Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-01-14

| repeat, we must have territory from Mexico
and there can be no harm in stating under
What circumstances when every action of our
Government proclaims il to the world as clearly
and as unerringly as words could do.
Shall the territory now free which shall come
to our jurisdiction be free territory, open to set
Element by the laboring men of the free States,
or shall it be slave territory given up to slave Ia
tor? One or other it must be; it cannot be both
The labor of the free white men and women, and
of their children, cannot and will not eat and
drink, and lie down, and rise up with the black
labor of s.aves free white labor will not be de-
graded by such association. IL slavery Is not
excluded by law, the presence of the slave will
exclude the laboring white man. The young
men who went with their axes to the forests, ard
hewed out Of the wilderness such States as Ohio
aud Indiana and Michigan and Illinois, and To-
wa, and Wisconsin, would never have consented
in the workshops or in the field to be coupled
with negro slaves. These powerful common
weahs have sprung up in the great West, with
in the memory of single generation, free, pop
ulous, and fourishing, by the wisdom Of the leg
isaion Of the men Of the Revolution One act
of this Government did more for them than all
other acts of Legislation. 1t was tho ordinance
of July, 1887, by which slavery and involuntary
servitude, except for crime was forever prohibit
ed in all the territory of the United States north
and west Of the Ohio river. The brave and pat
roic generation who achieved our independence,
and established the Republic, did not hesitate a.
bout passing such an act. They thus saved
these now populous and powerful States from the
evils of slavery and black population.
Shall we hesitate TO do the same thing for ter
rtory where slavery does not now exist? | trust
not. The man who has wealth or credit to pur-
chase a plantation, and become the owner Of
slaves, may settle and reside without social deg
radiation in a country where slavery exists. Not
so with the laborng white man. He cannot go
withoat social degradation, and he therefore will
not 60. He is excluded quite as effectualy as
he could be by law. The mere presence Of sla-
very, wherever it exists, degrades the condition,
the responsibility, the character of labor. false
and mischevous public opinion regarding the
condition and responsibility of labor is produced
by Its, presence; and false md recreaut to his
race and to his constituency would be any Rep
resentative of free white men and women, who
should by his vote place free white labor upon
condition of social equality with the labor of the
black slave; equally false would he be who, up
on any pretence, should, by inaction and evasion
of the question, produce the same degrading
result.
The measure which had the honor to propose
presented this subject to the House. ] cannot,
and Of course do not, claim any originality in the
principles Of the bill, one feature Of which comes
from the earnest recommendation Of the Presi-
dent in his special message TO Congress of the
last session. the other from the motion of my
friend from Pennsylvania, Mr. Wilmot,) and the
adoption of his proposition by the House when
the bill was considered and passed. The bill is
again, in the annual message Of the President at
the opening OF the present session, strongly re-
commended TO the favorable attention Of Con-
gross. The history OF the measure is known TO
hn a,1l, cod tLnI V.N,ten
OF Representatives at the last session. late on the
Saturday night next preceding Monday, the 10th
of August, on which day congress had decided
TO adjourn at ~ O'clock at neon. Many other
important bills were still pending in the Senate,
TO be decided on the forenoon of Monday, and
this BILL taken up in the last hour of the session
OF the Senate, did not receive the final action of
vote upon its passage, but WINS lost by not hav-
ing been voted upon, and without the decision of
the Senate. This measure, in tine of war; Is
recommended by the President and should be
acted on by Congress as peace measure, and is
evidence 10 the country and to the world that,
however vigorously it may be deemed just and
proper TO prosecute The war, while war or cause
of war exists, still the desire for honorable peace
is sentiment strong as ever with our Govern
ment; and this measure, recommended by the
| President, is evidence that no intention exists,
in negotiating peace to demand terms other
than such as are honorable both 10 this country
and to Mexico,
OF the causes Of the war, or the manner in
which il commenced, it would scarcely be prop
err Tor me now TO speak even if it were, these
topics have been discussed at very considerable
| length by those much more able TO elucldate
them than | am. ! am one of those who believe
a war with Mexico was inevitable after the an
nexation of Texas, upon the terms selected by
| President Tyler were consummated. Wheth.
er the alternative mode presented by Congress,
or any other mode of terms would have avoided
war, 1t is now, perhaps, useless TO inquire. The
annexation OF Texas to the United States was
believed to be desired by the people of both
countries, and Texas was annexed The right
OF annexation by two independent nations can
moi be questioned. But 10 Obtain, possession Of
I'amaulipas and chihuahua, betw cen the Nueccs
and the Rio Grande, ,oiere the .Mericdns held DIS
pulled possession, and to get Santa Fe, phere the
.Nerican authorities and people held ,IadisPuted
possession, the use Of force was necessary The
use aof force between nations to decide a disa-
greement between them is war;
The use of force and of military power was
necessary, repeat, to expel the Mexican author
tiles from all of these provinces claimed by Tex
as, unless Mexico should cede them by negotla-
| ton. But Mexico not only refused TO abandon
Tanaulpas and Chihuahua, between the Nueces
of Texas, but she even asserted clain upon
Texas itself, and declared that the annexation OF
Texas to the United States would be regarded
by her as an act of war on the part of the Uni
ted States against Mexico When measures fol
the annexation Of Texas were adopted by our
Government Mexico withdrew her minister from
Washington, refused to renew negotiations, and
prepared to wage war. In the valley of the Ric
Grande, on the Texan side of that river, che ar
mics of the two nations met, hoslilities common
, ced, and actual war was waged. There can be
no doubt of what is the duty of every good cit
{ zen of the United States in state OF war. The
enemies Of his country should be his enemies
1 her friends his frineds. A cordial support ant
. vigorous prosecution Of the war should be sus
tanned while the war lasts. The war should b.
. terminated whenever an honorable pePce can b.
obtained, and not before.
!, The bill which proposed, and still propose I
a introduce, looks TO such termination Of the wal
!. While its first feature-the two million apprc
|. priation--more clearly discloses what it woul
be in vain to deny, or attempt to conceal, thu
the acquisition OF territory, at least OF the Cal
iornias and New Mexico, as an indemnity for III
d war, as well as for previous wrongs and injurie
% against our Government and citizens, will be il
y sisted upon by the Government OF the Unite
: States, but upon terms liberal and honorable
"a l.