Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-10

/ to-day, by order Of the House, to consider quss-
/ ton Of the greatest Importance to the Union; and
/ than Che one before me on this present occasion.
+ Yet I assisted in my task by the character Of
the subject I an here to advocate. tspeaka to
the hearts and patriotism Of the people in manner
that can gain nothing by elOquenee or logic. Never
theless sir, far as have been able to see, the
question does not seem TO be understood correctly
TIE objections which have been raised to II, both
in this House and out Of it. when examined, viii be
/ found to have nothing in them.
/ All great causes, ia my opinion, are best adEo-
/ cated by simple and clear statements aud it viii
/ be my endeaTor to state briefly the ground upon
which Z support this bill L Is true that history
1 might be appealed to, and the experience Of the
past called to adorn It. Yet it is my intention
on the present occasion to 20 into those things
/ Ny wish is 10 consider this as an American ques-
gon, as question of the present hour, and as a
question applicable alone 20 this nation. As q
question Of policy it has not had parallel ia the
past and Il appeals to our common intelligence
quite as forcibly as to the proofs Of history.
state3t Mr.. Chairman, Is = self evident propo-
sition in the present condition Of the world, that
every nation must rely for its safety upon some
/ system Of military defence The idea Of 8 nation
maintaining its Independence without a military
policy lie absurdity too gross to be Fefuted. The
question present to-day 20 the American people is
/ this: What kind Of military system shall we
adopt Who shall be the guardians Of American
/ libertyf Who shall be cur defenders against the
foreign foe and domestic usurper? Shall we adopt
the policy Of other nations and tread the pathway
Of those whose history has already been written in
ruin and blood Ought We not, on the contrary,
endeaYOr to establish system different from that Of
those halions and Whish, in all future time, sill
1 accord with our American institutions? 1 take it
/ as proposition Of common sense that if we DUR
sue the course Of European nations will quickly
tread the pathway Of their destiny and follow in
the common ruin 10 which they have gone.
4 Most persons do not look beyond the old soldier
and his misfortunes, his necessities and bis rights
| That Is potent argument and always look upon
| him with the deepest sympathy. Yet there are
other considerations and important in their char
setter, which are connected with the future Of our
country and which are more potent TO urge me to
action. Bet 1 am happy while find cur citizens
ready to sympathise with the suferings Of the old
/ soldiers and sn happy to know that that is
common feeling among all classes, to honor these
monuments Of our second war Of Independence.
Yet sir, it is my object now to examine this subject
! in its bearings upon our future safety. True the
old soldier With his rights and neoessities Is one
branch Of the argument in support Of this bill but
the other branch is more important, looking, IS it
does 10 the establishment Of q military system for
/ this government in all time hereafter. Il is
/ 6 system different from all those which have pre-.
ceded it. and which, in the future viii furnish de-
tenders to the country Il is great American sys-
tenn TO provide fer repelling the foreign foe and
QAellng domestic lubufEeCIou. MS the QUESTION
presented, which cannot be eVaded OF gainsayed.
VIII lyOu adopt it proposed by this BILL or win
you adopt system founded upon those Of Euro
I pean naiionsi VIII you resort to those systems
which have crushed the people Of Europe with snor
nous military establishments Will You do that,
OF viii you adopt system which win furnish sol
ders ready at the tap Of the drum 10 rush 10 the
standard Of the Union and bear it on to victory
and glory? One Of these alternatives must be
taken. ra 81 Be- ..
sayto those who vote against this BILL that when
they vote against pension list they vote for
standing army upon the continent Of America as
certainly if il we're written in the statute book
'sBe it enacted that an army Of one hundred thou
sand men shall be irreTOeably fixed upon the Amer
lean republic" Gentlemenmay not wish thatthing,
but as certain as the night follows The day. it will
happen, if we refuse to adupt some plan Of reward
ing the citizen soldier If ii had not been for the
spirit Of our people what would have been our his
tory II you crush that spirit, if yau discourage
1t, you fFoWn upon it, if you turn cold ear to i.
II yOu neglect it, twill no longer exist; and when
your drums sound, when the war gust comes those
gallant men who, in times past have been your
glory and safety, who have come from every class
Of lfe-frOm the farm, the workshop, the counter,
and the lawyers oflee-Bill not again, as they have
done, throng TO the rush If battle and the din Of
arms in defence of this land You may wake the
nations o. the world by the sound of your drums,
aud these men wall not answer your summons.
other nations, and the cause Of the downfall Of
those which have heretofore existed will fasten it.
self upon the nation like a consuming canker and
prove fatal 10 your liberties.
Nov, sir, need appeal to the history of the past
state il another self-evident proposition proved
by all history and all common experience thata nation
OF soldiers must always be nation Of freemen and
that none but nation of warriors can be nation Of
freemen. Having military power and virtue, they
will never impose tyrant upon themselves; and an
ambitious conQueror, with his ch0seL few, cannot
erect throne of power upon the bosom of the many
So, then, advocate this measure as the great con
servator. Of peace When l wish to form q soldier,
1t is not for purposes Of and foreign conquest
but that it may be known to the usurper 10 foreign
foe and to all mankind, that American citizens are
their own soldiers and do their own fighting, and
that the hope af crushing Us BY armed usuraptiOn
may exist nowhere upon the face OF the globe.
propose to alude to a few national examples in
proof Of Wha. have said: and look to republics
Tor arguments, rather than 10 monarohies. want
TO take your minds back to the old Roman republic
In the days Of her glory power, and proves, every
man was soldier The people controlled the destiny
Of ths nation under her kings whose first acts
tyranny banished them and their posterity forever
and made the governmental form what it had really
been in fact. In this condition she achieved her /
greatest foreign oOnquests, and maintained peace
and civil liberty at home, 10 far greater extent than
IN after years. when the people Of Italy had forgot
the use Of arms 1t is written that these once mas
tiers Of the world now employed themselves in the
most profigate luxury, rivaning each other in ex
travagant entertainments, while the defence of the
nation was committed 10 some ambitious general
who trained his mercenary band to love his order
better than the State. Such a thing as Roman
liberty was not known after the establishment Of
these mercenary bands, who were as ready to march
against Rome herself against a foreign foe.
Look, again, to Athens and Lacedemon At the
lime Of their greatness every a soldier; and
he historian says that the lowest of them was
commander.
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia We're they peusionedY
Mr. SAVAGE. L will answer the gentleman that
question in proper time. 1t was when every man
was a soldier capable of doing military duty, and
having ne viii do military duty that they achieved
heir glory, and enjoyed the benefits of science,
liberty, poetry, greatness, and power, and won a
anne which is perhaps the brightest that graces
he annals Of time.
The gentleman asks were they pensioned. do not
contend that they we're, yet there were certain pub
ic inducements held out to those men which were
Necessary 10 sustain their courage and make them
atTiotio. And remember an instance in the his
DRY Of that ancient people eminently illustrative of
7hat is necessary to sustain military virtue. Man
ind, without some security some hope, or some
xpectation, are not going TO perform those great
Military deeds 1t is the love Of glory, the hope
treward, that makes men brave, and ineites to gen
rous deeds. Napoleon nearly conquered Europe,
nd It was one portion Of his system to satisfy his
oldleTs at sn times, that if they lost leg or an
rm, or were crippled on the battlefield the Empe-
Dr. had q generous hospital where be could have
stuge IN his misfOrtunes, and during his old age
1et and comfort down to the last bours Of his life
he gentleman asks, were the Athenians and Lace