The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-03-30

for justice and peace, and not for dominion
and plunder, and it will do more than doz-
en- ell-fOught battles TO hasten that consum-
nation so devouty 10 be wished, an honor
able peace Adopt the proposition embrar-
ed in the resolution offered some DAYS since
BY another distinguished gentleman from
Georgia, mir. Stephens and give some as
surarce to Mexico, that you want none OF
her territory-demand Of her a fulflment Of
her former treaty obigations-a recognition
and provision for the discharge Of her indebt-
eIness 10 our citizens. Indicate lie OF
boundary, not along the Rio Grande, lot a
long the Nueces, but along the course Point
ed out by the honorable chairman Of the
Committee of Foreign Affairs, (Mr. c. J.
Ingersoll, on former occasion. when he
said The stupentiOus deserts 6eipecn the
Nueces and the Rio GraRde rirers a1e the
natural boundaries befreen the Anglo Sar-
on and the Mauritanidn races. There ends
The Tdley of the Hest. There 4HeaiCo be-
gins. While peace IS cherished, that LouR-
dairy 1riH be sacred. Not till The spirit of
conquest RACES, 1riH The people on either side
modest or mir lrith each other Do this; be
Just 10 yourselves and just 10 Mexico; and
have liille doubt that peace will be restored.
and the national honor saved from reprt ach.
But, unhappily, and doubtless much Oner
than the honorable chairman at the lime he
uttered this language. anticipated, the spirit
of''conquest now RACES and opens before
US, in reference TO the termination OF the
war, only dark and uncertain future. the
end whereof no man eau ioresee, The
still small voice OF reason and humanity IS
almost UNDECIDED and unheard amidst the
clangor OF arms. The blessing OF peace may
be restored 10 our country. when, and not I'LL
when, the spirit Of conquest shall cease 10
rule the hour and shall be abandoned; and
when the demouiac idea of vindcaiipg OF
preserving the national honor, by commit
ing national robbery upon a feeble neigh
boring sister Republic, shall be forever dis
carded.
Mr.. Chairman, my opposition To take any
territory from Mexico arises not more from
the consideration Of its injustice TO her. Than
because believe it would prove Il curse, and
not blessing TO our own country. And this,
after all, is the paramount and an-nnportanI
considerable growing out Of the whole ques-
ton of the Mexican war. However just YOU
may claim the war with her 10 be, aud how
ever just that in any peaceful arrangement
she should indemnify us for its expenses, in
whole or in part, it wonld be infinitely better
for Us to yield it all. than 10 receive as an ID
demnity that which in reality would prove TO
| be abane TO US. What idiotic madness, then
Is il to wage war for the conquest Of posses
sions which. If granted TO us peacefully AMI
| 1ratuitousfy, would forever rest upon tho
| heart of this nation like the incubus of death.
The acquisition ol Territory from Mexico, up
| on whatever terms, of peace or Of war, would
forever be source Of contention and strife
with us, il not, sooner or later. fatal TO !he IN
! tcgriIy Olhhe Union itself This Hall has al
ready witnessed the forebO1ings of those evils
| which are sure TO come of the accession OF
new Territory. in the excited discussion and
wranglinG which has arisen in relation 10 the
division OF the expected acquisitions. You
are despoiling neigbboring Republic OF it's
possessions, aud yet, before the prize is in
your grasp, while you are yet in hot pursuit.
and painting in the chase, you are warning a.
mOng yourselves about the ultimate condition
upon which your anticipated cODquesIs shall
be incorporated into this Government, and up
Gu either side is nothing less than 4 dissolU-
ton Of the Union. You are rushing headlong
and blirdfold upon appalling dangers, before
hich The stout heart shriuks, and brave men
turn pale, You are rekindliDg The slumber-
ing fires OF a volcano, which. whenever
they shall burst inrih. will consume all the
plain. Heaven forefend that the happiness
and the hopes Of twenty millions Of lreemrn
shall be made the sport and The sacrifice Of a
miserable ambition foI territorial agrandlze-
ment. The only guaranty of our safety and
salvation is, To keep the ship of state from the
rock upon which our uDskilful pilots are fast
driving it. Take no territory from MEXICO.
either by treaty or by conquest aud YOU will
have no strife about the c0udItiOns OF lis an-
nexation-
Sir. am opposed TO taking one foot of ter
Iitory from Mexico. either by force or 10y CON
sent; or upon any condition. whether bond or
free, with slavery or without slavery. And
let me warn the people of the North not TO
deceive themselves, nor he dect ived. With the
idea that the territory we may acquire from
| Mexico will remain free territory. Aud let
me tell them, in all frankness, that, lei Us at
zach " hat conditions we may to It's acquisition,
incorporate into these preliminary acts ma
NY 'Wilmot provisOes' as we please, they will
he of no practical avail in the end, and will
not be regarded or treated as Of any binding
Obligation upon future legislative or treaty ac-
ton upon the subject. And let me tell them.
furthermore that. with the Texas lesson
before them, the only guaranty upon which
they canrely against the indefinite extension of
slave territory is TO take none al all. This new
and strange horror Of the extension Of slavery,
which has so suddenly cone over a certain
portion Of The northern Democracy upon this
floor. is. TO say the least Of it, in singular con-
trast with their recent action upon the Texas
question. ] hope this new born zeal which
they exhibit Of late, may prove to be the fruit
Of sincere repentance; thai il may prove TO he
the result of principle rather than political
calculation Of mere party advantage. But
they will pardon US if we are little doubt
full Of their sincerity. while their hands are
yet unwasbcd Of the fuulness of their Texas
votes.
"Timeo Danaos, ct dona ferenteS."
Mr.. Chairman, there are other and formi-
dabIe gro uDds Of opposition to this spirit Of
national aggrandiZemenI by territorial extern
sion. Suppose that Mexico were 10 yield
her reluctant assent to our possession Of all
the country Of which Won now claim the mil
irary occupation With the territory you
must take its mixed and semi-barbarisn pop
ulation-a distinct and dissimilar race of peO-
ple-of different habits, and Of different Ian