Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-14
MORNING LEADER.

MORNING LEADER.
Senator Hale on MIR. Buchannn's Message.
Immediately after the reading of President
Buchanan S message in the Senate, Mr.. Bigler,
of Pa, moved that twenty thousand additional
copies of the Message and accompanying docu-
ments be printed for the use of the Senate
Pending the motion, Mr.. Hale, of New Hamp-
shire, delivered the following imPrOmptn speech.
1t is an amusing, sarcastic, and scathing review
of some prominent points of the long-winded
Presidential prounciamento Everybody should
read and enjoy the first speech of the session.
Mr. Hale said:
Mr.. President, it has become the custom, a
custom which has been introduced within few
| years past, for gentlemen in the Senate to ex-
press their sentiments upon the message on this
motion. l think that was the case two or three
years since, when, on a similar occasion, opin-
ions were promulgated in regard to our foreign
policy particularly with reference to Central
American affairs. A distinguished Senator
from Delaware, not now living, (Mr Clayt 1n,)
and l think several other Senators, availed
| themselves of that occasion to express their
sentiments on these topics. Now, sir, if the
| President in his message had confined himself
to what believe to be his prerogative, that is,
''from time to time to give Congress information
of the state Of the Union, and recommend to
| their consideration such measures as he shall
judge necessary and expedient," let the charac
| ter of those measures be what they may,
should not have felt called upon to say anything
on this OCCASION but think the President has
abused his constitutional prerogative, and gone
out of the way to interpolate a statement of
transactions that have long since transpired,
and that have nothing to do with any recon-
mendation which he has seen fit to make, and
which statement is not consistent with the truth
of history; and as an humble individual, will
not permit it to go'torth to the country unchal-
lenged.
1t gives me, however, great pleasure on this
occasion to say that l cordially and heartily
agree with the President in his first sentence,
and that is this
"When we compare the condition of the
country at the present day with what it was
one year ago at the meeting of Congress, we
have much reason for gratitude to that Almighty
Providence which has never failed to interpose
for our relief at the most critical periods of our
history"
To that, sir, most cordially assent; and
should have felt that the President had been
deTelict in those obligations of piety which he
is so fond of displaying in his messages, if he
had failed to take notice of the very happy
change which has taken place, and which, in
its occurrence, has been especially manifested
in his own State l think he has seen the
teachings of Providence brought to his own
door in such q manner that he cannot fail to
contrast with the condition of things that exist
ed year ago their present condition in his
own State, and in his own county, and in his
own city. l commend him for his "gratitude;'
carrying out the excellent history OF that good
man, of whom it is said:
"Job feels the rod,
Yet blesses God"
/ cannot fail to commend the call which he
makes upon US for gratitude at the very differ
ent condition which the country presents from
what it did year ago. l agree with the Pres
ident heartily in that, and l am not certain that
| shall not consent to the printing of large
number of copies of the message, so that the
country may see how the President feels under
| this administration of Providence, as well as
| himself
am also gratified at the exhibition which
the President makes Of our foreign affairs gen
orally lrue, he says TuCTc iiUui1 J.Eiioulty
with Spain and some with Great Britain; but
with all the rest of the world we are happily
at peace. l did expect, sir, that when the
| President came to comment upon our foreign
/ relations, he would condescend to inform US
what alarming emergency existed in reference
/ to our diplomatic relations with Austria that
rendered it imperiously necessary, immedi-
ately succeeding the Pennsylvania election to
| make a new appointment of Minister to that
country, and waited with a good deal of i'm
patience to find out but it seems that there
has been nothing there; Austria has been
peaceable; whilst some other nations have not
done everything they should do, there is no
complaint of Austria. 1t seems to me that the
| President by his utter silence in regard to
what induced him to act with such hot haste
with reference TO Austria, leaves fair infer
ence hat it was the change of affairs here in
stead of in Austria that caused this prompt and
energetic administration of the executive func-
tions in sending a minister to that country
| Well, sir, l sympathise with the President in
regard TO that matter. ! admire the ready zeal
with which he stood lowering round the battle
field of Berks, catching up the wounded. Ihad
read ana the civilised world had read of,and ad-
mired the heroism of that noble maiden of Old
England, Florence Nightingale, had gone to the
| Crmean war, seized upon the wounded, and
with the plastic hand of womap's affection
done what she could to relieve their miseries
and agonies But sir, we have a Florence
| Nightingale that shall divide the admiration
of the world, that has stood round the battle
field, caught up the wounded, and hurried
them away to the hospitals of Austria to be
nursed And he has not even let them lay on
the field of conflict to be met by the reproaches
of those who might exult over their fate. l
leave that, however. l concur with the Presi-
| dent on these two points.
/ But 1 ask the country and the Senate-those
/ of them who feel interested in ito aay why,
/ if the President thinks the country is at peace
aud ought to be-why if he desires peace, he
| has dragged up the whole of this Kansas histo-
" and given his version of 1t, when he knew
that the version which he gave of it was not
the one which a very large majority of these
States think and believe to be the truth The
President has undertaken, too, 20 give Judi
cial exposition of what the Supreme Court has
decided, :" that all American citizens have an
i equal right to take into the Territories whatev-
er is held as property under the laws of any
of the States, and to hold such property there
under the guardianship of the Federal Consti-
tuition so long as the territorial condition shall
remain" do not know but that the Supreme
| Court of the United States may thus decide
| when such question shall be presented, but it
is news TO me that they have decided it. l
have seen nothing of that sort. The decision
to which the President refers is obnoxious to
/ censure enough in my humble judgment, but
think no member of that Court will ever say
they have made such decision as the Presi-
dent asserts Let me say here, once for all
| for 1 had hoped we were done with the Dred
| Scott decision-that can tell the President,
and whoever sees fit to bring that decision be-
fore the Congress of the American people, and
IN cha9lanua fnr II the rasnacf which ic dt1e
solemnly adjudicated decision of that high
tribunal, that whenever they do it, instead of
commanding OF rlciting respect for the deci-
| sinn fher will nnlr Iessen The hold rUhich the