The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-11-12
pOlitieal.
From the NdfinOol IntelI,gsHesr
The "Old Farmer Again.
Hop hal the par be Lrongkt 70 elose1


utterly vain and futile. The President
has taken the position that he will not
our armies until Mexico con-
sents to a peace; Mexico refuses to treat
until our troops are withdrawn; and, in
the mean time. the terms proposed TO be
offered on either side are such as the OPP
poSite party refuses to accept. So
long, therefore. as our armies continue in
Mexico, we can make no peace, even
though we make desert. What then,
is to be done} Shall the war be waged
inlerminably for no purpose whatever7
President Polk, on taking the Presi-
dental chair, finding himself in possess
ion Of a giants strength" seems to have
thought it necessary for him 40 use it
like giant" Accordingly, after having
clustered with England on the Oregon
question, and then accepted about half
what he claimed, he turned upon weak
distracted Mexico and siezed her by the
throat. Against this unprovoked vio-
lence Mexico demonstrated. and endeav-
ored to free herself from his grasp, but
she refused to humiliate herself, because
she was not conscious of having commit
ted any crime. And now, because she
does not fall upon her knees, and yield
up her territory and her citizeus TO Pres
Iident Polk's mercy. he and his whole Ca
binet are totally Disconnected, and know
not what course to pursue. Now, is it pos
sble they can be so utterly devoid ofshame
as to continue theiraggressions upon peo-
pie who demonstrate with so much digni-
ly in the midst of their misfortunes, and
exhibit firm resolution to perish rather
than humiliate themselves, where they
have committed no offence?
1t is perfectly evident that Congress
must interfere in some way to bring this
deplorable war to close. Should it fail
to take some active measures on the sub
Iject, it will disappoint the hopes of the
nation. If President Polk is to make
war with impunity, when and with whom
he pleaseS, aud if Congress cannot or
dare not refuse the supplies Of men or
money which he requires for carrying it
on, he needs nothing more except the
prerogatiye of the bowstring to become a
perfect Turkish Sultan. And the Sultan
of Turkey himself was scarcely commit
ting greater acts of violence and ferocity
upon Greece than President Polk is now
committing on Mexico, when England
and France inierposed for humanity
sake, and annihilated his feet at Navarino
No one wishes or expects that the
brave men now in Mexico shall be per
mitied to suffer for want of supplies; bu
surely Congress can insist that terms o
peace shall be greatly modified, before
they crafty any further the President
childish propensity to conquer other ma
iions. Were both Houses of Congress
to pass resolution that it would be ineH
pedient to admit foreign territory into tn
Union, except ,Oith the consent and at u
request of its inhabitants, it might go f;
towards facilitating peace, and placln
this nation in more honorable positio
. before the world than it now occupies.
The Constitution Of the United State
: was certainly never established for tn
, purpose TO conquer other nations. Ii
? sole object is to promote the happiness
our own people at home. To annex TO
eign territory, with its inhabitants, b
force, to the Union, is most preposte
;. Gus absurdity, because perfect freedom
at the very foundation of our institution
: Yet President Polk, in his extreH
! anxiety to gain some eclat for his admin
:, tration, after having expended hundrt
millions of dollars, aud sacrificed TWEEN
> thousand lives, in conquering Mexica
. territory, offers, through Mr.. Trist, Fl
- teen or twenty millions ofdolars for VIII
:, is not worth two millions. Can the fare
of folly go farther?
But the people of the United Stat'
q need no more territory. We have lar
8 enough to cultivate, and to spare. "
o have also cities to build and hsrbors TO il
|. prove; we have canals aud railroads
~ construct; we have forests TO clear al
/, rivers to make navigable; and, general
n to embellish that country which XII
20 Providence has ASST gned to us. "
~ have also the duties Of education, scien
Il and religion to attend to. Is it for su,
people to waste its energies in assau
ing other nationsl Shall we send armt
S men three thousand miles to burn the h
e. of the peaceful ranchero in Mexico!-
W Shall we send companies of enIglnee
ct there to blow up houses filed with
70 frighted shrieking women and childre
I'd Shall we follow these counselors who tt
ct us there is still more work for the bay
netl' Isit worthey object, in a ma
unanimous people like US. to make wido
re and orphans in Mexico! Many bad m
II there doubtless are in this unhappy cot
y = try; but shall we punish the innocent
% the crimes of the guiltyl 1t is not kna'
c and deparados of Mexico who suffer fr'
o the present war; it is the moral and ind
a, !, trious portion of her community who
III injured by our attacks. Then let WI
'S' counslls prevail. Let our armies be
-S' called; let us endeavor to atone Tor
aS errors of the past; let us gladden.
m hearts of the unfortunate Mexicans as
oh did those of starving Irishmen, for 81
~ mission of mercy confers more t
h. honor on a country than all the blot
I'M laurels which were ever gained.
,ss Do the enlightened people OF the !
his ted States, especially the females. rig
,lv ly consider the consequences of send