The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-27

J trate, charged with its prosecution. But |
nat think II right to stop here. Ii is the priv
lege OF the people, in their primitive assemble
and Of every private man, however humble,
express an opinion in regard to the purposes {,
which the war should be continued; and sue
an expression will receive Just so much col
sidention and consequence as il is entitled 4
and no more.
Shall this war be prosecuted for the purpos
OF conquering aud alnexing Mexico, ia all il
boundless extent, TO the United States7
will not attribute TO the President OF IN
| United States any such design; but confe.
that have been shocked and alarmed by man
ifestations Of il in various quarters. OF all III
dangers and misfortunes which could befall thi
nation, SHOULD regard that Of It's becoming
warliks and conqusring power the most dirsfu
and fatal. History tells the mournfu tale G
conquering nations and eonqaerors. The tire
most celebrated conquerors, IN the eiviize
world. were Alexander, Car and Napoleor
The hrst, after overrunning a large portion @
Asia, and signing and lamenting that hey yer
no more worlds TO subdus srnet apremature an
fgnobie desth. His iieutenants auarrelled an
warred with each other, as to the spoiIs Of hi
victories, and finally lost them all. Gar, at
ter conquering Gaul, returned, with his trium
plant legions TO Rome, passed the Rubicon, an,
wa Nho oottiO VI udfrdidg hTdupicu upon
Liberties of his country, aud expired by the pa
trot hand OF Brutus. But Rome ceased to B.
free. War and conquests had enervated an,
corrupted the masses. The spirit Of true libert,
was extinguished, and a long line of emperor
succeeded, some Of whom were the most exc,
cradle monsters. that ever existed in human
form. And that most extraordinary man, per
haps, in all history, after subjugating all cont
mental Europe, occupying almost all its CAPT
tails, seriously threatening, according TO Mr.
Theirs, proud Albion itself, and decking the
brows Of various members of his family with
crowns torn from the heads Of other monarehs
lived to behold his own dear France itself in
the possession Of his enemies, and was made
himself a wretched captive, and far removed
from country, family and frie nds, breathed his
last on the distant and inhospitabIe rock Of st
Helena. The Alps aud the Rhine had been
claimed as the natural boundaries of France,
but even these could not be secured in the trea-
ties TO which she was reduced to submit. Do
you believe that the people Of Macedonia or
Greece, Of Rome, or OfFrance, were benefited,
individually or collectively, by the triumphs OF
their great captains1 Their sad lot was i'm
mense sacrifice Of life, heavy and intolerable
burdens, and the ultimate loss of liberty itself
That the power Of the United States is COM
pete mt 10 the conquest of Mexico is quite pro-
bable. But it could not be achieved without
frightful carnage, dreadful sacrifices Of human
life, and the creation Of an onerous national
debt; nor could it be completely effected, in all
probability, until after the lapse OF many years
IL would be necessary to occupy all its strong
holds, to disarm its Inhabitants, and 10 keep
them in constant fear and subsection. To con-
summate the work, I presume that standing
armies, not less than hundred thousand men,
u0uld ha Ia h. Ian u. 10.
in thu bosom of their country. These standing
armies, revealing in foreign land, and accus-
toned TO trample upon the liberties of foreign
people, at some distant day, might be fit and
ready instruments, under the lead OF some da-
ring and unprincipled chieitain, to return to
their country and PROSTATE the public liberty.
Surprising the conquest TO be ouce made
what is TO be done with III Is il to be govern
cd, like Roman Provinces, by Proconsulsl
Would il be compatible with the genius, chsrac-
ter, aud safety Of our free institutions, to keep
such great country Mexico, with popula-
ton Of not less than nine millions, in a state OF
constant military subjection'
Shall it be annexed to the United Statesl-
Does any consderate man believe il possible
that two such immense countries, with terrific
ries of nearly equal extent, with populations so
incongruous, so different in race, IN language,
in religion aud laws, could be blended toge the 4
in one harmonious mass, and happily governed
by one common authority Murmurs, discon-
tents, Instructions, rebellion, would inevitably
ensue, until the incompatible parts would be
broken asunder, and possibly, in the frghtfu
struggle, our present glorious Union itself
would be discovered or dissolved. We ought
not to forget the warning voice Of all history,
which teaches the difficulty Of combining and
together, conquering and con-
quered nations. After the lapse of eight hun
dred years. during which the Moors held their
conquest Of Spain, ne indomitable courage, per-
ssverence and obstinacy Of the Spanish race Fl.
nally tr.umphed, aud expelled The African in-
vaders from the Peninsula And, even within
our own time, the colossal power Of Napoleon,
when at its loftiest height, was incompetent to
subdue and subjugate the proud Castilian. And
here in our own neighborhood, Lower Canada,
which near one hundred years ago, after the
conclusion of the seven years war, was ceded
by France to Great Britain, remains a foreign
land in the midst Of the British provinces, for
eign in feeling and attachment, and foreign in
laws, language and religion. And what has been
the fact with poor, gallant, generous and OPP
pressed Irelandl Centuries have passed away,
since the overbearing Saxon overruu aud subju-
gated the Emerald Isle. Rivers Of Irish blood
have flowed, during the long and arduous con-
test. Instruction and rebellion have been the
order Of the day; and yet, up to this time, Ire
land remains alien in feeling, affection and SYM
pathy, towards the power which has so long
borne her down. Every Irishman hates, with
a mortal hatred, his Saxon oPPressor.
Although there are great territorial differ
ences between the condition Of England and
Ireland, as compared to that Of the United
States and Mexico, there are some points OF
~. H. 4.
Irish and the Mexcans are probably Of the
same Celtic race. Both the English and the
Americans are Of the same Saxon origin. The
Catholic religion predOminates in both the for
mer, the Protestant among both the latter
Religion has been the fruitful cause Of dissatis-
faction aud discomfort between the Irish and
the English nations. Is their reason to appre-
bend that il would become so between the peo-
pie of the United States anc those Of Mexico, il
they were united togetherl Why should we
seek to interfere with them, in their mode OF
worship Of a common Saviour7 We believe
that they are wrong, especially in the exclusive
character Of their faith, and that We are right
They think that they are right and We wrong
What other rule can there be than 10 leave the
followers Of each religion 10 their own solemn
convictions Of conscientious duty towards God
Who, but the great Arbiter Of the Universe
can Judge in such a question: For my owl
part, sincerely believe aud hope, that thos'
who belong to all the departments Of the grea
church Of Christ, IL, in truth and purity, they
conform to the doctrines which they profess
will ultimately secure an abode in those regon
Of bliss. which all aim finally to reach. lthinl
that there is no potentate in Europe, whateve
his religion NAV be, more enlightened or a
this moment SO interesting as the liberal heai
of the Papal See.
But suppose to he impossible that those who favor
II there be any who favor the annexation Of Mexico
the U. states, think that IL ought to be perpetu all
by military sway, Certainly no voary ofhuman liber
could deem IL right thai violation should be perpetra
Of great principles Of our revolution, ACCORDING
TO which laws ought not to be enacted and taxes ough
not he levied without representation on the part
.hll 10 fha alad