The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-11

for daring II be remembered too that cur tonnage
greatly exceeds that OF any other power. And as long
as these advantages remain 10 u.s. me cfumong dynas
number but whenever contest comes the best OF them
will be found sailing under Yankee colors. Yes
sells war, manned BY peasaniry. are feeble foes.
Mr. Presldent have referred 10 these things with
view OF encouraging spr of aggression. but the re
verse The proposition of England and OF France has
been seized hold OF 10 infiame the popular mind and
had some appIehensions that the Indignation and resent
ment excited by II might lead TO offensive acts, which
could have but one termination. IL this which wish to
avoid wish to show that afford 10 laugh TO
The implied threat hanging over u.s. and that this is bet
Ter policy than yielding The dictates OF hasy resent
ment Cuba will be whenever it is right and need
iul for us 10 take IT. Whenever the might OF this
public s put forth in a Just cause there is human
power which can resist it. Under such circumstances
We Can well afford TO wait until the pear has rpened
have no sympathy with those who impatient to
grasp the territory Of our negbbors nor do my opinions
al all accord with those who tell with such con-
dent and seliasased air that il time this government
had foreign policy | believe have always had a
foreign policy nay more the very best that It was posi-
Bile 10 adopt-lhe policy of attending to our own bus
ness, without attempting TO assume sort oil general
guardianship over all mankind.
said, Mr. President, in the outset. that we were ap-
preaching period of trial and OF danger-but that dan
ger 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 everywhere about uhand around us
They may be found In the restless and disturbed stale oil
the public mind in the speeches OF dinner orators, dig
nifyng war with The name OF progress, and clothing
wholesale robbery with the mantle OF patriotism They
might have been in The phrensied enthusiasm
which followed the footsteps OF that sturdy beggar, Louis
kossulh, In the wild and reckless attempts OF American
citizens 10 take possession OF the island OF Cuba Sir
depore their fate much any can, and condemn
strongly The cruel and barbarous conduct of the Span
sh governor but refer 10 them as evidence Of state
OF thugs 10 which all eyes ought to be directed And
last SIT, though not least the signs OF this danger may
De found in The il-regulated but herce and strenuous
efforts OF Young America" to bring about war with
nr al nfa
All these things indicate that spirit OF change is abroad
in the land. may be told tn word is written every
earthly Thing pssthiaps may Be sci put Justice honor
In the sublime morality OF the Christians creed may
md guide Tor our footsteps which cannot lead TO error
Do unto Others ye would they should do unto you"
s not IN the Book OF Revelations that taught 10
covet the goods OF neghbors II not there we are
encouraged 10 indulge awess spirit of and con.
guest We do not learn from thence the duty of pro-
crossing backward from peaceful age to period OF
barbarlsm, when the strong hand the only law and
the steel blade the only arbiler of disputed questions.
Sir have heard much OF this thing called progress
makes atonement for every error am not lis enemy,
but wish TO know exactly what it means, and in what
direction am to progress If means that glorious spirit
which sweeps abroad upon the wings OF peace, she'd
ding life, and light, and happiness on the land and
the seawhich sends the missionary among the heather,
and gathers the inhdel and the unbeeve beneath the
Gospels ample sheIdwhich doubles the productions OF
earth, and lays hare the treasures OF ocean-which
plants the church of God in the wilderness OF the West
and substitutes the Sabbath bell for the howl OF the
the-whch carries literature and science TO the cabin
of the pioneer and connects every part of this wide re
public BY links song close, that the traveller ieels
every spot he reads is home and every hand he grasps
brohers hand f this De the progress which is meant,
most gladly do enlist under It's banner.
But, sir, am not permitted so 10 understand 1t. un-
dersand progress as Interpreted by modern POLITICIANS,
to be quite different thing The first lesson they incul
cate sort OF general defiance to all mankind, an im
tauon OF the worst practice OF olden chlvay-the prac
!ice Of hanging glove IN some public place as chal-
lenge to every Passer by to engage in mortal comba-a
practice in no degree based upon wrongs 10 be redressed
or injuries TO be avenged, but upon pure unmgated
love OF blood and strife. They have borrowed also from
the crusaders another vicious and indetensble habit
that OF mPoveiishing themselves al home 10 raise the
OF transportation TO other lands erect alas and
ncucae principles by the edge of the sword. They pro-
pose TO grasp the territory OF an old and faithful ally not
only without the shadow oil a claim, but without even
the robbers plea of necessiyo hush the busy hum OF
Withdraw The artisan from his workshop,
the laborer from his field, the OF science and the
man OF letters from their high pursults-o convert the
whole land into one vast camp, and impress upon the
people the wild and fierce character Of the followers OF
kiag Clovis.
Sir, | wish to indulge in no exaggerated statements
but let in the cant pbraseoogy OF the day, establish
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 and this continent will be too
small theatre upon which the bloody drama OF
American progress Like the prophet Of The East, who
carried the sword in hand and the Koran in the other
American armies will be forth proclaim freedom
the se but il he happens TO love the land in which
he born, and exhibits manly attachment to the
Institutions with which he is familiar, his liie's
blood will satura,e the SOIL and bis vile and children be
driven forth as houseess wanderers proof o our ten
der consideration for the rights oil humanity. Sir, this
is species of progress with which Satan himself might
fall in love.
Mr. President, there are in this connexion still other
lights in which the question before may be presented
Look America she now is-prosperous in all things
splendid, mag nihcen rich in her agriculture, rich in her
commerce. rich in arts and sciences, rich in learning
rich in individual freedom, richer still the proud pre-.
rogatiye OF bending the knee TO but the God who
made us. and Of worshppng in His temples accord.
Jog 10 the forms which conscience, not the law, has
prescribed. Gaze upon that picture until your soul has
drank in all its beauty all its glory, and then lei paint
for you that which is offered substitute Look upon
a land where has become passion, aud blood
welcome visant; where every avenue TO genius is
closed, that which leads through field OF strife
where the widow and the orphan mngle ang
for the husband and the father where literature has be-
come mockery and religion reproach upon people,
strong indeed but terrible in their Strength with the H.
gers outward beauty and the tigers inward herceness
upon people correctly described by the poe, when he
said:
Religion. blushing, wells her sacred fires,
And unawares morality expires;
Nor public flame, nor private, dares 10 shine,
Nor human spark is Lett, nor glimpse divine.
Lol thy dread empire, Chaos, is restored,
Light dies before thy uncrestng word
Thy hand, great Ansrch, lets the curtain fall
And universal darkness buries all. ="
Let no one tell me that these are imaginary dangers