Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-02-17

capltai-the capital oil the GacIh,
States Of America.
Mr. President, shall not willingly
lose my way in debates about the con
stitutional power of the Government
of the United States to construct this
road. For myself, I understand the
Constitution of the United States to
have been made ito establish Justice.
to maintain domestic tranquility. and
to secure the blessing of liberty to our
selves and to our posterity." Bcliev-
ing. as | do. that Justice can not be
maintained. tranquility preserved. oi
the blessings of liberty secured, under
the Constitution. to this whole Amer
lean 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 political
criticism which, killing the spiri,
while it saves the letter, seeks to rem
der the Constitution of the United
States, and the Union which it estab-
fishes, powerless, spiritless, liicless
thing. Since it is necessary for peace,
since it is necessary for order. for safe
ty, for liberty. and for union, can,
without Scrutinizing the provisions OF
that instrument too closely, find in ii
ample ground for my support of this
great measure. But all will agree
that, in case of Immediate danger, OF
in case of such remote danger as ex-
acts prccaution, it is allowed by the
Constitution OF the United States to
Congress to make post roads in the
Territories of the United States. and
military roads within the same Terri
tories. That concession is all that
this occasion demands.
Mr.. President, hope l may be ex-
cused for appealing to the Senate oI
the United States 10 remember that
we are now people of thirty millions,
and that we are increasing at the rate
of million year-not million oi
slaves, or drones, or a million Of sub.
jects of Ignorant and besotfed castles
but a million, practically. of free, wig
orous. enlightened. intelligent, emu
lous, ambitious men. Sir, activity j.
the law of community so strong
vigorous, and prosperous. / meai
activity beyond the mere daily occu
patton in domestic trades and profes
sions, in mining and in agriculture
and in manufactures and commerce
an activity which constitutes the exte
rior life, if | may so call it, Of State
and which forces it on some career o
Improvement or aggrandizement; tha
political activity which, carrying OH,
nation forward after another, or many
along together, constitutes what w,
recognize as the worlds progress. o.
the advance of civilization. Politica
activity is a law of nations. OF al
the enlightened States which have ex
listed in modern or in ancient times
there has been no one which has failed
to obey this law. What was the col
onization of the United States but tn
exercise Of this activity by the British
nation; what the colonization of th'
provinces lying to our north, includin:
the western bank of the Mississippi
by France? Sir, Great Britain within
the last two hundred years, has, il
obedience to this law of political &c
tivity, extended her empire in vas
circles around the globe. France. il
obedience to the same law, has dis
turbed and convulsed the nations o
the earth for two hundred years, ant
made her language the conventions
language of the world. In obedience
to the same law, Spain. le;hargic al
she was, discovered the one half Of tn
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 a record Of this political activ
ity of nations.
How can this national activity o
the American people be reprcssed. i
it be wise to repress it? 1t never ha'
been repressed. On the contrary, j
has always had free scope. Our res
cue of the dominion over so much o
the continent from Spain, France, an,
England, as We now enjoy, has beer
oaly the exercise of that activity. w
have rescued enough for present uses
and for improvement for considera
bic period in the future. What is t,
be done? This activity will not b
reprcssed. Let me say now, that j
will hcnceforth manifest itself cithc
in q pacific form, in the form Of peace
ful enterprise, or in a martial form
One form or the other it must neceS
sarily assume. II is for Us to deter
mine whether it shall be a pacific OF
military one. If any think that it cal
be represscd or conjured into peace i,
words, what they see going on IN Cen
tral America, and in Sonora, and Chi
huahua, ought to satisfy them tina
Young America is not to be held in
state of rest by fastening green withe
upon his limbs.
Now, sir, / am not to say, for Tia
/ first time here. that if there is choice
| am for securing a peaceful directiol
of the activity of the nation. Peace
full activity is safer; it is cheaper; it j
surer; it saves all the elements of IA
| tional strength and national power
and increases them. War is desola
ting; and even the best Vantage
: which it confers are obtained at til
cost of the distraction of large an
: precious energies of the human race
, Besides, history teaches us nothing.
it does not teach Us that a chronic ma
. tional passion for war is incompatible
, with the maintenance of our free re
! publican institutions. If were aske