The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-12-08

! laws OF nations, have Dcen ]uStlllaDlc
cause of war, as when having the means
State pertinacously refused TO pay an ac-
knowlcdgcd demand, but in the condition
| that Mexico then was, torn to pieces by do
mcslic disscnsion and strife, subject to frc
qucnt revolutions, the people of the United
States would never have co srnted to have
made that alone the cause of war against IL
sister Republic. We must then look back
; to the intrusion upon our territory us JUS
! t6cation.
! IF an enemy assail us, we are justified
| by the laws OF nature, and OF nations, not
only to rcrel it, but SO to diSarm him, or to
put him into Il condition from which we
might reasonably suppose he would cease
to annoy US. Texas, standing alone, had
driven Mexico out of the licld, and actual
war between them had long ceased, and at:
ter the lessons which she had been so Sc
vcrcly taught at Rcsac;l dc la Palma, Pa
supposed that she would have been eager
again to try her strength with the arms Of
tho United States, and the honor and inte-
rest OF tho country would have been vindi.
Gated, by arrcs,ing the war then, at least
until, in her folly and madness, she should
renew the contest. TO conquer Il peace"
the country at an immense cost Of blood
and treasure. Hcr armies have been
swept before us like grass before the reap
er's scythc. Her scaports, many of her
cities, and her great capital arc i'll our pos
have rendered to her ovcrturcs intended as
pacific, which have been Indignantly re-
jlectcd, and tho nation driven to desperation
and how is this peace TO be conquered?
Ii by the conquest and permanent occupa-
ton ofthe country, it is worthy Of the grave
and solemn consideration Of the people Of
the United States whether the fec simple Is
worth in dollars and cents, the cost of the
conquest Suppose it conquered, the di-
verSity i'll oiir language and religion would
be an lnseparabe obstacle to their cordial
amalgation with Us, and until their rcmcm-
brancc of what they at least will assume to
, he the wrongs we have done them, shall
have passed away, large army will be
necessary to keep them in subjcction.-
Apart from these difficulties, what benefit
arc we to derive from the conquest? 4
communication between our North. Yves
tern possessions and the Pacific Ocean is
certainly very desirable, but beyond this,
, we have already territory enough to satisfy
the demands OF our population for many
generations TO comc-none is hardly de-
slrabc, rs we arc already cavilling amongst
ourselves about the spoiIs of the anticlpa
ted victory which may lead to contest
moro disastrous than the war itself. 1t be-
comes then question Of serious import and
great delicacy, to determine what course,
in this juncturc, the Government Of the u.
States ought to pursue. 1t ought not, and
| | trust will not, do any act calculated to
compromit its interest, honor. Or dignity
but its object and end, in the prosecution
ofthis war, if there be any other than the
attainment of honorable peace, is yet shut
up in the closet, and trust shall not be
deemed impcrtincnt in making some sug-
gestions in relation to it. The enemy has
already been severely chastiscd for her ag-
grcssions upon us, our arms have met with
no reverses, but have trinmphed in many
bloody field; always against fearful odds
in numbers We are in possession Of her
seaports, and venture to suggest, as wor-
thy of consideration, whether we should in
cur any odium. and whether we should not
consult our interest and dignity by with
drawing our army from the interior Of the
country, and throwing around line of
clrcumvcllation which would cut her off
from all communication with the rest Of the
worlds not as we'll calculated to produce
what ought TO be the desired result, as lay
ing waste the country with the sword, and
at a less expense of blood and treasure.
! | have ventured these rcmaks, in the be-
lief that you will receive them as coming
from one having no feelings or aspiration
incon istent with the intnreSt md nlor,, IF
the American people, and with the knowl-
edge that you have no immediate power
over the subject, or that you would feel any
disposition improperly to interfere with the
legitimate powers of the General Govern
ment in the prosecution of the war, but that
your voice is entitled to be heard and must
cammand respect, if you think proper TO
give it utterance.
! cannot dismiss the subject Of this war
without some notice of our own Palmetto
| Reoiment-ina1eup I'M of some Of tho Iest