Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-02-04
ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
THE PEACE QUESTION IN CONGRESS.

THE PEACE QUESTION IN CONGRESS.
The following discussion occurred on q resolution
in the House Of Representatives, making appropri-
atoms for the Military Academy at West Point
Mr.. Smiths speech was certainly nm unusual one
to claim the attention of those political gladiators
Nevertheless we are happy to learn that they gem
orally listened to with deep and respectful inter
est.
Mr.. HOUSTON now call up the bills which
were reported from the Committee of the Whole on
the state Of the Union, with recommendation that
they do pPss, and which were under consideration
when the House adjourned last evening
The House then took up "thc bill making nppro-
praton for the support Of the Military Academy
for the year ending June 30, 1855"
Mr.. SMITH, Of New York. / propose, Mr.
Speaker, to make some remarks on this bill.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee. / think that the
previous question called on the bill last even
ing.
Mr.. SMITH. l think not
Mr.. CLINGMAN. If the previous question was
called, l object to the gentlemans proceeding to
make any remarks.
Mr.. SMITH. believe in the progress Of the
The SPEAKER. The Clerk informs tho Chair
that the previous question was not called last even
ing.
Mr., JONES. 1t was my impression that it was
called.
Mr.. SMITH. believe, sir in the progress Of
the human race. delight 10 dwell upon the idea
Of an eyer-growing civilization. Hence it is, that
am afflicted at every demonstration Of the war
spirit. For the spirit of war is the spirit of bar
barism-and, Notwithstanding the popular idea to
the contrary, war is the mighticst of all the hin
drances to civilization. But regard the spirit of
this bill the dark and barbarous and balefu
spirit Of war; and therefore il is that would use
r all honorable means to defeat the bill.
1t is inefably strange and sad, that in nation
protesting, as this does, faith in the Prince of
Peace, the spirit should be 50 rampant. 1t is
q gross Inconsistency, that, in such nation there
should be any manifestation Of the war spirit
my voice is still for war;" are the words as
cribed to n celebrated Roman. But, sir as he was
Pagan, and lived moro than two thousand years
ago, it is not strange that he was an advocate of
war. But that we who have q thousand years ret
respect of the horrors Of war more than he hadthat
we, who, instead Of having but pagan sense of
right and wrong, have, at least have the means
Of having, Christian sense of right and wrong
that we should be the advocates of war is indeed
passing strangel
Who can conceive the loss of life by war? There
are various estimates
Mr.. ORR. rise to a question of order.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman will state his
question Of order.
Mr.. ORR. l understand that the bill on which
the gentleman from New York Mr.. SMITn is sub
mitting his remarks is q bill making an appropri-
alton to support the Military Academy. ! submit
that the rule Of the House requires that the gentle
man shall confne himself TO the subiect-matter
before the House. The gentleman has not been
con6ning himself to the subiect-matter, and / re-
quire the Speaker to decide between us.
Mr.. SMITH If the gentleman denies that the
Military Academy has to do with war then appeal
TO the Speaker what would become of the Military
Academy were war to be abandonedY
The SPEAKER. The Chair understands that
the gentleman from New York Mr.. SMITH is op-
posing the appropriation of money for the mainte-
nance of the Military Academy on the ground that
war is to be condemned
Mr.. SMITH. Certainly, sir and, therefore, be-
yond all doubt am in order.
The SPEAKER. The Chair is Of opinion that
the gentleman from New York is in order.
Mr.. SMITH. presumed that the Chair would
so decide
are various estimates Of the losss of life by war.
Burke's estimate, if recollect Alright is thirty-fve
thousand millions of lives. That is thirty five
times as many as the whole population now on the
face of the earth. In Bible language, "Who slew
J. Rll theseW And when we are contemplating this
vast slaughter, are we not led to inquire in other
words of that blessed book, " Shall the sword de.
YOUR foreverW And who can compute the loss of
property by war! Why, sir, the cost of the war
system to Europe alone, in time of peace, including
the interest on her war debt, exceeds thousand
millions of dollars annually.
Sir, our own nation has actually paid from its
Treasury on account of the Army and fortifcations
upwards of five hundred millions of dollars; and
our nation has actually paid from its Treasury on
account of the Navy and its operations, more than
q half Of that sum. But if we would ascertain the
whole loss of property 10 this nation by war, we
must add to these sums the cost Of the militia
and this cost-not from conjecture, but from the
computations Of those who are capable of making
the computation--is fifteen hundred millions OF
dollars. Add these together, and the interest
auPon them, and you have an aggregate equaling a
large share of all the whole present wealth of the
nation.
Now sir. a few words in regard to national debts
As national debts are, in the main war debts there
can be no assignabe limit to their.accumulation
For SO long as war is deemed 10 be necessary SC
long will there be wars and so long as there shall
be wars il will be thought dishonorable and unjust
to rcpudiate war debts, even though the burden OF
them may press more and more crushingly from age
to age.
Such is the commanding influence of war; and
such tho worldwide sentiment which it has been
able to create in favor Of itself that no debts are
deemed more sacred and more obligatory than wal
debts And yet so far from a war debt being
sacred and obligatory there is the more urgent and
imperative duty to repudiate IT, No doctrine shoulc
be more indignantly secuted than the doctrine tina
y ono generation may lay claim to tho earnings, anC
mortgage the wealth Of coming generations. NO
thing palmer than that in those States Of Europ
where the war debt is great that the very life