Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-12-09
War and FreedOm--Whithe are
we Tending.


The tldings of successive conquests and AN
nexations haD been waited on the Western
breeze over the whole breadth of our land, and
received, if with far less exultation on the one
hand than was anticipated by the contriyers of
the War, certainly on the other by far less alarm
and apprehension than the facts demanded and
the lessons of all History warrant. We have
seen mere soldier, with the training and max
inns of the Camp, take Civil as well as Military
possession of region large enough for an en-
pire, annex it by his simple fat to the Union,
as a permanent disposition while the fortunes of
War are yet untold, and coolly proceed TO ap-
point its Executive and Judicial functionaries
throughout, and, to save all trouble of electlng
Representatives and assembling Legislatures,
tells some military subaltern hitherto coolly in
forms the annexed people that he will, at his
earliest convenience, look over their former code
of laws and make such alterations as he deems
desirable! late Tobasco Inspector of this
City, and certainly not very credible specimen
of the class of cormorants commissioned fly Po-
litics to prey upon Commerce, raises regiment
and is commissioned to lead it around Cape
Horn to CONQUER California, of which he Is tie
be Governor--that is, virtual Dictator and Vice
roy. But while on his passage cabals rise "a
gainst him which invade the White House; he
is supplanted in the post on which he had so
fondiy counted and Yosng Lieutenant OF ORA
poons. who happens to have won the heart and
hand of a powerful Senator's daughter, and who
for a wear before the War broke out had been
ENGAGED at the head of detachment OF U. >.
troops. in surveying and overrunning vast,
remote portion of the Mexican territory,ln scan
dalous defiance of the Law of Nations and the
faith of treaties, is, by rescript from the Pres
idential Palace, made The despotic arbitor llfe
and death over all California, with its popula-
ton of Americans, Mexicans, Europeans and
Indians. How long this despotism shall con-
tinue must of course be determined by future
and unforeseen events: but while 1T continues,
Fremont will be as absolute in California as
Nicholas |. in Russia.
All this, it will be said. is inevitable, and
therefore not to be censured. War and its me-
cessities must make their own laws. Yes, Sir,
once grant the Invasion and Conquest ola coun-
try whose People hate and loathe though they
NAV not be able to resist You, and any amount
of despotism and crime will be inevitable. 1T
is the first step that costs. Bot how any man
who pretends to be a Republican can look ON
these proceedings without apprehension and alb
horrence, is the probemr Who does not see
that they are undermining all the settled and sal
utary standards of popular demonstrating
Might above Rioht-and teaching our Youth to
look to superior Force rather than to Law as
the guide of their aspiring stepsl Has the world
ever known a Republic which extended its boun-
daries by the subiugatian of diverse and hostile
races without undermining thereby its own lib
critics? And shall not this People consider and
avoid the perils-now confronting them ere it
prove too late?-T'ribune.