom to the serl /
but II he happens to love the land in which |
he was born, and exhibits some manly at-
tachmcnt 10 the institutions with which he is
familiar, his own Ic's blood will saturate the
soil, and his wife aud children be driven forth
as houselcss wanders, in proof of our tender
consideration iur the rights of humanity.
Sir, this is species of progress with which
Satan himself might fall in love.
Mr.. President there are in this connection
still other lights in which the question before
US may be presented. Look at America as
she now is, prosperous in all things, splendid,
magnificent, rich in her agriculture, rich in
her commerce, rich in arts and sciences, rich
in learning, rich in individual freedom, richer
still IN the proud prerogative of bending the
knee to none but the God who made us, and
of worshppng even in His temples accord.
ing to the forms which conscience, not the
law, has prescribed. Gaze upon that picture
until your soul has drank In all it's beauty, all
Its glory, and then let me paint for you that
which is offered us substitute. Look upon
a land where war has become a passion, and
blood q welcome yisitant: where ovarv avonua