Download or read book Speech of Hon. J. A. Pearce, of Maryland written by J. A. Pearce and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-10 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Speech of Hon. J. A. Pearce, of Maryland: On the Presentation of a Medal to Commodore Paulding, Delivered in the Senate of the United States, January 28, 1858 The Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, resumed the consideration of the joint resolution (S. No. 7) directing the presentation of a medal to Commodore Hiram Paulding; the pending question being on the amendment of Mr. Brown. Mr. Pearce. Mr. President, among the strange things to which I listened during the debate on this question, nothing surprised me more than the pertinacity with which it was denied that this was a military expedition by General William Walker. That denial has been repeated so often, and in the face of such testimony, that I cannot but call to mind a little work published by Archbishop Whately, entitled "Historic doubts relative to Napoleon Bonaparte;" a work in which that learned and ingenious prelate has adduced a variety of arguments founded on the rules of evidence, to show the improbability of the historic statements we have concerning the remarkable incidents in the history of that extraordinary man, and even of his existence. It is a facetious rebuke of those skeptical minds who are so hardened in incredulity that they reject all historic statements, however founded on evidence, which has met the almost universal credit of mankind. As a specimen of it, let me read a short passage: "But what shall we say to the testimony of those who went to Plymouth on purpose, and saw Bonaparte with their own eyes? Must they not trust their senses? I would not disparage either the eye-sight or the veracity of these gentlemen. I am ready to allow that they went to Plymouth for the purpose of seeing Bonaparte; nay, more, that they actually rowed out into the harbor in a boat, and came alongside of a man-of-war, on whose deck they saw a man in a cocked hat, who, they were told, was Bonaparte. This is the utmost point to which their testimony goes; how they ascertained that this man in the cocked hat had gone through all the marvelous and romantic adventures with which we have so long been amused, we are not told. Did they perceive in his physiognomy his true name, and authentic history?" It really seems to me that the denial that this expedition of William Walker was a military expedition, to say nothing now of its being in contravention of our law, evidences just as much of this hardened incredulity as the Archbishop's work exhibits in regard to the romantic history, and even the existence, of Napoleon Bonaparte. It is very true, sir, that General Walker issued no proclamation to the wide world, and all mankind beside, announcing his purpose to set forth on this expedition to conquer Nicaragua; he did not in New Orleans or Mobile send out his heralds with trumpets to announce his purpose; but short of that, we have almost all the evidence which it is possible to require. We have in the papers furnished to us the proof that his agents were busy in various places engaging men; not, it is true, to take part in a military expedition, but to go out with him for the purpose of settlement; that being the flimsy pretext under which his hostile operations were disguised. But we are told that they were organized by having officers appointed; that such and such men were promised captain's commissions, or the next commission in rank. As for those who were to hold no commissions, they were not called privates, but "others than officers." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com