The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-26

feared Mexico. With some of them nc least
there were nublcr motives to maintain peace:
shey regarded the wrctched influence of war
tipOn the welfare the happiness and The NOR
aty of the nation, they iGt its incompatible
AZ with the christian name which the nation
henrs; they feared God rather Than man. The
question should not therefore simply he,
whether this Mexican war is justlfiable accor-
ding 10 the Ilsnges or laws of nutions,-but
was it unavoidable? WINS there II necessity for il
go strong MS to ubsolve the nation from dis
Grace in the eyes of all magnanlnous men,
and from deep guilt in tho eye OF the Judge
and Ruler of all the earth? This high moral
ground, which most concerns the character
and well being ofthe nation, the Message
does not reRch.
But what is the end of this war TO he? what
j. the real purpose ofil? what is The Polk pol
lev We find II vast dOal Of argument in the
Message To show how aud why 1t was begun:
there is comparatively ii;lo to shadow forth
the cnk oft. That litlle, however, is very
significant, aud goes fully to confirm the con
viclion Expressed in our as', thar the real OBJ
iect is 10 EXTEND THE DOMINION OF
SLAVERY aud PERPEHUATE IT'S POW
Err OVER THE REPUBLIC! Let us call
the attention of the reader 10 the very first
P,1SIr EXTENSION or OUR TERRI
TORL1L LIMITS" is especially named us
one Of the clnses for devout and sincere ac-
acknowledgements to the Giver ofnlI good and
then after the abored argument upon the
Justice ofthe war, let your eye aud your most
serious thoughts rest upon this paragraphs
"Thc war has not been wnged with II view
10 conquest but having been commenced by
Mexico, it has been Carried to the enemy's
country, aud will he vigorously prosecuted
there, with view to obtain an honorable
pence. and thereby secure ample indemnify FOR
THE PENSES OFT'HE VAR, as ioeH
as to o,u mach injured citizens, who hold large
pecunary demands against Mexico"
Mexico has found It difficult TO pay over the
few millions honestly due us-aud hotU can
she pay ONE HUNDRED MILLION FOR
THIS WAR?-and even moEe than that, ms
her own expenses are to be paid. We re-
peat it-Ho,o? Every farmer knows how he
pays,when heavy debts remain, after his mon
Gy, his crops, and his credit nre gone he has
only to gioP ~ his farm. The land, the terri
tory ofMexico, is to be held for this enormous
debt.
Look We to the very next paragraph! and
read fye can without shuddering for your
country-for the Union-ior Liberty.
Our President has forgotten his declaration
contained in the preceding scntence-even
before it was cold,-and now conquered con-
q,tcror CONQUESTg ring through the
Nhole paragraph in clear and sonorous tones:
"By the laws ofnations Il conquered terri
tory is subject 20 he governed by the conquer
or during his military possession, and until
there is either treaty of pence, or he shall
voluntarily Withdraw from it. The old civil
government being necessarily superseded, it
is the right and duty Of the conqtLeror TO secure
his conquest, and to provide for the mainten-
nnce ofcivi order and the rights of the in
habtants. This right has been exercised
and this duty performed, by our military and
naval commanders, by the establishment of
temporary governments in some ofthe con-
0uered provinces i'm Mexico, asSinlilating
them as far as practicable to the free institu-
tons ofour own country. In the provinces
nfNew Mexico, and of the CALIFORNIA; little
ifuny further resistance is apprehended from
the inhabitants to the temporary governments
which have thus, from the necessity ofthe
case and according TO the laws Of war; been
established. maybe proper 10 propldc torhe
security These important CONQUESI'Sby
rtqttng an adequate appropriation for the pW-
pose Of erecting FORTIFTC.4TTO.N,S and de-
ffdying The expenses necessarily incident 10 The
maintenance Of our possession and authority o.
rer them"
New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA; conquer
cd--thcse CONQUESTS to be secured and
our possession and authority to be maintained
by erecting observation-disclosures as firm as
rocks and masonry can make them! Here
Is annexation with a veHgeance-states by
scores born in day Shall theyb Staue ,Stdies?
Shut The North be forever put under bondage?
Arc we to be sacrificed withouta struggle?
Rouse ye, freemen of the North Slumber
not till you have alarmed your neighbors and
your friends to the appalling dangers which
hesct US. Cease not your labors until by word,
and deed, and vote, you have fully discharg-
ed your duty to yourselves, to your country,
and to the cause of Liberty. Freemen of the
fourth! it is for you first to act: let your action
he an example and encouragement to every
true hearted treemen of the North-aye, and
.ofthe land five do not our whole duty
now, we deserve TO he slaves.
We appeal to the freemen ofVerInont with
out distinction of party: Whatever may be
your opinion as the justice or eXpediency of
this war, and however much credit may be
deservedly due to to the officers and army
engaged in it's itnot duty imperative
upon you; 10 see to it, so far as you may, that
the war shall not be so closed as to cover the
country with disgrace apd ruin.
TIE TARIFF.
We have already devoted SO much of our
limited space to the leading topic of the
Message, that we can but glance at other
topics. The President shows that under the
WING Tariff of'42, which did not cease until
the LIST ofthe present month, a revenue of
nearly 81 millions has been derved-or c.
nough, within 1,3l8,000, ofmeeting the ordi-
nary expenses ofthc government. He also
informs us that there is
A Public Debt of 94,256,494 60!
and thatto'carry on the war one year from
Juno next, it will be necessary to borrow the