The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-06

! footing as your postal system precisely upon the
| same Foundation as your navy and your army; and
you are to dispense with either if you are to cut
/ down the expenses of either, my sober judgment
| is, that retrenchment should lay its hand upon
| the armed forces and the naval establishment Of
the United States, while liberal and fostering
care should be extended to the commencement
and prosecution of this great enterprise.
Mr.. President, do not know how long we can
| go on houndering in the way we have done for
the last eight years, disputing with the Republic
of New Granada to-day, disputing tomorrow
with the Republic of Nicaragua, unable to repress
! ncursions of our own citizens upon Central
America, in danger perpetually of conflict with
! France and England, for want of this great
Improvement; bat | am sure of one thing that
loyal the people of the Pacific coast are, that
loyalty has its limits, and it is founded in reason,
and not in blind partiality or affection. This
community, so distant from us, so separated from
us, growing up by itself in state of isolation on
the Pacific coast, and near to-day to the great
communities of Western Europe and to Asia,
practically, it is to us, cannot be retained in
political connection with us by a mere written
bond, contract in writing; but it must be main
tanned by the exercise of the spirit of the Union
which is equality-equality between the States;
equality between the communities constituting
the States that political equality which, making
due allowances for physical barriers that cannot
be surmounted, yields and affords to agriculture,
to mining, to manufactures, and to commerce,
throughout every part of this great empire, equal
facilities and advantages. Every Senator can
answer for himself whether the Pacific coast en-
joys this equality of privileges and advantages
consistently with the obligations of the Govern
ment, so long as it is held alCof and isolated.
Let us not deceive ourselves. There is no des-
tiny that secures, and will in despite of our own
errors, vices, crimes, perpetuate this inestnIa-
bic Union On the other hand, the fates are
always assduously engaged in weaving an inev-
table web for indolent and improvident States.
Ambition, Mr. President, is not exclusively
plant of Eastern growth. 1t springs up and is as
vigorous on the Pacific as upon the Atlantic; and
our Pacific States viii, if they are not allowed to
connect themselves directly and intimately with
the Eastern States, do just exactly what the older
Atlantic States did. They will COLOMBO their
own coast of the continent and set up for them
selves. 1t is onlya question of time if there be
no change of policy. They can be no more loyal
to US and entertain no more affection for us than
our forefathers cherished towards the country
from which they emigrated to this continent.
Then, think, the Pacific railroad involves this
question: whetherthis capital, endeared to us by
so many attractions, and exciting so much pride
and promise and expectation, shall, by the i'm
prOvement of facilities for intercourse, commerce,
and communication, between US and the Pacific
coast remain the capital of whole United States
of America; whetherit shall dwarf and sink, and
become the capital of the United States of Allan
tic America only and Mexico, invested as it is
with so many ancient and heroic traditions al
ready, shall become rival capitalize capital
of the Pacific States of America.
Mr.. President l shall not willingly lose my
way in debates about the constitutional power Of
the Government of the United States to construct
this road. For myself, understand the Consti-
tuition of the United States to have been made to
establish justice to maintain domestic tranquil
lily, and to secure the blessing of liberty to our
selves and to our posteritY' Believing, as do
that justice cannot be maintained, tranquility
preserved, or the blessings of liberty secured,
under the Constitution, to this whole American
people, divided as it is into two communities,
isolated and separated from each other, | am in
no frame OF mind to indulge in that sharp pOliti-
cal criticism which, killing the spirit while it
saves the letter, seeks to render the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and the Union which
1t establishes, a powerless, spiritless lifeess
thing. Since it is necessary for peace, since it
is necessary for order for safety for liberty and
for union, can, without serutinizing the proyis-
ions of that instrument too closely, find in
it ample ground for my support of this great
measure. But all will agree that, in cases of
immediate danger, or in case of such remote
danger as exacts precautiOn, it is allowed by
the Constitution OF the United States to Con-
gress to make post roads in the Territories of
the United States, and military roads within the
same Territories. That concession is all that
this occasion demands.
Mr.. President, hope | may be excused for APP
pealing to the Senate of the United States to re-
member that we are now people of thirty mil
lions, and that we are increasing at the rate of
million year-not million of slaves, or drones,
or a million of subjects of ignorant and besotted
castles, but million, practically of free, vigorous,
enlightened, intelligent, emulous, ambitious men.
Sir, activity is the law of a community so strong
vigorous, and prosperous mean activity be
yond the mere daily occupation in domestic trades
and professions, in mining and in agriculture,
and in manufactures and commeree-an activity
which constitutes the exterior life, if | may so
call it, of State, and which forces il on some
career OF Improvement or aggrandi4ement; tnat
political activity which, carrying one nation tor
ward after another, or many along together con-
stitutes what we recognise as the worlds prog-
ress, or the advance of civilization. Political
activity is a law of nations. OF all the enlght-
ened States which have existed in modern or in
anGieat times, there has been one which has
failed to obey this law, What was the coloni-
cation of the United States but tie exercise Of
this activity by the British nation what the coll
onizaton of the provinces lying 10 our north, in
Guiding the western bank of the Mississippi by
France? Sir, Great Britain, within the last two
hundred years, has, in obedience to this law of
political activity, extended her empire in vast
circles around the globe. France in obedience
TO the same law, has disturbed and convulsed
the nations of the earth for two hundred years
and made her language the conventional language
of the world. In obedience TO the same law
Spain, lethargic she was, discovered the one
half of the globe; and Portugal, even less devel-
oped, at the beginning of the fifteenth century as
a civilized State, rescued from Oblivion the other
half. History is only record OF this political
activity of nations.
How can this national activity of the American
people be repressed, if it be wise to repress it
1t never has been fepressed, On the contrary,
it has always had free scope. Our rescue of the
dominion over so much OF the continent from
Spain, France, and England, as We now enjoy
has been only the exercise of that activity. We
have rescued enough for present uses, and for
Improvement for a considerable period in the fu-
ture. What is to be doneq This activity will
net be repressed. Let me say now, that it will
henceforth raaaiies: it.ef either in pacific form
in the form Of peaceful enterprise, or in a martial
form. One form or the other it must necessarily
assume. 1t is for US to determine whether it
shall be pacific or military one If any think
that il cen be repressed or coniured into peace
by words, what they sec going on in Central
America, and in Soppra, and chihuahua, ought
to satisfy them that Young America is not to be
held in state of rest by fastening green withes
upon his limbs.
Now, sir am not to say, for the first time
here, that if there is a choice, am for securing
peaceful direction of the activity of the nation
Peaceful activity is safer it is cheaper; it is
surer; it saves all the elements of national
strength and national power, and increases them
War is desolating; and even the best advantages
which it confers are obtained at the cost of the
Z -
human race. Besides, history teaches US nothing
if il does not teach us that q chronic natinnnl