Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-01
WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING
FOR.
We commend the following article to the care
(ul consideration of every reader
NEW GROUNDS OF THE WAR.

| lul consideration Oh every ie""N''
From the National intclliscncor.
NEW GROUNDS OF THE WAR.
There is no consequence Of the pending War,
either actual or probabc-not the elfuson OF
blood nor the waste of treasure which is more
TO be dreaded by us as Nation than our losing
in its progress the sympathy and esteem OF the
civilized aud Christian world. Until the nnhap-
by series of measures began which led to the
existing attempt to trample nelghborlng Re
| public in the dust. we stood, the gaze and The
DELIGHT of those who love human happiness TIE
contrast of tyrannies, the fairest civil spectacle
that the world has seen-that of great coun
try not more just, wise, vigorous, and yet mod.
crate in all its foreign policy, than liberal, equal
and benefcent in its domestic. All eyes were
turned upon us-those Of the good to admire,
and of dcspots themselves to regard with respect
the example of rising spendor so blameesss.
Hitler the oppressed, even in distant hemis-
pheres, sent forth their thoughts and their hopes
whenever they dreamed that with courage, vir-
tue, and prudence, all may be free. The phi
Ianlhropst beheld in us the arrival OF a new era
in human affairs, an era of humanity and peace
and the phosophc student OF social institutions
hailed in the workings OF our public order the
realization of almost Utopian theories. To all
this bright reputation, this admiration, and this
expectation abroad, severe blow has been
dealt; and even at home, where patriotism for
bids that men should so easily despair the warm
confidence of few years since in the solidity
of our institutions is fearfuly shaken Never,
in short, has the Government of any country
undergone change of position Tore strange,
or more alarming: never was any country, to
such point, more the favorite aud the hope of
mankind; nor ever before did pernicious rulers
contrlve, in so brief space, 50 deeply to mort
gage the national character as ours have DONE
When this Administration came into exist
ence, by the fiat of Gen. Jackson registered in
the Baltimore Convention, we were at peace
with the foreign world, and in the enjoyment Of
perfect tranquility at home. The annexation
question had been settled by Congress; in a
form not warranted by the constitution, it is true,
yet ucquesced in rather than resort 10 a violent
remedy and care had been taken by Congress,
in the act of annexation, Tor the pacific adjust
ment of any question concerning it which might
arise between the United States and McXico.--
Within our own borders every branch Of indus
try was prosperous beyond example; the sails OF
our ships whitened every ocean in the pursuit
Y Of q profitable commerce, which besides rich
1freglAs to the merchants in exchange for our
surplus products, poured into the national cof-
:. fers copious and abundant stream Of revenue.
Fhe President had nothing 10 do but 10 take
things as he found them, and leave them so, to
have secured 10 the country, during the whole of
himself the envable renown of wise and pater-
nal Magistrate. But tranquility was not the
element for him. In proportion as nature had
apparently fitted him for it, he disdaned it,
Arrived at the Presidency, WAR, CONQUEST
and DOMINION seem TO have filled his thoughts
and haunted his repose. His waking thought
was "tho whole of Oregon or none,n and his
earliest dream was Of trumpet-calls to the bold
spirits of the West Of a march to the Hall OF the
Montezumas, of war and bloodshed, and finally,
of a second " Conquest of Mexico" Such were
the indications, not to be Mistaken of the Pres-
dental intents and aspirations, as reflected by
the mirror it was his first act to set up here as
the organ of mis- administration The practical
results of these curly promptlngs OF misguided
ambition soon disclosed themselves IN subslan-
tial acts. The patriotism and wisdom Of the
Senate, and the good sense of tho British Gov
eminent, saved us from the threatened collision
in the distant wild of Oregon. But no wisdom
Or patriotism of the Senate, or OF Congress
could save us from the war with Mexico
Though foreseen and foretold, the People were
S deaf and would not hear-blind and woulC
IS not see--whst the President was steathily
Il LAYING plans, and actually taking measures
which must necessarily lead TO the conclusion
{ that followed. Time and again we directed the
u public attention to these things: but our renon
strances and deprecatlons were unheeded. Fon
4
: der this administration, we called the attention
u of the Public to The probability that the Execu
c tive would Weld to the solicitation ofTcXas Jus
l. "annexed") so far as TO occupy territory to the
. line of the Rio Grande which occupation, We
then said, was nothing short of an invasion
: Mexico" and would be act of the Preslden
l. making ,uay, in the full sense of the term, OF
,r his own authority; and u couple OF months at
- forwards, 10 the departure of Commodore Stock
. ton. in steam trigate from Norfolk, with hi
: mission to California announced from his quar-
n fer deck: and vet later, to the intention OF tn
Il President TO make War upon Mexico,f an iaten
y. ton ayerted at the moment only by the receptio
" of news from Mexico of her willingness to re
II caiye Commissioner to settle the boundary dis
81 pu,c-a purpose, on her part defeated, as GU
ID readers know, by our sending Minister
- treat of things in general, instead of a speci'
Minister to treat of particular topics OF dlscor'
Our warning voice was raised in vain. I'll
In oyerpowering interest of the Oregon question
70 then yet unsettled Withdrew the public attentio
. from what the President was doing until II
- thunders of this war of his making broke ups
u our'ears.
In the conduct of this War, from the begi
ming of it to the present time, we see only Il
Absolute Will of the Executive, carried out
his own acts, and to this day only SO far sanctlo
r. ed by Congress as has been necessary to sa
sr, the National Arms from disgl acct
ew But if capable of learning any Thing, the A
-, ministratlon should surely have come to unde
" stand by this time, that the ambitious calculate
- on which the war was at last haIarded, 1t II
il. absolutely courted, by ordering our troops, (u
40. moIested, and even unthreatened, at Corp