The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-03-23

OUT Executive government, II was stoully
denied, and written down as Uhig Sian
der, upon the Administration. But now
this imputed SANDER turns out 10 be verilablc
fact, upon the Presidents own confession; a
reluctant confession though il be, extorted
from him by The popular clamor at so extra
ordinary an occurrence. And when The
reasons and excuses which he assigns for
giving orders 10 our Commander in the
Gull not 20 intercept the passage OF Santa
Anna 10 Mexico, were readlrom the message
at your Clerks desk, who does not remem-
Der The involuntary sneer raised through
this Hall; and who that did not feel his SYM
pathies moved for the man who was labor.
ing 10 cover his conduct under excuses and
pretexts so frivolous and so futile? The i
dea oil giving Sapta Anna permit TO pass
our blockade, under the pretext that he would
have passed it in spite of us for the reason
that his presence in Mexico would produce n
stale Of affairs there more favorable 10 peace
is quite loo ridiculous to entiIle il 10 the claim
at sincerity. Sir, was there ever a simple
ton detected in mischievous act; who could
not excuse himself with beitor grace2
| But some of the Presidents friends upon
this floor, feeling, doubtless, the weakness OF
his own defence, having kindly come 10 his
rescue, and among others an honorable mem
Der from Virginia. Mr.. Bayly, (who places
his vindicaIiOn Of the Administration in this
affair, upon another ground; and that is that
| Santa Anna returned in neural vessel
and, therefore, we had no right 10 obsfruct
its passage TO any Of the Mexican ports.
confess, sir, | can see no force in this argu-
ment, although il comes from so high and
! reputable authority. You might as we'll de
ny the right TO interrupt tile passage Of IL
vessel sailing under Il neutral flag, though il
we're Ireghted with hostile army and the
slunlilons OF war Tor the service of the pub
lie enemy against our own country. The
vcriest tyrO knows thai such violation OF
the laws Of neutrality would authorize IA
capture Ol vessel, and that the higher law
OF sell-protection would demand its seizure
Sir, there is no Justification for this act; and
the only surprise is, that party adhesion
should be strong enough, and party blind
ness obstinate enough, 10 save il and its au-
hors from the unsparing condemnation Of
tho whole country. Yet, so it is, and those
who at first, denied the ruth Of Santa An
mas return by he knowledge and cUrse nj OF
our Executive, aud denOunce tho su00cs-
ZION as the fabrication oil hate and envy-Ts
Thing incredible, inconsistent; yea, impossible;
us too silly TO obtain moments credenre-
now that the deed is confessed, are equally
prompt in their approval and condemnation OF
the act rs WIS., and patriotic measure. But
Justify or extcnuaie it as you may, and sub
lcct your consistency and your sincerity in
so doing TO what standard OF honesty you
please, the act stands there. and viii stand
there through oil time, foul and iafimousf
stain upon The page Of your cOunIry's history.
Would that IL could be blotted out from that
page; that for the honor of the American
name, Il could be Ob!iterated from The memo
ry Of mankind.
But Mr.. Chairman. nv time admOnishCs
me 10 pass to the consideration Of oIheTques-
tons connected with this general subject
And here let me say that ] am not about To
enter upon discussion Of the origin ami
causes Of the war. have done that upon a
former occasion IL has become more i'm
poriant to day, 10 inquire how and when The
war is TO be ended, and how IL was begun.
Ii is Of higher moment now 10 inquire what
are the present and ultimate purposes Of
those who have the conduct of the war. in
lis further prosecution. than whether itmight
have been avoided. The American people
who are called upon TO pour out their treas
ure and their blood in this war, demand To
know, as they have o right TO be informed.
definitely, with what design and 10. what ex-
tent it is 10 be prosecuted. The peznent
and anxious inquiry OF every honest mln and
patriot is, for what is The war waged? To
what extent is il TO be carried on? What
Il
need not say. what every body understands.
that the war is not now conducted rs dc
lensive war, or for the purposes OF repeIling
invasion. Not hostile foot stands upon our
soil. The enemy is every where driven far
back from our borders. Ii is 10 satisfactory
answer 10 say that the war is carried on for
The purpose of obtaining an "honOrable
peace" The language is vague and indef-
mite. II means nothngat all. or rather, il
means what one might choose to have it
mean. The conquering despot could say
us much, and say it as truly,
Call it, sir. by what name you may, and dis
guise it under what pretexrs you may, it n
nothing more or less, it is nothing else. but
war of invasion. Of conquest, Of aggression,
and waged for the purpose Of acquiring ter
ritOry. The President, to be sure, says the
war is wased with view 10 conquest and
yet he 'rejoices with exceeding joy.' and con-
graduates the country upon the vast extern
sion Of our territorial limits. The war, he
says, rs waged with no view to conquest and
vet he sends abroad fleets and armies Napo-
IeOn-like-the comparison is iuapt and map
propriate. Compare James X. Polk with
Napoleon Bonapalte AS well might you
compare the dog stars pale and sickIy light
to the eilulgent and daZzaling brig Illness Of
the comets blazing and boundess pathway
through liC ShiCS nut EatHCT IhS thC
MAC, who, in the witness of bis delirium,
imaenes himself the commandment chiel OF
all creation, and in the fancied pieniitude Of
his infinite authority. from some lofty piana-
Gle, exclaims, attention the universal king
doms to the right wheel So our comm n
der-in-chief bedizzencd by his sudden eleva-
ton, struts forth upon somewhat less mag
ni6ceut theatre. but with hardly less masniI-
oouent tones Of command, and sends abroad
his generals and his commodores, his Satraps
and his Tetrarchs. no, TO meet and vanquish
The enemy in battle, but TO conquer whole
States aud provinces by proclamation! The
war is not wased with any view to conquest
oh, no and yet new territorial governments
are organized, new laws are ordained, and
Few magistrates are appointed over these
new and extensive acquisitions; and apPro-
pria.ions Of The pub..f nry ave called Tor
TO erect Notifications, IN order to secure fhc
permanent possession Of the conquered re-