The true Democrat., 1856-04-08

lock, an insuperable bar to our progress. Now, sir, to us in this country it is really Imaginable to suppose that such an incident as that could exert the slightest influence upon the destinies of our institutions. They are controlled by far higher causes-by the will of the American people. And if this dead lock, as it is called had even continued during the whole term oi the present Congress the people would have stood between their institutions and danger and would have taken efficient measures to en- sure the operations of their government. In fact, sir, such is the moral effect of our institu- tions that the political machine would for a vile almost go on by its own momentnm.- From the landing at Jamestown and at Ply mouth, our history is a school, teaching how free and equal governments may be organized and maintained by the spontaneous action of the people, in the face of whatever obstacles may occasionally present themselves. While l was In Paris an incident hapr rened, which furnishes another example of this European ig- norance. It Is worth referring to in this con- nectlon, as a characteristic trait When the news reached there that there had been some disturbance in Harrisburg, which had caused the members of the Legislature to quit theil hall of assemblage, there was a good deal of excitement, and 1t was considered, if not an ac- tual revolution, as the precursor of One The state of things in this country was judged by the state of things in France, and the members of the chamber of Deputies could not be driven by violence from their seats without an explo- sion which would shake the kingdom. 1 Was asked by distinguished French functonary, and with manner which seemed to say your country is i'll a bad way, what would be the probable result of this interruption of the pub lie authority, for Harrisburg or Washington was, l suppose to them the same thing 1 answer ed that the next packet would probably bring information that some Ilstice of the peace had issued his warrant, and that the offenders had been apprelended and punished, and that with this exercise of authority the whole matter would pass away. And such, in fact was the result. With one exception, this government Tn my opinion, sir, Is the strongest government on the face of the globe. There is no ques- tlon but a sectional one which can destroy it. II we learn to be wise and avoid all irritating interference between the north and the south, leaving every p,rtion of our country to manage its affairs for itself upon its own responsibility we may reasonably look forward to the indefi- mite extension of the best and freest form of government ever committed to man. If we do not, we may learn wisdom at as great sacri- ice as man ever palu Tor nls cfrOr
 After these experiments of the British press to which l have referred, upon thc taste and feelings of their own country and upon the for. bearance Of this, it required good deal of cou- rage on the part of the London Times, while alIuding to the views entertained, to say
 "We believe that much of this reck less ness Chat is, our advocacy of our cause) is ow- ing to the hahitualy pacific tone which the tal land"
 is all assertion or a sarcasm. If the former 1t Is as little creditabIe to the wisdom as to the veraclty of the reckless paper. If the latter it is one redeemnS concession, the more valuable as it is almost without example.
 "The British people,' says the same great controller of public opinion iu England, are el to make peace' This national trait thus discovered and disclosed must push the crecu- lity of John Bull about as far as he can bear and that is saying good deal, while the pre- tension excltes the rdicule of the rest of the world. It has been often said that the last per son a man knows is himself, and that the re- mark Is equally true of nations needs no better illustration than the vaunt of the dcsposition of EngIan to bear and forbear, evnced by the slowness and reluctance with which she suffers herself to be driven into hoSttieS. The Brit lsh people are very slow to go to war. Why, SIT, their history for centuries past, has been little else than history of their hostllties with the other powers of the earth, civilized and un- civilized, for they have been very impartial in their aggressIonS as neither Christian nor Pagan has escaped their assaults. Slow to go to W IT. Thy for the last one hundred and fifty wears they have hardly been at peace. Their arm ed ships have been rowling round the world seeking territory they might dev0ur. Ave, and hndlng It, too, from mighty continents to the smallest i3let that dots the ocean. II they had temple of Janus, as had the Romans their predecessors in wars and acquisitions--it would be as seldom shut as the memorable tem- pie of old. Slow to go to War. This very jour nal, the Times, told its readers buta short time ago that tine British government went to War with Burmah for a disputed claim of f9JO Slow to go to War, but quick enough to go to war With China, Ill order to compel that country to permit the Importation of oplum, drug de- struCtlve of the health and morals of its people And successful enough to make that privilege one of the conditions of peace, equal to 7OOO,- GOO sterling annually. 1 merely glance at this subject, for 1 have no wish to follow is details They are before the world, and will pass to the judgment of posterlty. Slow to % to war. The last accounts from India tells us that the populous kingdom of Dude is abo ut to follow the fate of the other native governments of Hindostan, and to swell the mighty possessions of the merchant company which rules the i'm menSe territories upon the Indns and the Gan geS.
 Mr. President, I desire to do no injustice to England Iappreciatc all she has done for the intellectual advancement of mankind - for morality and civilization. But when she plays the Pharisee, and thanks God she is not like other nations, but shunS wars and acquisi. tions, l. for one, feel little disposition to yield to the boasts or denuncatons of her politicians or her journals. have touched bat a few facts in her career. They might be made to assume formidable array. l refer to nothing which is not before the world and legitimate topic of examination. He who believes that the wrath of England may be deprecated or her designs arrested by studied silence in our country, or in this high place of our country, knows little of the ceaseess operations of hu- man ambition. 1 am not one of those who believe that by shutting our eyes to danger we may avert it. That is best done by looking it in the face and by preparing fo~ it. No nation ever escaped war by closing their eyes to its approach And no nation ever brought it on by the exhibition of a resolute determination to resist aggression. We have already, sir it appears to me, treated the subject quite deli cately-gngerly, l may say, in the Senate We had better look at things as they are, and call them by their right names Isncerely trust we shall have no war. And when I conside! the condition of the two countries, and the ca- lamitous effects of a war upon both, can hardly believe that English statesmen will push the differences to that extremity, though cer- tainly there are ominous portents above the horizon which warn us that storm may not be far off But, at any rate, our safety will not be increased nor our dangers diminished, by sitting still and closing our eyes, and our ears, and our mouths to every thing around us, suf- fering events to take their own course-control. led by not controlling them. The latest ac. counts tell us that several regiments have been ordered from England to Canada I doubt the truth of the report Some years ago, and with out reference to the Russian war, the British povernment withdraw larpa ~,,ortnn of lie