Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-12-17
BURLINGTON PRESS FRIDAY MORNING DECEMBER

.co'--nor so good for citizens of Mexico in
nao''ed It, and cultivated its corn-feds, under
une protection of Mexican laws. when General
lay'or was ordered by MIR. Polk to dispossess
them' For the truth of this assertion we have
not only the official documents referred to, but
the recorded opinion, of such men as THOMAS
II. BENTON and SnAssNRIcHr The latter dis
tlngushed Statesman and Patriot, in his well
KNOWN Watertown speech, previous to the last
PRESIDENTIAL election affirmed that this was a
territory ITO WHICH TEXAS HAD no CLAIM, OVER
(WHICH SHE HAD NEvR ASSERTED JURISDICTION,
"ASD WHICH SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO
"CEDE" And vt Mr.. Polk reiteratcs the
oft-refuted and shameless falsehood that Mexico
began the War "by shedding the first blood
upon American soil! James X. Polk, and he
alone, "declared" tbs War and " commenced
the War, bv orderneGeneral TAYLOR with his
army to occupy the 1T bank of the Rio Grandc.
in the midst Of Mexian gardens and corn-iields,
aud within point-blhk cannon range of the
Public Square of dexican City. This is the
Truth; and no petty ingenuity of James r.
Polh can keep it oul Of mems hearts or out of
the records Of hstot. And to his name will
forever attach the hium of having disturbed
the Peace of the VIVID by involving in blood,
and protracted WARthe only two considerable,
REPUBLICS on the f;je oil the earth.
But there is one der feature of this Message
to which we wish hrieny to allude. It is it,
spirit of determined conquest and rapacity. 1t
is in close conformity with the old rule:
"That he should nike, rho has the poner,
And he should KEEP who can"
"ln the mean time says the President of n
Government founded on the immuiable nrinci.
pies of Justice and Moderation, and EQUITY
I" in the mean time, as Mexico refuses all in.
demnity (which, by way, Mexico has never
" done re should Adapt measures to indemnif,
Yourselves, by APPRopRIATTNG PERMANENT
"LY portion of her territory" That's the
word-the honed phrase is APPROPRIATED
TIE plain English is "grab"
Again, says Mr. Polk" ! am persuaded tina,
"the best means of vindicaiing the national
"honor and interest. and of bringing the war tc
" an honorable close. will be to prosecute it with
Increased energy and power IN THE VITAL
PARTS OF THE ESEMY's COUNTRY" in the
VITAL PARTS Of the enemy's coun,rv." Wber,
under Heaven, allow us to ask. is the VITAL
PART of country il it is not in its chief cite.
and its seat Of Government, Does not the
American Army, tbs very moment, "revel il
the Halls Of the Montezumas }" And are MOI
the Congress and Executive of Mexico broker
up and dispersed7 And yet Mr.. Polk talk:
about " bringing he war to an honorable close
by prosecuting it"wilh increased energy an,
power in the rital parts" of Mexico! An,
this is the sort of bullying that he seems t,
think suited to tn, temper and spirit of til,
American people and the age. We are of th
opinion that he is mistaken.
Again, says Mr.. Polk:
Besides, there is danger, if our troops were with
q drawn before pence ras concluded. Inohng equal
Mr. Folks logic but his grammar J that the Mexican
: troops might at length be inclined to Well
to foreign influences, and to themselves into TN
arms o some European monarch for protection from
the anarchy and suffering which would ensue"
! And So. in o'yss 60 itt.eant .i.--- aI4..:--".
from seeking" protection elsewhere, Mr.. Poll
advises that we prosecute the war "with in
creased energy aud power" in their vita
parts! glorious method of :. charging tn,
area of Freedom and disseminating the prin
ciples of repubicansm. for winch, we trust, Mr.
James X. Polk will receive due credit.
The message recommends tax on Tea ant
Coffee, "a " War-tax,' it is called and reduc
ton Of the price of the Public Lands. for ,hc
express purpose of increasing the funds to pro
secnc the War e. in the vital parts, of course !!
with " increased energy and power"
! But we have no room for further common
to-day. We invoke the earnest attention o. on
readers TO the seathing examination OF Thu
mendacious Message, which we shall pubsl
next week, from the National InteHigencer.