CORWIN'S SPEECH.

ry them to the loftiest peaks of the Cordil-hazards of internal commotion at home. reras, they may wave with insolent triumph in which last I fear may come if another prov the Halls of the Montezumas, the armed men ince is to be added to our territory. There is of Mexico may quail before them, but the one topic connected with this subject which weakest hand in Mexico uplifted in prayer I tremble when I approach, and yet I cannot to the God of Justice, may call down against forbear to notice it. It meets you in every you a Power, in the presence of which the step you take. It threatens you which way veron hearts of your warriors shall be turned soever you go in the prosecution of this war into ashes. I allude to the question of slavery. Opposi

Mr. President, if the history of our race has tion to its farther extension, it must be obvi established any truth, it is but a confirmation ous to every one, is a deeply rooted deterbof what is written, the way of the trans-mination with men of all parties in what we gressor is hard." Inordinate ambition, wan-call the non-slaveholding States. New-York, oning in power, and spurning the humble Pennsylvania and Ohio, three of the most maxims of justice has ever has-and ever powerful, have already sent their legislative shall end in ruin. Strength cannot always instructions here-so it will be, I doubt not, trample upon weakness-the humble shall be in all the rest. It is vain now to speculate about hexalted-the bowed down will at length be the reasons for this. Gentlemen of the South lifted up. It is by faith in the law of strict may call it prejudice, passion, hypocrisy, faAjastice, and the practice of its precepts, that naticism. I shall not dispute with them now nations alone can be saved. All the annals of on that point. The great fact that it is so, and the human race, sacred and profane, are not otherwise, is what it concerns us to know. written over with this great truth, in charac- You nor I cannot alter or change this opinion ters of living light. It is my fear, my fixed if we would. These people only say, we will belief, that in this invasion, this war with not. cannot consent that you shall carry slave Mexico, we have forgotten this vital truth-ry where it does not already exist. They do Why is it that we have been drawn into this not seek to disturb you in that institution, as whirlpool of war? How clear and strong it exists in your States. Enjoy it if you will, was the light that shone upon the path of du- and as you will. This is their language, this ty a year ago! The last disturbing question their determination. How is it in the South? with England was settled-our power ex- Can it be expected that they should expend ended its peaceful sway from the Atlantic to in common, their blood and treasure in the the Pacific; from the Alleghanies we looked acquisition of immense territory, and then but upon Europe, and from the tops of the willingly forego the right to carry thither their Stony Mountains we could descry the shores slaves, and inhabit the conquered territory if of Asia; a rich commerce with all the nations they please to do so? Sir, I know the feelof Europe poured wealth and abundance into ings and opinions of the South too well to cal our lap on the Atlantic side, while an unocculate on this. Nay, I believe they would capied commerce of three hundred millions even contend to any extremity for the mere of Asiatics waited on the Pacific for our en-right, had they no wish to exert it. I believe terprise to come and possess it. One hun-(and I confess I tremble when the conviction dred millions of dollars will be wasted in this presses upon me) that there is equal obstinafruitless war. Had this money of the people cy on both sides of this fearful question. If been expended in making a railroad from then we persist in war, which if it terminate your Northern Lakes to the Pacific, as one of in anything short of a mere wanton waste of your citizens has begged of you in vain, you blood as well as money, must end (as this bill would have made a highway for the world proposes) in the acquisition of territory, to between Asia and Europe. Your capitol which at once this controversy must attach-then would be within thirty or forty days this bill would seem to be nothing less than a travel of any and every point on the map of bill to produce internal commotion. Should the civilized world. Through this great ar- we prosecute this war another moment, or tery of trade, you would have carried through expend one dollar in the purchase or conthe great heart of your own country, the teas quest of a single acre of Mexican land, the of China, and the spices of India, to the mar- North and the South are brought into colliskets of England and France. Why, why, ion on a point where neither will yield.Mr. President, did we abandon the enter Who can foresee or foretell the result! Who prises of Peace, and betake ourselves to the so bold or reckless as to look such a conflict barbarons achievements of War? Why did in the face unmoved! I do not envy the heart we "forsake this fair and fertile field to batten of him who can realize the possibility of such on that moor." a conflict without emotions too painful to be

Bat, Mr. President, if farther acquisition of endured. Why then shall we, the representa territory is to be the result either of conquest tives of the Sovereign States of this Unionor treaty, then I scarcely know which should the chosen guardians of this confederated Rebe preferred, eternal war with Mexico, or the public, why should we precipitate this fear

ANECDOTE OF CORWIN.

ful struggle by continuing a war, the results of true patriotism. Let us abandon all idea of which must be to force us at once upon it? of acquiring farther territory, and by conse Sir, rightly considered, this is treason, trea-quence cease at once to prosecute this war.son to the Union, treason to the dearest inter Let us call home our armies, and bring them ests, the loftiest aspirations, the most cher at once within our own acknowledged lim ished hopes of our constituents. It is a crime its. Show Mexico that you are sincere when to risk the possibility of such a contest. It is you say you desire nothing by conquest. She a crime of such infernal hue that every other has learned that she cannot encounter you in in the catalogue of iniquity, when compared war, and if she had not, she is too weak to with it, whitens into virtue. Oh, Mr. Presi- disturb you here. Tender her peace, and my dent, it does seem to me, if Hell itself could life on it, she will then accept it. But yawn and vomit up the fiends that inhabit its whether she shall or not, you will have peace|| penal abodes, commissioned to disturb the without her consent. It is your invasion that harmony of this world, and dash the fairest has made war, your retreat will restore peace. prospect of happiness that ever allured the Let us then close forever the approaches of hopes of men, the first step in the consumma-internal feud, and so return to the ancient tion of this diabolical purpose would be, to concord and the old ways of national proslight up the fires of internal war, and plunge perity and permanent glory. Let us here, in the sister States of this Union into the bot this temple consecrated to the Union, pertomless gulf of civil strife. We stand this form a solemn lustration; let us wash Mexi day on the crumbling brink of that gulf-we can blood from our hands, and on these altars. see its bloody eddies wheeling and boiling in the presence of that image of the Father of before us-shall we not pause before it be too his Country that looks down upon us, swear late? How plain again is here the path, Ito preserve honorable peace with all the may add the only way, of duty, of prudence, world, and eternal brotherhood with each other.

TOM CORWIN-PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATION.

Judge H, an old and respectable citi- the dark ages from the statute-book of the zen of Franklin County, related to us, some great republican State of Ohio. He took his years since, the following anecdote of Gov. seat-the House completely electrified with Corwin, which we do not recollect ever to the eloquent powers of the young orator. The have seen in print: old Yankee arose, and replied as follows:

But

At the time the "Wagon Boy" was first "Mr. Speaker, all the gentleman from Warren sent to the Legislature by the good people of has said is well enough in its way. I am glad to Warren, he found a law on the statute-book see young men of our State growing up inspired providing for the punishment of certain of with those feelings of philanthropy which the gen fences by public whipping. It was no un-tleman has so eloquently given utterance to. usual thing at that day to see a whipping-post in a practical light. Now I can give one illustration that is not the thing. We must look at the matter in every court-house yard, where, whenever in favor of my side of the question that will en occasion required, the stealers of pigs and tirely upset all the gentleman's fine-spun theories. chickens were drawn up by the sheriff, and You know, Mr. Speaker, I was born and raised in received "thirty-nine lashes on the bare back, the State of Connecticut. A law similar to this well laid on." Tom was made Chairman of has been for years in force in that State, where its the Judiciary Committee in the House; and effects are most salutary. You once expose a being, as is well known, a man who is dead rascal to the ignominious disgrace of a public set against all such relics of barbarism as pub and you are never troubled with him afterward. whipping, and he clears out-leaves the Statelic whipping, forthwith brought in a bill to Out of hundreds I have known to be whipped repeal the aforesaid enactment. The bill met there, I never knew one of them to show his face, with considerable opposition from the "Old in that community afterward."

Hunkers," among whom was one old gentle. The gentleman sat down, satisfied that his man from the Western Reserve, who was.. practical illustration" was a clincher, and particularly horrified at the idea of repealing would kill the bill. Corwin arose very grave what he termed the wisest and most practically, and remarked: enactment in oar whole criminal code. Cor

"I have often endeavored, Mr. Speaker, to solve win made an eloquent speech when the ques- the question why there was such an immense em tion of engrossment was before the House, apigration from Connecticut to the West, but always pealing to the members, as Christian legisla-until now, without success. The gentleman has tors and enlightened freemen of the Nineteenth explained it to my entire satisfaction." Century, to come up and erase this relic of Corwin's bill passed. [Ohio paper

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES:

By the Whigs of Massachusetts, in Convention at Springfield, Sept. 29, 1847.

Resolved, That the Annexation of Texas gave territory, however acquired, shall become a part the first strong impulse to the desire for the ac- of the American Union, unless on the unalterable quisition of foreign lands, and created a national condition that "there shall be neither Slavery nor appetite, which, if not seasonably corrected, may involuntary servitude therein, otherwise than in lead to the destruction of our most cherished the punishment of crime."

rights, and the overthrow of our civil institutions, Resolved, That in making this declaration of her in the ingulfing vortex of military depotism. purpose, Massachusetts announces no new princi Resolved, That the war with Mexico, the pre-ple of action in regard to her sister States, and dicted result. if not the legitimate offspring, of the makes no new application of principles already Annexation of Texas-begun in a palpable vio acknowledged. She merely states the great Ameriation of the Constitution, and the usurpation of can principle embodied in our Decluration of Inthe powers of Congress by the President, and car dependence-the political equality of persons in ried on in reckless indifference and disregard of the civil States; the principle adopted in the the blood and treasure of the Nation,-can have no legislation of the States under the Coufederation object which can be effected, but the acquisition and sanctioned by the Constitution-in the adof Mexican territory; and the acquisition of Mex-mission of all the new States formed from the ican territory, under the circumstances of the only territory belonging to the Union at the adop country-unless under adequate securities for the tion of the Constitution; it is, in short, the imperprotection of human liberty-can have no other ishable principle set forth in the ever-memora probable result than the ultimate advancement of ble Ordinance of 1787, which has, for more than the sectional supremacy of the Slave Power. half a century been the fundamental law of hu Resolved, That the Whigs of Massachusetts are man liberty in the great Valley of the Lakes, the not prepared for this result: they see, therefore, Ohio and Mississippi-with what brilliert seccess, no rational or justifiable object in the protracted and with what unparalleled results, let the great prosecution of the war, and rejoice in every man- and growing States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michifestation of the return of peace; for although igan and Wisconsin answer and declare. sanctioned by a portion of the Whigs in its carli- Resolved, That the Whigs of Massachusetts, reest movements, as a measure for the preservation gard the great interests of Agriculture, Commerce of the army-then in peril by the unauthorized and Manufactures as so inseparably connected acts of the President-yet the war itself, while that National measures injurious to either are inprosecuted to secure the sectional supremacy of jurious to all; that the increased and rapidly. the Slave Power, or the conquest and dismem-increasing Agricultural products of the great West berment of the Mexican Republic, has never had require great and increasing facilities of commerand never can have, the sanction and approbation cial transport; that the regulation of Commerce, of the Whigs of Massachusetts. both internal and external, is placed by the Con

Resolved, Therefore, that the great and perma-stitution among the clearly-expressed and unnent interests of the American Union as it is, and doubted powers of Congress; and that the imthe highest and brightest hopes of the liberties provement of the great Lakes and Rivers of the and the rights of our race on the American Con- West, by the construction of harbors on the Lakes tinent, require of the great North American Re-and the removal of obstructions from the Rivers. public to stay her hands, already too deeply stained is among the most obviously just and necessary in the blood shed in this unnatural war between uses of this important power; and would greatly the two great Republics of this Continent, and tend, by the increase of internal trade and cominscribe on her standard, now waving victoriously merce, to the rapid advancement of these great over the Halls of the Montezumas, and deeply on interests of the country.

the hearts of her Rulers as her well-considered Resolved, Therefore, that the Veto by the Prest and unchangeable purpose-"Peace with Mexico dent of the River and Harbor bill of the last Conwithout dismemberment-No addition of Mexican gress was an act of wanton injury to the great Territory to the American Union." interests not only of the West, but of all interests Resolved, That, in the judgment of this Conven-connected with them, and of unmitigated wrong tion, this course of policy and action would form and insult to the Congress that passed it, and ought a basis on which the whole patriotism, and intel-never to be forgotten until the Veto is annihilated ligence, and moral worth of the country might by a two-thirds vote, or by the election of a Presi honestly rally and securely stand; while it would dent who will exercise the Constitutional power. place our country eminently in the right, and as it was made to be executed, and as it has been show to the world that we are, as a nation, as in-executed by every President from George Washvincible in moral principle as in military power, ington down to-but not including--James K. Polk. and that we can conquer a peace with Mexico by Resolved, That the great Whig doctrines of Profirst conquering in ourselves the raging thirst of tection to American Industry, Capital and Labor-s military glory and the mad ambition of foreign sound and uniform Currency for the People as well conquest. as the Government-a well-regulated system of In

Resolved, That if this course of policy shall be ternal Improvement, especially in reference to the rejected, and the war shall be prosecuted to the internal commerce of the great lakes and rivers final subjugation or dismemberment of Mexico, of the West-uncompromising hostility to the Subthe Whigs of Massachusetts now declare, and put Treasury, to Executive usurpations of the powers this declaration of their purpose on record, that of Congress, and to all wars for conquest, and to Massachusetts will never consent that Mexican all acquisitions of territory in any manner what

FOREIGN COINS, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

over for the diffusion and perpetuity of Slavery of persons and the security of their rights are and for the extension and permanency of the practically greater; where the acquisition of Slave Power, are now-as they have been-car-wealth, of knowledge and of power is more open inal principles in the policy of the Whigs of to all where education in all its branches is Massachusetts, and form, in their judgment, the more fully imparted to all classes, or the institubroad and deep foundations on which rest, and tions of benevolence more fully sustained; where ever must rest, the prospective bopes, and the true the necessaries, the comforts and the conve and enduring interests of the whole country. niences of life are more universally and more Resolved, That whenever the Democracy of Mas- equally diffused: and where the functions of gov sachusetts shall be able to set before us a model erment-leading to these results-have been fulof their radical doctrines in actual practice, in any filled and sustained at less expense than in Massaof our sister States, where justice is more fully chusetts: then-and not till then-will the Whigs and more ably administered; where legislation is of Massachusetts give heed to their complaints, more pure and more fairly applied to all interests regard their denunciations, believe in their pro and classes; where the execution of the laws fessions, and trust in the recently-selected head ia more impartial and just; where the equality and embodiment of their principles.

TABLE,

Showing the Value of Foreign Coins, Weights and Measures.

BATES AT WHICH FOREIGN MONEY OR CURRENCY 100 catties 1 picul

pounds 133 14

ARE FIXED BY LAW.

England.

Franc, of France or Begium.

.90 18 6-10 Old ale gallon.

-gallon 1-22

Florin, of Netherlands.

40

Imperial gallon..

Flonn, of Southern. States of Germany.

40

Old wine gallon

gallon

1-00

Guilder, of Netherlands

Livre, (Tournois) of France

40

Lira, of the Lombard Venetian Kingdom

16

Quarter of grain, or 8 imperial bush...busb.
18 1-2 Imperial corn bushel, or 8 imp'l gall..bush.
Old Winchester bushel.........
Imperial yard...

18 6-10 Troy pound..

8-25

1-03

..bush. 100

..inches 36-00

.... pounds avoirdupois 144-175||

Milrea, of Portugal.

1 12

France.

Milres, of Azores .

TABLE OF FOREIGN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, RE-Vedro, of wine.

DUCED TO THE STANDARD OF THE U. STATES:

George Washington elected President, and 1812.James Madison....128 Elbridge Gerry..131 John Adams Vice President.

1792..George Washington 132, John Adams 77, George Clinton 50, Thomas Jefferson 4, Aaron Burr 1.

Whole number of Electors 132.

1796..John Adams 71, Thomas Jefferson 68, Thomas Pinckney 59, Aaron Burr 30, Samuel Adains 15, Oliver Ellsworth 11, John Jay 5, George Clinton 7, James Iredell 3, George Washington 2, J. Henry 2, R. John-1824. Andrew Jackson...99 John C. Calhoun.182 son 2, Charles C. Pinckney 1.

1804.Thomas Jefferson..162 George Clinton..162 1844 James K. Polk .... 170 Geo. M. Dailes...170 Cha. Pinckney. 14 Rufus King...... 141 Henry Clay.......103 T. Frelinghuysen 105 [By a recent act of Congress, the choice of Electors of President and Vice President! must be made in all the States on the 'Tuesday succeeding the first, Monday in November.']