Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-02-15
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
MIR. cAss' RESOLUTION.

In the Senate, on the 9Th inst on the resolution
offered by Mr.. Cas-, "declaratory of the views of
the United States respecting colonization on the
North American continent by European powers,
and respecting the Island of Cuba" Mr.. Glenn
ems, of Alabama. delivered speech, which all who
heard it characterize ofgreat eloquence and
power. We have full report of it in the Intelli-
gencer, and as Mr.. Clemens is spoken of as one of
Gen. Pierce's Cabnent, his views on our foreign
policy, apart from the eloquence with which he
states them, have general interest. The follow
ing extracts will indicate the policy set forth in the
speech, and give the reader an idea of the elo
quence with which, it was Observation-Disclosures Pa
triot. ~ zE.s-.. .rH..ia sal-z-
l said Mr.. President. in the outset, that we were
approaching 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 hur
ricane are manifest These symptoms every
where about us and around us. They may be
found the restless and disturbed state of the pub
lie mind, in the speeches of dinner orators dignity
ing war with the name of "progreSS," and clothing
wholesale robbery with the mantle of patriotism
They might have been seen in the phrenzied en-.
thusiasG which followed the footsteps of that
sturdy beggar, Louis Kossuth, in the wild and reck
less attempts of American citizens to take possess
sion OF the Island of Cuba Sir, deplore their fate
as much as any man can, and condemn strongly
the cruel and barbafous conduct of the Spanish
Governor. l but refer to them as evidence OF
state ofthngs to which all ought to be directed.
And last sir, though not least, the signs of this
danger may be found in the ill-regulated but
fierce and strenuous efforts of ''Young America
to bring about war with any body upon any
pretext.
All these things indicate that a spirit of change
is abroad IN the land. l NAV be told that word is
written on every earthly thing. Perhaps it may be
so but justice, homer, mercy, are the the children
OF God, and know no change. In the sublime NOR
atty OF the Christians creed we may find guide
for our foot step which cannot lead TO error:-"Do
unto Others 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 neghbors. 1t is
not there that we are encouraged to indulge q law
less spirit of war and conquest. We do not learn
from thence the duty of progressing backwards
from peaceful age 10 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 call pro-
gresS. In the eyes of some gentlemen, it covers all
defects and makes atonemeht for every error. l am
not its enemy, butt wish to know exactly what il
means, and in which direction am to progress. If
itmeans 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 heather, and gath
ers the infdel and the unbel:ever beneath the gos
pel'S ample shield; which doubles the productions
OF earh and lays bare the treasures of ocean, which
plans the church of God in the wilderness of the
eSlJ ana substitutes the Sa0Dath DELL Tor the howl
OF the panther; which carries literature and sci
ence to the log cabin of the pioneer, and connects
every part of this wide Republic by links so strong,
close that the traveller feels every Spo. he treadS
is home, and every hand he grasps brothers hand
If this be the progress which is ment, most gladly
do enlist under its banner
But, Sir I'm not permitted SO to understand it.
l understand prOgteSS as interpreted by modern
polite ans TO be quite different thing. The first
lesson they incucaIe is sort of general defiance
TO all mankind, an imitation of the worst practice
OF olden chivally-the practice of hanging glove
IN some public place as challenge to every paSSer.
by to engage in mortal combat-a practice in no de-
gree passed upon wrongs to be redreSSed injuries
10 be avenged but upon pure unmtgated love
OF blood and strife. They have borrowed also from
the crusaders another vicious and indefensible
habit-that of impoveriShing themselves at home TO
raise the means OF ttanSportion to other lands to
erect ltaIs and incuIcae principles by the edge of
the sword. They propose to grasp the territory OF
an old and faithful ally, not only without The shad-
ow of claim, but without even the robbers plea
of neceSSity-to hush the busy hum of commerce
to withdraw the artizan from his workshop, the
laborer from his field, the of science and the
man OF letters from their high pursuits-to convert
the whole land into one vast camp, and impress on
the people the wild and fierce character of the fol-
lowers of King Clovis.
Sir, wish TO endulge in no exaggerated state
ments, but let us, in the cant phraSeology of the
day, establish foreign policy Let us set abou,
convincing the world that we are indeed "a Power
IF Canada, and Mexico of her remaining posses.
sons. and this continent will be too small theatre
upon which to enact the bloody drama OF Ameri-
can 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 serf; but if he happens to
love the land in which he was born, and exhibits
some manly attachments to the institutions with
which he is familiar, his own LIES blood will saur-
ate the soil, and his wife and children be driven
forth as houseleSs wanderers in proof of our ten
der consideration for the rights of humanity. Sir,
this is species of progress with which Satan him
sells might fall in love.
Mr.. President, there are in this connection, still
other lights IN which the question before rs may
be presented. Look at America as size now is
prospt rous in all things, splendid, ma :ni6cent,
rich IN her agriculture, rich in her commerce, rich
in arts and sciences, rich in learning rich in ndi-
vidual freedom, richer still in the proud preroga-
tive of bending the knee to none but the Col who
made us, and of worshipping even in His temples,
according to tie forms which conscience, not the
law, has prescribed. Gaze upon that picture, I'M
III your soul has drank in all its beauty all its glo
~ and then let me paint for you that which is Of
Tered as substitute. Look upon land wl.ere
war has become passion, and blood welcome
Tisltant; where every avenue TO genius is closed
save that which leads through field of strife;
where the widow and the orphan mingle unavalI-
ing Tears for the husband and the father where lit
erature has becume mockery, and religion a re-
proach; upon people strong, indeed but terrible
IN their strength, with the tigers outward beauty
and the tigers inward fierceness; upon people
correctly described by the poet w hen he said
"Religion. blushi,g, wells her fires
And unawaTes morality expires;
Nor public flame, nor private, dares TO shine,
Nor human spark is left, nor glimpse divine.
Lo! thy dread empire, chaos is restored,
Light dies before thy unCreang words
Thy hand, great Anarch, let's the curtain fall;
And universal darkness buries al.''
Let no one tell me that these are imaginary dan
gers. At the commencement of the French Reyo-
luton, if any one had predicted the excuses to
which it gave birth, he would have been regarded
as madnan. What security have we against
the occurrence of similar scenes? We are huma n,
as they were. Our law of being is the same, and
if we once depart from the plain path of prudence
and of rectitude, no human wisdom can forsee the