Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-19
nd hence they regard it as war for

understands it and hence they regard it for
existence.
There should be appended to this bill declaration
that we neither seek the disinemberment of Mexico
nor wl we hold any of her territory and will proceed
in the Of capture and conquest only TO weaken
her for this contest, and to produce an honorable
peace Such declaration, made TO Mexico, to our
people, and to the world is demanded by every cons-
Iteration we give the subject. The war; then,
ceases to be a war ofc0ngucst and the Mexicans
no be told by their leaders that it is war for
istence, a war of races nor can they excite the
sympathy Of the world people driven TO despera-
ton, and battling for their homes their affairs, and
their lives 1t is due to our own safety, as the con-
quest and retention of any part of Mexico involves the
question what is to be done with it, This raises the
question OF SLAVERY,
The South should not say the North has improper
ly started this question 1t had slept quietly until
within. three years past, and who then aroused it
The Sbuh in this manner A few political aboi-
tionsts at the North have insisted that the porer Of
the General Government should be exercised TO pro-
duce the abolition OF slavery i'll the savcholdng States,
but the great body OF the people there have ever holden
that the subject must remain with the States and that
the power of the General Government should not and
could not be consttutionaly exercised the subject
The issue not ,rhich ,cay the power should be
used to strengthen or abolish it, but the issue was
shall il Be used at all on the subject 1t this condi-
ton of things the South invoked the exercise OF the
power of the General Government to enlarge and per-
peuate slavery by the annexation OF Texas and when
the treaty made the Secretary of State as the
gan of the Government officially in his letters TO Mr.
King, our Minister to France, TO Mr. Pakenham the
| British Minister, to our Minister to Mexico, fully
avowed to the world that Texas to be annexed
/ to prercm the abolition Of sldrsry there, and there
| by 10 render ii more permanent here. That treaty
rejected by the Senate but these purposes, thus
fully and officially ar0ucd, were accomplished by the
Joint resolutions, and hence came this Now the
South having thus invoked the exercise of the power
of the General Government on the subject of slavery,
have gone to the political Aboti onss, and taken
part with them in the issue, and decided that such
power should be used, and it remains to the free
States TO say which way it shall be used.
Such is the way in which the North will view this
subject and the only way i'll which calamity can be
averted, is by openly declaring we will take, BY war
by treaty to conclude war, territory from Mex
leo. Should such proviso be adopted, then supplies
might be consistently voted but unless it is then each
must decide for himself whether he is prepared TO sus-
tain n war for unlimited conquest which, if unsuc-
ccssu is disgrace. and if successful is national dis
memberment and ruin. There are, however provi-
sions in this bill for which all would desire 10 vote
but it seems to be the policy of the majority in this
House to construct all bills in such form present
double aspect so that no Wing either for OF
against bill, whou. being implied one horn Of
the dilemma, and in such case consider him at liber
ty either to cast such vote as the exigency, OIL the
whole, will demand, or entirely to withhold his vote
which, if given, have effect and leave to the
overwhelming majority of the dominant party to take
their own course These views and others collateral
were illustrated at length.