Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-05-06

say, is desifous Of finding subject obnoxious to
his threatened penalties, it may be relief to him TO
he informed that he need not pass beyond the shad
ow Of his own patron And while he utters the
libelious inlimaiion that the army Of Santa Anna
would BE strengthened by the accession Of some
thousands of American citizens, but Tor the res
training fear Of the halter, and that they therefore
merit the penalties Of overt treason prompts
I'd 10 ask how much less merltorious is he who, by
the extreme exercise of his appointing power, gave
to that army its commander-in-chiefi
Sir, there is no Justification for this act There
is no excuse Tor il. There is palliaon for it, |
Whether regarded as a bIunder or a crime, il ad.
mis Of no extenualion In the most favorable view
the utmost charity can take OF the transaction, il
was an extra piece Of diplomatic chicanery which
has no parallel among enlightened nations, and
which the world will laugh at, while we most de-
plore H. For all the dishonor and all the attend
ant and disastrous consequences of this act, your
President stands arraigned before the public bar
before the great Areopagus Of the American peo-
pie. They demand Of him to know, why aud where
fore the acknowledged and most lnveterate enemy
of the United States. the under whose admins
tration and under whose countenance the long ca.
inogue of wrongs and oulrages upon commerce
and upon our citizens committed the recital of
which makes so conspicuous figure in the Execu
tive Message the man notorious for his peridy
for his crimes notorious for his treachery
and his tyranny as for his hatred 10 The American
this monster oil niqnliy, then powerless exile,
permitted, aye, may mol say, advised persuaded,
entreaied 10 go back TO Mexico, where he now
stands at the head Of the most formidable army, in
point Of numbers, fno, Of discipline aud desperate
determination, arrayed upon any battle field Oh
the American Continent!
Why, Mr.. Chairman, il cannot have been forgot
ten, that when the return of Santa Anna 10 Next
CO first bscame known in the United States, the
al IN
he have got back I" :" how could he have passed
our blockading squadron in the Gulrl" And when
il was intmated that his return must have been ef-
ected through the consent or cOnnlvance of our
Executive Government, it slouty denied, aud
written down as a Wig Islander" upoa the Ad.
miRisraton. But now this imputed sauder turns
out to be veriable fact upon the Presidents own
confessions reluctant confession though il be, ex-
torled from him by the popular cIamor at SO extra.
ordinary occurrence. Aud when the reason aud
excuses which he assigns for giving orders to our
commander in the Gulf not 10 intercept the passage
Of Santa Anna to Mexico, read from the
sage at your Clerks desk, who does not remember
the involuntary sneer it raised through this Hall ;
who that did not feel his sympahies moved for the
man, who ia ortremis," was laboring TO cover his
conduct under excuses aud preexts SO frivolous and
so futile!
PURPOSE OF TIRE WAR
But, Mr.. Chairman my time admonishes me to
pass to the consideration Of other questions con
nected with This general subject. And here let me
say that am not about to enter upon discussion
Of the origin and causes Of the war | have done
that upon former occasion. 1t has been often
done by other and ADLER speakers who have prece-
ded me. II has become more important to-day To
enquire when and how the war is to be ended, then
how il was begun. 1t is Of higher moment nov tn
enquire what are the present and ultimate purposes
OF those who have the conduct of the war, in its
further prosecution, than whether it might or ought
to have been avoided. The American people VINO
are called upon TO pour out their treasure and their
blood in this war, demand 10 know as they have
right 10 be informed, definitely with what design
and to what extent it is to be prosecuted. The per
tinent aud ANXIOUS enquiry of every honest and
patriot is, for what is the waged To what
extent is it to be carried ont What are lis objects
its aims, and purposes | need not say what eve
ry body understands thar the war is not now con-
Quoted as defensive war, OF for the purpose of re.
pelling invasion, Not hostile foot stands upon our
soil, The enemy is every whore driven FAR back
from our borders Ii is no satisfactory answer to-
say that the is carried for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning honorable peace" The language is
vague and indefinite. IL means nothing at ALL or
rather it means whatever any one may choose to
have it mean Tire conqnerng despot could say
as much aud say it as truly.
Call it, sir, by what name you may, and disguise
It under what prelexts you may, it is nothing more
nor less, ii is nothing else, but of invasion
oil conquest, of aggression, and waged for the pur.
pose oil acquiring territory The President, to be
sure, says 'tho war is wagcd with 10 view to con.
quest" and yet he joices with exceeding Joy,
and congratuates the county upon The vast ex-
tension of territorial limits" 1.-The war" he
says, lis waged with no view TO conquest" and yet
he sends abroad fleets and armies, Napoleon. like
the comparison is inapt and inappropriate Com
pare James X. Polk with Napoleon Bonaparte J.
as well might you compare the dog.star's pale and
sickly light 10 the efulgent and dazzling bright
ness OF the comets blazing, boundess pathway
through the skies; but rather like the maniac. who
IN the wlldness OF his derium, imagines himself
the commander-n-chlefo OF all creation, and in the
fancied plentude of his infinite authority, from
some lofty pinnacle, exclaims, " attention The uni
verse !" kingdoms 10 the RICH, Wheel !" So our
commander-ln-chel, by his sudden elevation struts
forth upon somewhat less magnificent theatre, but
with hardly less magnlloqueni tones Of command
and sends abroad his generals and his co,nn,odores
his Satraps and his Tetrarch, moi to meet aud van.
quish the enemy in battle, but to conquer whole
States and provinces by proclamation 1.-The war
is not waged with any yiew to conquest" oh, no
and yet new territorial governments are organized
new laws are ordained and new magistrates are ap-
pointed over these and extensive acquisitions
and appropriations of the public money are called
for TO erect ioTllhcalons in order to secure the per
manent possession of the conquered regions The
sum and substance, them OF all these declarations
is concisely and precisely this " is not a war OF
- hut .I, In