Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-05-28
The War and Slavery.

Our nation is at last plunged in war with Mexico
and It may prove protracted and sanguinary one
Congress has formally declared war, appropriated ten
millions of dollars to carry it on and enrolled nifty
thousand men. This may be but beginning. Ftl
cost forty millions of dollars, years of labor, and multi
tudes of valuable lives to prosecute the against
few hundred Florida Indians, what may we not fear
from the vast hordes of Mexico and their numerous
Indian tribes?
But Mexico will propably be beaten in the end. In
her distracted condition. she cannot wagea successful
war with the fierce patriotism NJ of the United States.
But what then? We may lay waste all her cities and
villages-demosh her capitol-plunder her churches,
and murder her people; but what have we gained?
is a conquest Of and for, SLAVERY and instead of
bonfres and the glad shouts of triumph at the event.
the nation should put sackcoth-the civilized world
should weep, and humanity hide her face
Will any one deny that those deep laid and steadily
pursued plans for the acquisition of Texas which have
at last resulted in war with Mexico were solely for
the benefit of American Slavery? If SO, we present
such with few items of evidence.
Secretary Upshur, in an official letter to Mr.. Muir
ply in abiding to the design Of Great Britain to pro-
mote the abolition of slavery in Texas, says:
"a movement of this sort cannot be contemplated by
us in silence. Such an attempt upon any neighboring
country would necessarily be viewed by this govern
ment with very deep conce but when it is made up
on nation whose territories join the slavehoding
States of Union, it awakens still more solemn in
terest. cannot be permitted to succeed without the
most strenuous efforts part to arrest calamity
serious to every part ofOw country"
Mr.. Calhoun, referring to this subject in his letter
to Mr.. Packenham says:
"It is with still deeper the President regards
the avowal of Lord Aberdeen of the desire of Great
Britain to see slavery abolished in Texas; and as he
nfers, is endeavorng, through her diplomacy to &C.
complish it, by making the abolition of slavery one OF
the conditions on which Mexico shall acknowledge her
independence" ~
Mr., Calhoun also in letter to Mr. Packenham, da-
ted April q, 1914, distinctly states annexation to be
for the perpetuaton of slavery, both In the United
States, and Texas, as follows:
"The United States, in concluding the treaty of an
nexation of Texas not disposed to shun any re-
sponsibility which may fairly attach to them on ac
count of their transaction The measure was adopted
for the mutual and permanent welfare of the two
countries interested. 1T Vas MADE NECESS.4
RY IN ORDER TO PRESERVE DOMESTIC
LNSIIIUIIOJNS placed under the guaranty OF incl
respective constitutions, and deemed ESSENTIAL
TO THEIR PEACE and PROSPERITY."
Said Mr.. Belser, of Alabama, in debating this ques
ton in Congress:
"Afer all, Megreat question involved IN the treat
now before the Senate for ratification, is shall the sau
institutions Of The South be protected or not ?"
In the same speech this gentleman says
"No non-slaveholding government will be pern,ihe
to its head in Texas, until those who now hav
slaves are exterminated."
) Hon. c. j. Ingersoll, Chairman of the Commute O
+ Foreign Affairs, in speech delivered by him in tn
+ House of Representatives, Jan. B. 1915, said:
= at is undenable however, that Southern interests
y Southern frontiers, Southern instituons-I mea
), Slavery and aH-are to be PRIMARILY regarded i
q settling the restoration of Texas"
), The foregoing paragraphs throw food of light uF
on the character of this Mexican War. They sho,
the assumptions of the President in his Message to
hypocritca and false; and also shows plain enough
that whosoever joins in this contest, fghts-not 6
Ltberty-BUT FOR SLAVERY.