Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1845-01-23
Extending the Area OF FREQ
dom.

Exfending the Area OF FREQ
dom.
Mr. Tyler in his annual Message assumed
the Presidency to be fair Interpretation OF
the wish Of the people to have Texas made
. part Of our Union. We yicld to the c."
sency ofthe reasoning. 1t does not detract
from it's truth that Mr. Polk is minority
President. even with the South Carolina
twenty thousand posted on to his column
Of majorties-it is no matter that every
one Of the sixty.two thousand and upwards
Of Abolition votes are to be taken upon any
fair rule of construction as against annexa.
aion-it is not ofthe slightest consequence
that in Michigan and Illinois the law of
naturalization is dead .lctter and every
nan is allowed to vote who has brass
enough in his face to present himself at
the polls and claim the privilege-let all
this pass-the people demand plumber Of
new territory and the people are the source
Of power.
But why content ourselves with Texas
alone-let US extend the blessings OF our
freedom to larger sway. Mexico, Qua
temala and the South American Republics
should be united under q repuhlicanism
which speaks to the earth equal rights,
and enforces the precept with the scourge
of the despot-nor should we restrain our
lust of possession on our Northern frontier
--wreet the Canadas from the British
crown and overrun with an invading force
tho frozen regions Of the Hudson Bay Com
pany and the Russian possessions. Beat
tho evening tattoo of one wing Of our army
on the shores OF the North Seas and the
morning reveille in the passes Of the South
ern Ardce Let The national flag with its
stripes and stars counted by scores and
hundreds from rapid acquisition of new
numbers be unrolled under the fierce sun OF
the equator and WOO tho icy breath Of the
Arctic crcle--buid custom houses on the
Gulf OF California and make ports Of entry
on the coasts Of the Southern Atlantic
Have one portion of our population throw
the lasso on the pampas of Buenos Ayres-
dslve for diamonds in the mines Of Brazil
and another, harpoon the whale on the
.eo.ss Of xs>e->aos aud ship sce from the ha e
hors Of Baf;n's Bay. No strugglings Of I
rspenting conscience should whisper for
bear-no remonstrance Of an enlightene,
civilization-no thought Of present or flu
4ure reputation should restrain an appetit
for conquest which grows more insatiabl
with the food it feeds upon. Seize, appro
pirate and consolidate an empire restin,
upon pedestal, "part brass and part clay,
switch has in itself the seeds of its cw
overthrow, when spoilation and aggrar
dizement has filled the measure Of our cur
This is not nero vsrbiage. Oregon is GU
own-we meet the claim of the BIRTHS
government and hold it az ainst their pr,
tension by right Of discovery and by proper
~ Of cession, that populated and we are
larger area-a wider reach of connecte
space than has ever been ruled by q centr;
power. We have no need of Texas, "
have no just claim to foot Of the soil-b'
urge its seizure apply with the same streng'
of appeal to add the whole Southern co
tinent to our domain. The purchase
Louisiana is a precedent to sanction this Q
tension of boundary and this consummate
we are ready to gorge again when this cap
.cious mouthful is digested. The populato
-colonizcd here will tura longing eyes upo
lands bordering on their posssssions-tf
restless and migrating spirit Of the Nor
will look for new fields to populate, and tt
sense Of common interest weakened, Il
bands Of Capitalization attenuated, W
burst, anarchy follows, and from the rui
new governments arise. This is the aspe
OF the future, nor is it revel offancy-w
shall say all this may not literally come
pass. Heaven avert the omen.