Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-18
VERMONT wATCHMAN STATE JOURNAL, MARCH 1s, 1s47


subiugation Of distant territory, where little or
no resistance could be made, rather than to
" vigorous prosecution" of the war, with view
TO its early and honorable termination Was it
supposed that Mexico was TO be subdued and
brought to terms by running your armies across
her remote regions of wilderness, inhabited chief
ly by scattered tribes of untaught and untamed
savages? Did it enter into the profound cacu-
latlons of your President, that peace was sooner
to be restored, and our national honor vndcated,
by playing of, through his military commanders,
such fantastic FRANKS os have been performed
there p enacting the solemn farce oforganizing
new and complete governments regulating
trade and commerce by manlfesto-ap ponting
themselves and their associates, governors and
Judges, and projects and alcades, with fixed sal
aries, and for term of years administering TO
the Struggling and offrighted popuace oaths OF
allegiance TO the United States, and calling upon
them to foreswear allegiance to Mexico as though
it were all done after approved precedent, and as
though there were some sanction in the Constr
tuition or the laws of nations for such capers =
These operations bring shame, and not glory, to
the American name. So far from subdulng or
weakening Mexico, they have served only to ex-
asperate and to strengthen her. So far from ten
Ldlng TO bring the war TO speedy close, they will
serve only to prolong it. Your military occupa-
ton of the wild and remote provinces Of Next
CO, instead of Gripping, in the smallest degree,
her power, only weakens your own forces by the
necessary division and transfer of them to differ
ent services, and at far distant aud uninportant
points,
While your President talks about prosecuting
the war with vgor," as the only mode of secur-
ing an honorable peace" he has sent off a large
division of the army to squat upon the vacant
lands Of Mexico, and left General Taylor at the
only point where the enemy was to be met, at the
only point of danger and difficulty, without aGe-
quatc force, and with still less adequate supplies
of provisions and the munitions of war, and, till
some ten days later than the battle Of Monterey,
destitute Of the necessary means of Transports
ton. But, nevertheless, by his own great pru-
dence and vaor, and the bravery Of his troops
General Taylor has done all that human skill and
prowess could do, with the means at his COM
mand. The wonder is, not that he has accom-
pished so little, but that he has been able, under
the circumstances, to accomplish so much. The
wonder is, not that he has not yet conquered
Mexico, but that he and his gallant little army
have sustained themselves so well that they
have not been utterly routed and cut to pieces
The wonder is, not that they have not before this
time enjoyed the luxury Of revelhng in the halls
Of the Monlczumas" but that their bodies have
not been bleaching upon the borders of the Rio
Grande. But Tor the indomitable energy and he
roism Of General Taylor, and those in his com
mand, against vastly superior odds, the flag OF
your country, instead OF floating in triumph to
the breeze from the heights of Monterey, would
have been dragging, blOod-stained aud dishon-
ored, inglorlousy in the dust. All that has been
achieved in this war, all that has saved it from
the rdcule of the world, and its authors from
the uninltlgated contempt of mankind, has been
achieved under the immediate counsels and com.
mand of General Taylor; and yet his name finds
no commentator in that voumnious message
which purports to give detailed history of tn:
origin and the progress OF the war. No. sir the
name of the brave old hero, who has won every
battle that has been fought; who was ordered in
to the midst of dangers against superior forces
who has driven back the advancing foe from YOU
borders, and who is the real hero Of The story is
hardly referred to IN that recent executive fiction
whose scene is laid in Mexico, and of which yor
have ordered the publication of very large ed
ton. Let the country mark the significant ant
ominous fact, that the war-worn soldier of many
years, and of many battles, and of many vic
tories; who has borne the standard of his coun
try in triumph through every conflict; whose Inf
has endured the prlvatlons and the hardships 0
the camp in his country's service; who has brav
ed alike the dangers OF battle and the dangers o
pesilence that walks in the air; who sits dowr
to a soldiers fare, and who rises up to a soldier,
toll; whose fortune Is his fame, and whose fam,
is his country's, is not deemed worthy OF an ap
proving notice in that elaborate executive CON
munlcatlon, which professedly recites the trans
actions Of which he was the chief aud rejoice:
in the trlumphs of which he was the victor lie
who, by the accident of fortune, has been eleva
ted to power, who proudly treads in palace halls
and sits at ease and security in his Chair of State
may jealousy suppress the name Of one who has
achieved so much and suffered SO much at his
bidding, but in vain will he endeavor to diver
the public gaze from the glories that gather rounc
that name. 1t is name which will go down tC
after times in full lustre, even though it be no
transmitted in the amber of Presidential docu
ment.
But repeat, Mr.. Chairman, 1t was an omnou:
silence, significant OMISSION 1t was but the
premonition of a concerted partisan assault upor
the hard-earned fame of General Taylor-ot al
lnsdous attempt to pluck from his brow the au.
rels he may have won, with which to deck less
honored heads and to charge to his account
whatever Of failure there may have been towards
a vigorous and successful prosecution of the war
1t is foreign from my purpose, however to 20 in
to detailed defence OF the acts OF General lay
lor against the assaults which have been openly
made upon him on this floor, especially since II
has been so faithfully and eflectualIy done by my
Young friend from Tennessee, Mr.. Crozier.) But
let me assure the pioneers in these assaults, the
gentleman from Illinois, (Mr. Flcklin,) and the
gentleman from Mississippi,( Mr.. THOMPSON and
all who may follow in their lead, that they have
struck q chord which will find no response in the
American heart
EXTENSION OF TERRITORY
If those who, for the first time now, unhap-
PLY weld the destnies of this Republic, are ar
IDENTITY and honestly DESTROYS of restoring to it a
speedy and an " honorable peace" they will prof.
fer terms such as shall be Just and liberal to
Mexico such as, according to the language oil
The able and eloquent gentleman from Georgia
Mr.. ToombsJ the other day, became great
and powerful, and magnanimous natlon"--such
as become the character of people who profess
to act upon the high principle of demanding
nothing wrong" We have little reason to fear
that our national honor will suaer by any acts OF
Justice and generosity towards Mexico. We
have more occasion to fear il may be furnished
by acts OF wrong and oppression Let her have
some assurance that you for justice and
peace, aud not for dominion and plumber and II
Will do more than a dozen well fought battles to
hasten that contamination so deVoutly to be wish
ed, an honorable peace" Adopt the PROPOSE.
ton embraced IN the resolution offered some days
since by another distinguished gentleman from
Georgia, Mr. Stephens,) and give some assur-
ance to MEXICO, that you want none of her ter
rlory-demand Of her fufment of her for
mer treaty obligatons-a recognition and pro-
vision for the discharge of her Indebtedness to
our citizens. Indicate n line of bOundarv moi