Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-11-21
a Serious Question.

After the conquest Of Mexico, what
shall be done with her? Forced into
III, Union? Or will she voluntali ly
become a mcr1b5r Of our Conlederacy:
The one would be contrary TO the free
principles Of our Government, and,
moreover, impracticable: the other
would be unnatural. A people who
resist our arms as desperately as the
Mexicans, could not feel themselves
free, compelled by military force TO
unite in a common Government
What should South Carolina and 9th
err States, vhich contend even for the
right to withdraw whenever they feel
themselves aggrieycG by the legisla-
ton Of Congress, say to this bloody
system of making republicans In
short, the most moderate of the State
rights party, it is known, advocate the
right to separate from the Union, when
they no longer feel themselves free
members Of the Union. But if it were
possible TO be right, it would be i'm
practicable to hold as large body OF
people, spread over such a vastcountry
with foreign feelings, and Of different
manners, language and customs, IN sub
lection to the institutions of our coun-
try. There would be comparatively
a small population from the United
States TO servo as a ballast TO keep
steady this crazy ship Of State. The
natives would have to be disarmed, and
larger standing army placed over
them than even that in Ireland. II
would present fine spectacle of a
free peopiet The dcspotism of Tur-
key would not be equal 10 it. What
~o"lA MT tho more liberal mnparchies
say 10 This strange specimen OF repub-
licanism--of making and keeping a
large body Of people free BY military
force!
But look at the expense Of the pro-
cess. 1t would require large militia
ry force to keep them in subsection
certainly a heavy system Of taxation at
home. Who would submit to it?-
Who would not murmur? Let the
American people reflect well upen the
fact that no small army could intimi-
date wild, restless, and halfsavage
people. Revolts and rebellions would
be frequent as they were in the Ro-
man colonies - attended, however,
with more expense to the whole Con
fcderacy, MS contributions could not be
levied on the revolving colonies alone,
as was done by that ancient people
This state of things might last for
many years, pcrhups for half centu
~. 1t would require a long time to
rear population native and congenial
TO our institutions; in whom there
would be no memory OF a murdered
and much-iniurcd gallant ancestry
The tale of these wrongs, even if i'm
aginary, would naturally produce dis
affection. 1t would be II source of con-
slant hcartbarnings and strife between
cmigrants from this country and the
descendants OF the present people,
which must end in an determination of
one or the other. Those of our coun-
trymen who have distinguished them
selves in war, as well as their descend
cnts, would become the rulers and of
fcers in every department Of the Gov
ernment. This would moi only be
claimed and exercised by the conquer.
ors, but also be necessary TO keep the
people in subsection, as no confidence
could be placed in the conquered
What, then, is TO become of the pres
ent lofiy-spirited dignitaries and ro-
mantle military men in their armies
Are they to be diyesied of all office
and honor and expected 10 become
contcn,ed and submissive private citi,
gems simple Republicans? The strug.
giles for suprsehs power for centuries
past teach very different lesson
Will the priesthood OF tho country
give up their present institutions of the
church and teach submission 10 the
conquered What does history say
on this subject Look at Spain and
other Catholic countries! What deS.
perate struggle has been made against
the introduction Of new crecds by the
sword! Although armies have inva-
ded them and dcthroned for a time
their rulers, there is not an instance
since The DAYS of the Rcformcrs in
which the Proteslants have made a
permanent change of Catholic iustitu,
tions to their own. Let this be borne
in mind by our rulers. In France
their temples were dc6led--turned in
TO arsena!s and stables for horses; their
affairs thrown down and their images
broken 10 pieces aud burnt, but =" the
Lord seeth!" What is France at this