New-York daily tribune., 1856-02-28
OUR COUNTRY, RIGHT OR WRONG


There is passage in the telegraphic report of
Mr. Bells speech in the Senate on the Clayton
Buwer imbroglio, which we are very sorry to see,
because il will be understood We fear, an adop-
ton and Endorsement by Mr.. Bell of a most per-
nicious and purely demagogical sentiment and one
which we are very sorry should receive any coun-
tenance from man of Mr. Bells sense, patriotism,
and established reputation. After deprecating
war with England in behalf of an Interpretation OF
the Clayton Bulwer treaty, not borne out in Mr..
Bells opinion, by the text of that document, he is
represented as adding that " In the event of war,
"howeyer, he would be found on the side Of his
i country, right or wrong"
No doubt, in the event of war, and whether
that war were wise and just, or the reverse, our
country would still have the same claims on our
services and affections at all other times, and in
fact still greater claim, in consideration of the
especial danger in which she would be placed by
being engaged in an unjust and unnecessary war.
No doubt the sentiment above expressed by Mr..
Bell IL capable of notifications and explanations,
such as would make it consistent with morality
and patriotism of the highest tone; and no doubt
that was the sense in which Mr.. Bell used it.
Yet We very much fear that, introduced in so pa
renthetic way, aud without explanation or limits-
tion it will be taken as Endorsement the part
of Mr. Bell of that miserable sentiment, worthy
only Of the lowest parasites and demagogues, that
a weak or wicked Administration has only to
plunge the country in war to silence the con-
sciences and shut up the mouths Of the opposition,
leaving them no other duty except to throw up
their hats and hurrah for the war.
The duty of true patriot on such an unfor-
tunate occasion, was expressed quite to our mind
by Daniel Webster, while he was yet young
man, before he had even as yet set foot within the
corruptng City of Washington, and while his in
tellec and his heart were not yet perverted by the
intoxicating draughts of ambition. The exposi
tion 10 which We refer is contained in an Grafton
delivered by Mr.. Webster on the Fourth Of July,
1912, just after the declaration of the last war
against Great Britain, before the Washington
Benevolen: Society of Portsmouth, N. H. Through
some strange but we must say somewhat too fre-
quent negligence of his editors this Grafton is not
printed in any of the collections of Mr.. Webster's
writings and we know not where complete
copy of it can be found. The extract which we
quote below is given, with others, in The Erening
Post for July q, 1872, where the orator is spoken
of as "a gentleman of the name Of Webster, dis.
"tinguished in the State Of New Hampshire for
the superiority of bis talents" and the extracts
from whose Grafton would be read with pleasure
The particular passage to which We refer is as fol-
lows:
with respect to the war in which are now
involved, the course which principles require US
to pursue cannot be doubtful. II is now the law Of
the land and az such we are bound to regard it.
Resistance and nsurrecton form part Of our creed.
The disciples of Washington neither tyrants IN
power, nor rebels out. If we are taxed to carry on
this war shall disregard certain distinguished
ampl,s IA hit at Galatn and his concern in the whisky
rebellion and shall pay flour personal services are
required We shall yield them to the precise extent OF
our constitutional liability At the time the
world NAV be assured that we know our rights and
shall exercise them. We shall express opinions
on this every measure Of Government, trust
without passion, | am certain without fear We have
yet to hear that the eIravegant progress perncious
measures abrogates the duty of opposition, or that
the interest of our native land is to be abandoned by
us in the hour of the thekest dangers and most
sty By the exercise of our constitutional right of
,uffrsge-by the peaceful remedy of election, We
shall seek to restore wisdom to our councils and peace
20 our country.
= Is not this more wholesome and manly
sentiment than that which many minds will be
prone to extract from the phrase attributed to Mr..
Bell