Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-11-30

could never be permanently and harmoni-
ouSly united together.
Do we want for our own happiness or
greatness the addition OF Mexico TO the
existing Union of our States! If our
population was too dense for our territory.
and there was difficulty in obtaining
honorably the means OF subsistence. there
might be some excuse for an attempt 10
enlarge our dominionS. But we have no
such apology We have already. in our
glorious country. q vast and almost bound
less territory Beginning at the North.
in the frozen regions of the British Pro-
vinces. it stretches thousands of miles
alonr the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and
the Mexican Gulf. until il almost reaches
the Tropics. Il extends 10 the Pacific
Ocean. borders on those great inland seas.
the Lakes. which separates us from the
possessions Of Great Britain. and il en-
braces the great father of rivers, from lis
uppernost source 10 the Baiize and the
srill longer Missouri. from It's mouth to .he
roroes OF the Rocky Mountains. 1t com
prehend> the ereatest variety Of the richest
soils. capable OF almost all the productions
OF the Garth, except tea and coffee and
the spices. and il Includes every variety Of
climate, which the heart could wish or de-
sire We have more than ten thousand
millions of acres Of waste and unsettled
lands enough for the subsistence of ten or
twenty times our present population.
Ought We not to be satisfied with such a
ntry,-Ought we moi TO be profoundly
thankful to the Givcr of all good things
for such vast and bountful landl Is il
M, II, bait Of iafr md 70
seek, BY war and conquest. indulgng in Il
spirit of rapacity. to acquire other lands.
the homes and habitations of large por-
ton OF His common children' five pur-
sue the object of such a conquest. besides
mortgaoinm the revenue resources OF this
country for ages TO come. in the form OF an
onerous national debt we should have great
y to augment that debt by an assumption of
the sixty or seventy millions ofthe national
debt OF Mexico. Fer take it that moth
ing IS more certain than that, if We obtain
voluntarily or by conquest. foreign ma
ton we acquire il with the incumbranccs
alta, he'd 10 il. In my humble opinion. we
are now bound. in honor and morality. to
pay the just debt of Texas. And we
should be equally bound. BY the same obi-
CATIONS. to pay the debt Of Mexico, if ii
were annexed TO the United States.
Ofall the poss ossions which aprertain
10 man in his collective or individual con-
dition, none should be preserved and cher
ishcd. with more scdulous and unremit-
ting care. than that Of an unsullied char
actrr 1t is impossible to estimate it too
highly, III society. when attached to indi-
Niduals, nor can it be exaggerated or too
greatly marnilied in a nation. Those ono
lose or are indifferent to it become lusl
Objects OF scorn and contemf& u al me
abominabie TRANSACTIONS. winch sUliv me
u9e,n Of history. non. exceed il cnormit2
thai Of the partition Of Poland. by the three
GREAT Continental Powers OF Russia, AUS
tria and Prussia. ges may pass away.
and contaries rod around bat rs long 4,
human records endure. al manAlnd vii
unite in cxccrating the rapaclouS aud de-
testablc deed That was Accomplished
BIZ overwhelming force. an1 'ls oiioflun-
80, a,;.+e,,,.o 81. fat ulsScnsionS and Ill
,.;.;o,,, j., ~ BOSOM OF Poland. Lct Us
,,.:.e nxing to our name and national char
acter a similar. if not worse. stigma
am afraid that We do not now stand well in
the opinion of other parts OF .hristendom.
Reputation has brought upon US much
reproach. All the nations | apprchend.
look upon US. in the prosecution OF the
present war. as being actuated BY a spirit
OF rapacty, and an inordin0te desire for
territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Let us not
forfeit thoir good opinions. let Us COM
mand their applause by a noble excrcls"
OF torbcarance and Justice. In the elcva-
ted station which We hold. we can safely
afford to practice the Goeiilze virtues oil
moderation and magnanimjty. The long
series Of glorious tr:unphs. achieved by
our gallant commanders and their brave
armies. unattended by single reverse iusti-
Nv Us, without the least danger Of tranishing
the national honor. ii dislatercstedly mold
ing out the olive branch Of peace. We
10 not want the mines. the mountains the
norassas. and the sterile lands Of Mexico.
To her the loss Of them would be hunlil-
tatng, and be . perpetual source OF regret
and modification. To Us they might
prove fatal acquisition. producin" dis
traction; discussion, division possibly dis
union. Let. therefore. the integrity Of the
national existence and national territory
remain undisturbed. For one, desire
to see no part Of her territory torn from
her bv war Some Of our people have
placed their hearts upon the acquisition OF
inc Day Oh San IIlCIStO L ppCT ,dll-
fornia. To US as great marafime Pow
err. il might prove TO be Of advantage here
after in respect to our commercial and
navigating interests. To Mexico. which
can never be q great maratinno Power. It
can never be OF much advantage. five
can obtain il by fair purchase with a just
equivalent, | should BE happy 70 see !: so
acquired. As, whenever the war ceases,
Mexico ought 10 be required TO pay the
debt due our citizens. perhaps al equiva-
lent for that pay may BE- found in that debt
cur Government assuming 10 pay TO our
citizens whatever portion may be applied
to that object. But il should form no mo-
tive in the prosecution Of the war. which
would not continue solitary hour fer
the sake OF that harbor.
But what, it viii be asked. shall we