47
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON. 1848
manifestation of generous feeling was evinced. The subjects of suffering were more remote from us in their locality, than those now appealing for American aid. I recollect when the tidings of Ireland's sufferings reached our ears. Senators then came fo:c- ward and eloquently advocated the cause of suffering humanity there. The heart of every Senator in this body seemed to sym- pathize with poor Ireland. Disease and famine were sweeping off the inhabitants of that great isle by tens of thousands. No one could hear of her calamities without the most acute sympathy. Now, I appeal to honorable Senators, and ask them to draw a distinction between those who fall by famine, or who fall and perish by the ruthless butchery of the savage. They alike appeal to our humanity. They both demand our interposition that they may be saved. vVe have generously rendered assistance to un- fortunate Ireland; it is now left for us to save Yucatan. If the war raging now with the Yucatecos were conducted upon civilized principles, I would say, unless an alliance were formed accord- ing to political motives, stand aloof. Then would be a time for deliberation and hesitancy. But gentlemen insist that we have no precedent; that it is novel in its character. I trust no parallel will be found to it in the annals of after time. I have not attempted to urge this measure upon the ground of feeling alone. I would, if gentlemen desire it, let policy go hand in hand in its accomplishment. I would not, as gentlemen have said, make it a Quixotic expedition. In it I would unite reason with humanity, policy with mercy-policy, so far as this Government is concerned, and humanity as far as the necessities of that people are involved. This responsibility I would not shrink from. My support of this measure does not arise from a love of war. I am no advocate of national involvement. I would support no war that was not necessary to the national honor or national interest. I am opposed to entangling alliances. I would adopt no measure for the sake of experiments alone; for I believe nations are most happy which enjoy the most peace, and that country most prosperous whose productions are greatest-its commerce most extensive-and where all the arts incident to peace are most flourishing. But we have the history of no nation that has ever existed, without being visited by the calamities of war. The age of man, perhaps, has never passed, in the history of nations, but what they have experienced war, or it has been prevented by negotiations. Peace is not the natural element of man; nor have we any right, so long as human passions remain implanted in us, to suppose that all
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