Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-16
Mexican WarmPOwcy Of the Government
over Slavery,

NCAlCdl W dr"E over 0l lllG government
over Slavery
There can be but one mind among all candid and
intelligent men, who will give the subject an impartial
investigations respecting the policy of the government
which has resulted in the annexation of Texas to this
country, and involved us in bloody war with the re-
public of Mexico; it is infamous only infamous, and
that continuity 1t was conceived and brought forth
in manipulating for its PLAIN and avowed obectthe
building up and pepetuity of that vile system of hui
man oppression which already waning away I'M
der the light of reason revelation and an enlightened
sefinerest. This statement is capable of the clear
est demonstration; indeed it stands out unblushingy
upon almost every page Of the extensive official cor
respondence of our upon the subject of the
acquisition of Texas, as the subioined extracts will
clearly show. And yet there are multitudes among
u.s. either ignorant as not to know the real nature
and object of our present contest with Mexico, or so
reckless and bood-thsty to feast upon the groans
and tears ofthe oppressed and the carnage and spos
Of the battlefield, who Genouncc as towards" "ra-
tors" and ritjsh tories" all such as refuse to Join in
this disgaceu crusade for the destruction Of the rights
ofman We care not for these epithes of sham patr-
otism; they will yet reco with ten-od vengeance up
on the heads of their guilty authors. Wesay emphat
cally, with the yankee poet
"Call me coward call me traitor,
Just as suits your mean ideas;
Here | stand tyrant-hater,
And the friend of God and Peace"
We have taken considerable pains to collect the fol-
no
government touching the acquisition of Texas.-They
will all be found in No. 81 of the Executive Docu-
ments of the first session of the 28th Congress- Let
every American blush as he reads them! We declare
unhesitangly and without fear of contradiction, that
for the last ten years no single object has engaged one
half of the attention and efforts of the government of
this nation that have been spent upon this measure of
annexation, for the ayowed purpose of protecting
southern Institutions 1t should be remarked also that
the precnce of our government that Great Britain was
endeayorng, through her diplomacy, to acquire Texas
one Of her dependencies was but a pretence, this
object having been officially disclamed by the British
| Government.
One important idea cannot fail to suggest itself to
the mind Of the reader while perusing the suboned
extracts. The question is often askcd-what can gov
eminent do to abolish slavery? Read and see what it
has done to Jdid up, and then you may estimate its
power for an opposite purpose.
We give the two following extracts from undispued
democratic authority, as texts to those which follow
"Nothing is more true, Or more extensively known,
than that TEXAS WAS WRESTED FROM MEN
leo, and her Independence established Hrough the IN
Systematically QfMe United Sate8"-.luiin Tan b.
wn's letter to The Baltimore Conuntion, 1874.
"THE PRESENT WAR WITH MEXICO IS
| BUT A CONTINUATION OF THE TEXAN
WAR; Gen. Houston, Teran Senator in .. s. Con-
greSs
"Least of all was it the U. s. goyernment,) gno-
rant of the anxiety Of other powers to induce Mexico
to enter into terms ofreconciliaon with Texas which,
affecting the domestic institution Of Texas would OPP
crate most injuriously upon the United States, and
might most seriously threaten the existence Of this hap
Ipy Union. Nor could it be unacquainted with the fact
that, although foreign governments might disayow all
design to disturb the relations which exist under the
constitution between these States yet that one the
most powerful amongst them, had not failed to declare
its marked and decided hostility to the CHIEF of these
relations "-INle1's Message to Congress- April %,
1874
A movement of this kind cannot be contemplated
by us in silence. Such an attempt, upon any neigh
boring country would necessarily be viewed by this
government with very deep concern; but when it is
made upon nation whose territories Join the slave
holding States of our Union, it awakens still more
solemn interest. 1t cannot be permitted to succeed,
without the most strenuous efforts on part to arrest
a calamity serious to every part ui our county,
Secretary UpShl0 TO NluphB Aug. s. 1913.
But there is another view of this subject, still
more important to us, and scarcely less important to
Texas herself The establishments in the very midst
of slayeholdng States of an independent govern
ment iorbddng the existence fslavery and by peo-
pie born, for the most part among u.s. reared up in our
habits and speaking our language, could not fail to
produce the most unhappy effects upon both par
ties. fTexas were in that condition. her territory
would afford refuge for the fugitive slaves of Louis
lana and Arkansas, and would hold out to them an en-
enlargement to run away which no municipal regua-
ton Of ours could possibly counteract. Even if this
government should nterpose for the protection of the
STAKEHOLDER, it would be very difficult so to arrange
the subject as to avoid disputes and collisions.
The States Immediately interested would be most
likely to take the sub Jet into their hands They
would perceive that there could not be any security
for that species of property, if the crossing of
geographical line could give freedom to the slave; they
would perceive that the protection thus offered to the
slave would remove from his mind that dread of con
sequences which restrans him from the commission Of
the worst crimes: they would fear that the safety Of
themselves and their families was endangered; that
they would live in continual uneasness and alarm, dnd
in the constant exercise of painful and hanassine
watchfulness, 1t is not to be supposed that people
conscious Of the power to protect themselves, woult
long submit to such a state of things. They would
assume the right to reclaim their slaves by force ant
for that purpose would invade the territory of Texas
1t is not difficult to see that quarres and war woult
soon grow out of this state of things If this govern
/ p