The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-02

tween the StateSnanShlp or today AMI
that of the half century before the civil
war In the time of Calhoun and Web
ster, hyperbole, invective, exaggeration,
vituperation. sarcasm, were as COM
mon as mud In the streets OF Washing
ton, and It was considered proper to use
all of these in the discussion of any
public measure. Oratory, not econo-
mics. was the test of the successful
statesman, and one cannot read the an
mails of any of the earlier transactions
by which territory was added to the Re
public without coming upon imprisoned
speechmaking. Sometimes, in the light
OF subsequent events, 1t sounds almost
ridiculous. We find this extract from
a speech by Senator Colquitt of Georgia.
in connection with the annexation of
Texas:
Nor will | shrink back at the fright
full specter of fanaticism, nor yield a
right to escape it's foulest Vaccinations.
No, sir! The God that guided and
shielded the country in its fearful Strug-
gle for independence is still our God!
l know the South and the feel
ings of her generous people. They Will
lay no burdens upon other sections of
the Union. They will require no sacri-
fees; make no exactions They love the
Union. and will labor TO preserve it, so
long as it can be preserved consistently
with honor. But with all their devotion
to the Union, there is not a man, woman
or child among them but would sooner
= s,-l.+
earthquake from the continent. and
floating like an iceberg upon the ocean,
than see her sons submit to outrage and
degradation"
It may surprise readers OF this warm
language to learn that it's occasion was
the proposition to prohibit slavery in
the territory acquired from Mexico. 1t
had the object of the Senator's wrath
proposed to reduce all Southern settlers
to the condition of chatteI slaves.
1t was Senator McDufie OF South Car
olina who. in the debate on the Oregon
question. thus expressed himself:
ITO any man who is to go to that
country, under the temptation of this
bill. II he was nay child, if he was an
honest, industrious man, / would say to
him. For Gods sake. do not go there.
You win not better your condition; you
viii exchange the comforts of home and
the happiness of civilized life for the
pains and perils of a precarious exist
ence.' But If I had a son whose conduct
was such as made him fit subject for
Botany BayyI would say In the name
Of God. gol 1 thank God in his
mercy for placing the Rocky Mountains
there, / believe IL II had not been for
those mountains we would have been
already in the Pacific. You cannot civ
ilize men if they have an Indefinite ex-
tent of territory over which TO spread
their numbers; for so long as they
spread their numbers. instead of be-
coming civilized. they become semi
savage. All agree that civilization can
be best effected where the country is
hedged in by narrow boundaries.
And it was Daniel Webster. the wise
and foolish. the short-sighted and deep
thinking man. whose political career is
a paradox. who expressed these senti-
ments. Tow frequently quoted:
What do we want with the vast.
worthless area. this region of ssvages
and wild beasts. of deserts, of shifting
sand and wbirlwinds of dust, of cactus
and prairie dogs? To what use could
we ever nope to put these great deserts,
or these endless mountain ranges, i'm
pepetrahle. and covered to their base
81 ~-YT-
hope to DO with the Western coast. a