The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-02

g furnish abundant evidence of the accomplishment
of those objects or the attempt to accomplish them
by subsequent negotiation. Prior to the declaration
of the last War against Great Britain, i'll all the, re-
strctive measures which Congress adopted against
the two great begercnt powers of Europe, clauses
were inserted in the several acts establishing thcm
rendering to both either of the beligerents the
abolition of these restrictions if they would repeal
their hostile Berlin and Milan DEGREES and Orders
t in Council, operating against our commerce and nav
gation And these acts Of Congress invara-
! bly, communicated, through the Executive, by di-
plomatc notes. to France and Great Britain, as the
basis upon which it was proposed to restore friendly
intercourse with them. SO after the termination of
the War; various acts Of Congress passed, ftom
time to time offering to foreign powers the principle
of reciprocity in the commerce and navigation of
the United States with them. Out Of these acts
have sprung class, and large class, of treaties
-four or five Of which were negotiated while was
in the Department of Sate), commonly called rcci-
proctv treaties, concluded under all the Presidents
from Mr.. Madison to Mr.. Van Buren,, inclusive.
And with regard to commercial treaties, negotiated
with the sanction of prior acts Of Congress, where
they contained either appropriations, or were in con-
tiict with unrepealed statutes it has been ever held
as the republican doctrine, from MIR. jays treaty
down to the present time, that the passage Of acts Of
Congress necessary to secure the execution of
those treaties. IT, in the matter Of foreign
merce, in respect to which the power vested in Con-
Gress to regulate it and the treaty-making power
may lie regarded concurrent, Congress can pre-
vousy decide the objects to which negotiation shall
be applied, how much stronger is the of War;
the power to declare which Is contded exclusively to
Congress?
conclude, therefore, Mr.. President and fellow
citizens, with entire confidence, that Congress has
the right either at the beginning, or during the pros
ecution Of any War; to decide the objects and pur-
poses for which it was proclaimed, or for which it
ought to be continued. And, | think it is the duty
of Congress, by deliberate and authentic act,
to declare for what objects the present War shall be
longer prosecuted. ! suppose the President wonld
not hesitate to regulate his conduct by the pro-
nounced will of Congress, and to employ the force
and the diplomatic power Of the nation to execute
that will But, if the President should decline or
refuse to do So and, in contempt of the supreme
tority of Congress- should persevere in waging the
| War, for other objects than those proclaimed by
Congress- then it would be the imperative duty Of
that body to vndicate its authority by the most
stringent and etfectual, and appropriate measures
And, if on the contrary, the enemy should refuse to
conclude a treaty. containing stlpulatons securing
| the objects designated by Congress, it would become
the duty of the whole Government to prosecute the
War; with all the national energy, until those objects
were attained by treaty of peace. There can be
no insuperlble difficulty in Congress making such
an authoritative declaration Let it resolve, simply,
that the War shall or shall not be War Of Con
quest and if War of Conquest, what is to be con-
quered. Should resolution pass disclaimng the
design of Conquest, peace would follow in less than
sixty days. if the President would conform to his
constitutional duty.
Here, ellow-citizens, might pause, having ndi-
Gated a mode by which the nation, through its ac
credited and legitimate representatives in Congress,
can announce for what purposes and objects this
War shall be longer prosecuted, and can thus let the
whole people of the United States know for what
end their blood is to be farther she'd and their
ure farther expended instead of the knowledge of it
being locked up and concealed in the bosoms of
man. We should no longer perceive tho objects of
the War varying, from time to time according to
the changing opinions of the Chief Magistrate charg-
ed with its prosecution. But do not think it right
to stop here. 1t is the privilege of the people, in
their primary assemblies, and Of every private man,
however humble, to express opinion in regard to
the purposes for which the should be continued
and such expression will receive just SO much
consideration and consequence as it is entitled to,
and no more.
Shall this war be prosecuted for the purpose of
conquerng and anneXing Mexico, in all its bound
less extent to the United States?
will not attribute to the President of the United
States any such design but confess have been
rious quarters. Of all tho dangers and misfortunes
which could befa this nation should regard that of
its becoming warke and conquering power the most
conquering nations and conquerors: The three most
celebrated conquerors, in the civilized world were
Alexander, Cesar and Napoleon. The first after over
running large portion of Asia, and signing and Ia
menting that there were no more worlds to subdue,
quarreled and waed with each other to the spois
of his victories and finally lost them all Caesar, after
conquering Gaul returned with his triumphant egons
to Rome passed the Rubicon, won the battle of Phar
saa, tramped upon the liberties of his country and
expired by the patriot hand of Brutus. But Rome
ceased to be free War and conquest had enervated
and corrupted the The spirit OF true liberty
eXnguished, and long line of emperors succeed
ed, some of whom the most execrabe monsters |
that ever existed in human form. And that most cx
traordnary man, perhaps, in all history, after suju
capitas-seriously threatening according to NJ THEIRS
proud Albion itsef-and decking the brows of various
of other monarchs lived to behold his dear France
itself in the possession of his enemies and made
himself wretched captive, and far removed from
/ hnd htG Last ONT En
distant and inhospitabe Of St Helena. The Alps
and the Rhine had been claimed as the natural bound
aries Of France but these could not be secured i'll
the treaties to which she reduced to submit Do
you believe that the people of Macedon or Greece, of
collectively by the trumphs Of their great Captains
Their sad lot immense sacrifice Of life, heavy and
infolerabe burdens and the ultimate loss Of liberty it
self
That the power of the United States is competent to
not be achieved without ghtfui carnage dreadful sac
rCes of human life, and the creation of
tona debt could be completely effected, in all
probability until after the lapse Of many years 1t
would be necessary to occupy all its stronghold to dis
arm its inhabitants, and to keep them in constant fear
and subsection To enumorate the work, presume
that Standing Armies not less than hundred thou
sand men, would be necessary to be kept perhaps al
wa VS. in the bosom of their country These standing
armies revelng in foreign land, and accustomed to
trample upon the liberties of foreign people at
distant day might he tit and ready Instruments under
the head of some daring and unprnciped cheftain, to
return to their country and PROSTATE tine public liber
ty.
be done with it! Is it to be governed. like Roman
Provinces, by Proconsuls? Would it be compatible
with the genius, character and safety of free inst
buttons, to keep such great cointry rs Mexico with
population of not less than nine millions in state Of
constant military subsection
Shall it be annexed to the United Statcs7 Does any
consdelatc believe it possible that two such i'm
mensc countries with territories of nearly equal extent
with populations incongruous different in race, in
language in religion and in laws, could bo blended to-
geter in one harmonious mass and happily governed
by one common authority? Murmurs, discomfort, in
surreCtiOns rebellion would inevitably until the
Incompatible parts would be broken asunder, and pos
siby, in the rightfu struggle, present glorious I'm
ion itself would be discovered or dissolved We ought
not to forget the warning voice of all history, which
teaches the difficulty of combining and consolidating
together, eonquerng and conquered uatons After the
lapse of eight hundred years. during which the Moors
held their conquest of Spain, the indomitabe courage