Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-09-10
THE OBJECT OF THE WAR.

expression Of Col. Curtis, in speech
a,ely delivered at Mansfield. Is their a sane
man in the United States, unbiased by party ties,
who has taken the trouble to inform himself on
The subject, that believes a word Of III Is there
a school-boy in Ohio, who has arrived at the
years Of reflection, that does not know it 10 be
ialsel Is there any person in Carroll county,
over ten years Of age, that is not perfectly aware
that peace would not have been interrupted, had
not the President determined to have warl Yet,
Notwithstanding these facts, a gentleman "who
has seen some service" has the hardihood 10 as.
sert that "the object Of this war is peace" Did
he suppose that his hearers were simple enough
TO believe himl Does he think tha, those editors
who are now uPPlauding the assertion, give ii
any credencel So far as they think it will tend
10 justify the President in usurping the powers
conferred on Congress BY the Constitution, they
will give it publicity, but no further. So far as
it may tend 10 give show of popularity to The
war, they will use it, but they believe it not.
We were at peace with the whole world; no
cause for going TO war with any nation, that had
no, existed for many years, was given, or is ale.
ged to have been given; yet we were suddenly
plunged into war; andnow, afiersacriicing thou.
sands o. lives, and eXpending more than hun.
dred millions of dollars in its prosecution, we
are told that "ihe object Of this war is peaceI"-
Who ever heard such foolish knavery, or such
knavsh fooleryl We were enjoying peace, and
had we demanded nothing that was not clearly
right" we should be enjoying ii sill. But this
was not the case. We encouraged emigration
10 Texas; encouraged those immigrants 10 rebel
against the country that gave Them home and
projections; furnished them with men and means to
prosecute their rebellion; and finally, against the
urgent protest Of Mexico, admitted Texas into
the Union. Mexico submitted TO these various
acts Of injustice and oppression with more than
becoming calmness. But what was our course
towards herl Did we offer an atonement for the
injustice we had donel Did we even consent 10
treat with her on the subject! Mol Encouraged
by the success Of our rapacity, we scoffed at her
protests, scorned her suPplicaons, treated her
forbearance as cowardce, and marched our army
into territory that she had claimed since its first
settlement, and the citizens Of which spurned
any other allegiance. All this was done to Sc.
cure peace, was III "Tell that story to marines,
sailors won't believe it."
The man who steals his neighbor's horse is
seldom at a loss for reason for taking his sad.
die and bride also. He who forces his way in
to the paror, is not satisfied until he knows what
the desks and bureaus contain. So with those
who have the control Of our Government. They
obtained possession Of portion of a neighbors
estate, and that only created lust for more.
But if "rhe object Of this war is peace" why
have we not had peace! There has been no war
but what we ourselves made and the moment
we stop prosecuting war, we shall have peace
Mexico has made no war upon us. Her acts
were all in selldefence; her struggles to preserve
what she believed to be indisputaby hers. She
did not invade any territory that she believed to
be ours, but sought 10 defend what she consider
ed hers. For this war has been made upon her;
her people slaughtered by thousands, and left to
bleach upon herplains, aprey forravenous beasts!
For this, her farms have been desolated her
people driven from their homes, and treated as
intruders at their own fresides. For this, her
castles have beentu into barracks,-her altars
stained with the blood of her citizens,-and the
properly invested in them seized upon 10 defray
The expenses Of the war! For this. her rights
have been trampled upon,-her form Of govern
ment overturned, and her existence, as an inde-
pendent nation, blotted outl For this, we have
not only made war upon her, but levied contri.
buttons upon her commerce TO defray its expen'
ses! This wanton and uniusti6abe state Of af'
fairs has been in existence for more than year
and the end is not yet! Our rulers have set a
naught the Injunction "Do ye unto others as "
would that they should do unto you;" and unless
lne People Iook W 'He Ihat'ei Ill HHeI Hoy VIII W.
come, by acquiescence, parties TO the transaction
The war is war of the President; made by him
without consulting Congress; and its object is tc
dismember Mexico, and to appropriate TO our
selves her possessions. When men are determin
cd TO act unjust, it is easy 10 find pretcxtforhei
conduct; and it was 10 be expected that the Pres
ident, and those who live on the crumbs that fal
from their masters table, would attempt, in thi;
instance, to shield their own iniamy by sadding
the responsibility ofrhe war upon Mexico; and al
leging tina, they have been but following the path
of equal and exact justice. So did Peter follow
his mas,er,-"Afar of"
SENATORIAL CoNvENTIoN,-The Wing Con
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