Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-03-05

wealth depend upon hesupply we give to
their demand for our staple. War closes
their markets, and dries up the sources Of
our wealth. If possible, we say, let this
cup pass. But if war. and It's long tram
of horrid attendants, result from the asser-
ton of right, and the extension OF pFotqc-
ton to American citizens, we say, let Il
come. He who quaiIs is bastard. lie
who gives back, is unworthy of his birth
right. lie who loves his properly or his
life more than the honor of bis country,
is traitor. Nations are like individuals;
the man of pride and honorable bearing
lives not nmidst constant alarms OF per-
sonal dangers. Disdaining to do wrong,
or to commit an unjust act, he never fall
ters or hesitates in the assertion of right,
in the performance of duty; and self-sus-
tanned by an uncorrupted heart and I'M
tainted life, he stands up as, a lord of cre-
alton, an honor of his species, while the
workers Of injustice and the victims Of cor
ruption fly from before him. By such
principles, firmly maintained, and uniform
" acted out, a nation will become honor
ed and respected by the governments Of
the world, and cherished by It's people. a
few days ago, on kindred subject, IT was
remarked by the gentleman from Penn
sylvania, Mr.. }. R. Ingersoll,] that annex
alton and hostilities with Mexico were sy-
nonymous terms; and, as consequence,
blood and destruction, and the horrid
scenes of war would become familiar TO
our cars. | believed then, and think
now, that this all poetry-mere fiction, in
tended to drive the timid from the support
of this great question, which, on the histo-
ric page, viii mark the era in which we
live. Mexico never placed herself on the
platform of justice and right in her inva-
sion of Texas. An unprincipled usnrper
had revolutionized her government, over
thrown her constitution, and concentrated
all power in his hands. To submit TO his
authority was base degeneracy, and to pro-
test, TO resist, TO take up arms, and appeal
TO the God Of battles sooner than submit,
was the duty of every patriot and lover of
liberty. The brave Texans did this and
in SO doing, right, and honor, and Justice,
were on their side. At the battle of San
Jacinto, when both armies stood in oppos-
ing ranks !. in martial array, on one side
was right, and on the other was wrong
and IN the contemplation of the result,
every upright and well-balanced mind
finds cause for exultation. Liberty, reli-
gious liberation, equal rights, and free in
situations triumphed over oppression, BIZ
gotry, despotism, and cruelty. From that
day Texas has been free, sovereign, and
independent, and her right and her capa-
city to maintain herself in the interesting
she has assumed, have long since
been acknowledged by the principled civil
lized nations of the earth. Now if the in
corporation of that country with ours,
drawn together by mutually of interests,
sympathies, and endearments, shall be re-
sisted by Mexico, and an appeal is made
to arms. the last resort of nations, so let il
be; Mexico will be in the wrong, and
Heaven will chastise and rebuke her i'm
pudence and her wiekedness. In the pas
sage of this bill, Great Britain NAV take
exceptions to our legislation. She may
make it an occasion of quarrel. Her ne
yer ceasing jealousy and envy at our rapid
strides to wealth, greatness, and power,
may prompt her to pick a difficulty with
us-to run after pretext for collision.
If this be true, we should by no means
stand out of the way. The sooner she is
satisfied the better for US. have always
admired that sentiment of the venerable
Jackson, in his first inaugural address
when his political adyersaries had filed
the air with predictions that, if elected
President, he would be certain TO involve
the country in war-that his foreign policy
would be based on the single principle "to
ask nothing but what was right, and sub
init TO nothing that was wrong" | am
slow to believe that any nation, at this
age, will voluntarily place herself in the
wrong, and IN that attitude throw down the
glove of defiance. But if, in this case
by our assertion of rights unquestionably
appertaining 70 US, by our extension tc
American citizens that protection which is
their birthright, without any infraction O.
the privileges of others, hostilities ensue
and the huge engines of death and destruc
ton are brought out to do their awful work
for one, | am prepared; my constituents
stand ready with a firmness of nerve anc
a gallantry and cheerfulness of spiri
which cannot be surpassed, to meet tn,
shock and drive from the field the worker
of iniquity. If such be tho issue, let
come; meagre though our preparation,
may be, small our navy, and our soldier
few, yet we must and will triumph, for tn,
God of truth will be us.
= What stronger breast-plate than heart un
tainted
Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel Just,
And he but naked though locked up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.
But, gentlemen say, let US insert in thi