Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-09

principle of reciprocity IN the commerce AM
navigation of the United States with them.
Out of these acts have sprung a Glass; and
large class, Of treaties -four or FIVE of whcl
were negotiated whilst was 10 the department
Of Stete) commonly called reciprocity treaties
concluded under all the Presidents, from MI
Madison 10 Mr. Van Buren,, inclusive. And
with regard TO commercial treaties, negotiated
with the sanction of prior acts Of Congress
where they contained either appropriations o.
were IN conflict with unrepealed statutes, 1t ha;
been ever held as the republican doctrine, from
Mr.. jays treaty down to the present time, tina
the passage OF acts Of Congress was necessary
10 secure the execution of those treaties. If in
the matter of foreign commerce, in respect L
which the power vested in Congress to regulate
1t and the treaty making power, may be regard
ed as concurrent, Congress can previously de
eide the objects TO which negotiation shall be ap
piled, how much stronger is the case of war
the power to declare which is confded exclu
sively to Congress?
conclude, therefore, Mr.. President and fel.
low-cltlzons, with entire confidence, that Con.
gress has the right, either at the beginning, OF
during the prosecution Of any war, 10 decide the
objects and purposes tor which il was proclaim
cd, or for which it ought to be continued. And
think 1t is the duty OF Congress, by some de.
iberate and authentic act, to declare for what
objects the present war shall be longer prosecu.
to regulate his conduct by the pronounced will
OF Congress, and to employ the force and the di
plomatlc power of the nation to execute that will
But, II the President should decline or refuse tr
do so, and, IN contempt of the supreme authori
~ OF Congress, should persevere in wagng the
war, Tor other objects than those proclaimed by
Congress, then 1t would be the imperative duty
of that body TO vindicate its authority by the
most stringent and ehectual, and appropriate
If 10 fha
should refuse to conclude a treaty, containing
stipulatlons securing the objects designated by
Congress, It would become the duty of the whole
government to prosecute the war, with a! the ma
tional energy, until those objects were attained
by treaty of peace. There can be no insuper-
able difficulty in Congress making such an au-
thoritalive declaration. Let it resolve, simply
that the war shall, or shall not be war of con.
quest; and, If a war of conquest what is to be
conquered, Should resolution pass, disclaim-
In the design OF conquest, peace would follow in
less than sixty days, if the President would con
form to his constitutional duty.
Here, fellow citizens, | might pause, havinr
indicated a mode by which the nation, through
its accredited and legitimate representatives in
Congress, can announce for what PURPOSES and
objects this war shall be longer prosecuted, and
can mus let the whole people of the United
States know for what end their blood is to be fur
NJ
instead Of the knowledge of it being locked rn|
and concealed in the bosom of one man. We
should no longer perceive the objects of the war
varying, from time TO time, according to the
changing opinions of the Chief Magistrate char
ged with It's prosecution. But do not think /,
right to stop here. 1t is the privilege of the peo-
pie, III their primitive assemblies and of every
private man, however humble, to express an opin-
ION IN regard TO the purposes for which the war
bn o,,J
receive Just so much consideration and conse-
guence as it is entitled to, and no more
Snail this war be prosecuted for the purpose
OF conquerng and anneXing Mexico, in ali its
6oundless extent, 10 the United States?
Will not attribute 10 The President of the U.
nted States any such design; but | confess |
have been shocked and alarmed by manifesto
tons OF 1t IN various quarters. OF all the dan
gers and mlstortunes which could befa this ma
ton, should regard that Of its becoming war
Ike and conquering power, the most direful and
latal. History tells the mournful tale of con-
querlng nations and conquerors. The three most
celebrated conquerors in the civilized world
were Alexander Caesar and Napoleon. The
first after overrunning large portion of Asia
and signing and lamentlng that there we're no
more worlds TO subdue, met premature and ig-
noble death. HIS Lieutenants quaarelled and
warred with each other, as to the spols of his
conquerlng Gaul, returned, with his triumbhani
legions, to Rome passed The Rubicon, won The
battle OF Pharsala, trampled upon the liberties
OF his country, and expired by the patriot hand
OF Brutus. But Rome ceased TO be free War
and conquest had enerVated and corrupted the
masses. The spirit of true liberty was exttn.
sulshed, and long line OF emperors succeeded,
some OF whom were the most execiable mon
sters that ever existed i'll human form. And that
most extraordinary man. perhaps, in all history,
after subjugating all continental Europe, occu.
plying almost all its capitals, seriously threaten.
ed, 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 monarchs, lived to behold his own dear
france Itself IN the possession Of his enemies
and was made himself a wretched ceptiye. and
TAR removed from country, family, and friends.
breathed his last on the distant and inhospabe
rock of st. Helena. The Alps and the Rhine
had been claimed as the natural boundaries or
France, but even these could not be secured in !
the treatlea to which she reduced TO submit,
DO you believe that the people Of Macedon or
Greece, or Rome, or OF France, were benefited.
individually or collectively, by the riumphs of
their great captains i? Their sad lot was i'm
mense sacrifice of life, heavy and intoerabe
burdens, and the ultimate loss of liberty itself
That The power of the U. States is competent
70 the conquest OF Mexico, is quite probable -
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 probabili.
", until after the lapse of many years. 1t would
be necessary to occupy all its strong holds, to
dlsarm lis Inhabitants, and to keep them in con
slant fear and subsection. To consumate the
work, presume that standing armies, not less
than hundred thousand men, would DO neces
sary, to be kept, perhaps, always IN the bosom of
their country. These standing armies reveing
in foreign land, and accustomed to trample up
on the Liberties of foreign people, at sone dis
tant day, might be fit and ready Instruments, un-
der the lead of some daring and unprincped
cheftaln, to return to cir country and pros
trate the public liberty.
Surprising the conquest to be once made, what
is to be done with it? Is il to be governed. like
Roman provinces, by Proconsuls? Would it be
compatible with the genius, character and safe
ty OF our free institutions, to keep such a great
country as Mexico, with a population of not less
than nine millions, in state Of constant military
subsection?
Shall it be annexed to the United States |?
Does any considerable man believe it possible
that two such immense countries, with terrific
rles, of nearly equal extent, with populations
so incongruous, SO different in race, in Ian
guage, in religion and in laws, could be
blended together in one harmonious mass and