The true Democrat., 1856-04-08
Remarks of MT. Cass, in the U. $.
 Senate.

Senate.
 March TO- 1856.
 Mir PRESIDENT-When the information first reached us some time since that peace would soon probably terminate the war prevailing in Europe 1 submitted a resolution instructing the committee on naval affairs to inquire into the eXpendency of increasing the navy of the Unit ed States. thought this was precautionary measure, dictated as well by prudence as by patriotism. Before it was in my power to move the adoption of the resolution 1 was prevented by an accident from attending the Senate; and when I was able to resume my seat, was told by the chairman of the naval committee that the subject of the augmentation of our maritime force had engaged tn er attention, and that he was about to report bill for that purpose This was done within day or two; and under these circumstances, thought it inexpedent to press my position. The bill was passel, and though l think the increase it provides falls short of what the situation of the country de- mands, yet I voted for it with pleasure, as ar important step in the right direction.
 Sir, the external circumstances affecting us have materially changed since the annual esti- mates were laid before Congress- We had, indeed, at that time differences pending with England, but these differences have since assu- med much more serious character there. and here, and as their gravity has increased, and with it public excitement, Eng land finds her self upon the point of being relieved from a terrible conflict which demanded all her ener- gies and resources, and operated as a security for her moderation towards other powers, in ducng her to yield to the suggestions of pru- dence what she might refuse to the dictates of justice.
 If she is freed from the present struggle she will come out of it with the possession of great unemployed force, and with the loss of much of her military prestige, added to disappointed hopes and wounded national vanity, arising out of the events of a war which have been more favorable to the renown of her ancient enemy and recent friend and always rival, than to her own. It might well be, sir, that in this condi- tion of parative humiliation she might have no objection to seeking in the west that glory which she had anticipated, but had failed to find, in the east; or, at any rate, these conslde- nations might operate to render her more teIa- cous of the position she had assumed, and less disposed to meet us in spirit of moderation. And certainly, sir, no man can fail to observe that as the probability of peace has grown stron- ger, the buster in England-I borrow the word from Lord John Russcl-who applied to Mr. Polk-has become more violent, till the
 
 It is not long since this feeling was indicated by distinguished review the North Brtain," which observed by way of warning or of threat enng or probably both, that the same fleet which passes the summer in the Black Sea may pass the winter in the Gulf of NJ eXico It is at no time improper to look at our means of attack and defence, but 1t IS our especial duty to do so as the affairs of the country become more critical. There is one peculiarly Tn our condition which our whole history has dsclos- ed, and that is an insuperable objection in the minds of the American people to the permanent support of great military establishments What Mir. Madison called the armor and the attitude of war will never be assumed till war is upon us Of course our arrangements to meet it are hastily made, but they are made with a spirit and energy which no other country las ever displayed, and which enable us to force events as they are forced upon us.
 And 1 observe that even the London Times is not blind to this national characteristic, its vision being obviously rendered clearer by the occurrences in the Crimea Speaking of war, it Says:-
 "Our merchants would find foe as we'll as a rival in every part of the world. We are aware that we should have to deal with an ene- my inhertjng all our enterprise and daring, but not burdened, as we are, by national debt and host ofjncaIables, or trameled by court, an aristocracy and the routine of winch the re- bort from the Crimea discloses such sadly fan tastic examples We do not forget how quick ly the United States raised the armies that re- duced Mexico and wrested from her whole pro- vinces. We know that twenty five millions of men of European, and chiefly British blood, are not to be despised. We could hardly ex- pect to suffer much less damage than we could infict.'
 The fact is, we have in the United States no soldiers, in the European acceptation of the term: no class set apart for the business of hght- ing Our embodied military force IS too small to form an exception to this remark. But the whole nation is a nation of soldiers, when the safety of the country demands their servlces. Habituated to firearms and fitted by habit for almost any employment each feels his own in- terest involved in the general welfare, and all are ready to repair from their homes to the bat tie field prepared to do their duty, and anmat- ed bv A spirit of patriotism which leaves to the government the task of determining whose vo- nntarv offers shall be declined, not whose shall ba accented. The difficulty is in saying who shall stay. not who shall go. The world has never seen such displays of military ardor and natriotism as are furnished by the his- tory of this country Tn periods or dlhculty ana danger.
 This very state of things however, renders it but the more proper to regard with careful attention the course and conduct of other na- tions, the pretensions they advance, and the results which their measures appear to iore- shadow. Obvious as this duty is, 1t IS scarcely ever fulfilled, but the cry immediately goes forth and often from this place, that war is desired. It is an idle charge, sir; scarcely deserving se- rious refutation. To adopt the side of our country in her dispute with foreign power is not to desire war: 1t is to desire that humiliat- ing concessions should not be made, but that il war is forced upon us we should be ready to meet its responsibilities. Its true aim is to avert war, not to invite it. To avertit by show. ing that we are aware of our position, and are not to be driven from it by arrogance or injus. tice. My friend from Tennessee Mr. Be'l), as