Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-30
1poIttital.
PEACE WITH MEXICO.
BYALBERT GALLATIN.
(Conctuded.)
CHARACTERIZATION.

mount to a declaration of war, ind that the COM
psratye weakness of Mexco alone prevented its
government from considering it as such.
Under these circumstances, it was evidently |
the duty Of the United States to use every means
TO soothe and conciliate the Mexicals and to
wait with patience for an unconditional recognl-
ton of the independence Of Texas, till the feel
ings excited by Our aggression had subsidized.
II has been shown that after Mexico had re-
Sorted as substitute for war, to the harmless
suspension Of the ordinary diplomatic inter-
course, the attempt to make it retract that
measure, before any negotiations for the res
toration of harmony between the two countries
should be entered into was neither countenan-
ced by The acknowledged law of nations, nor me-
cessafy For any useful purposes, nor consistent
with proper and just sense Of the relative posi-
ton in which the aggressive measures of the U
nited States had placed the two countries But
that the refusal OF Mexico to submit to that adj
ditonal contumely, should have been considered
as an insult to the United States, betrays the
pride of power, rather than just sense of what
is due to the true dignity aud honor of this ne
ton.
1t has been demonstrated, that the republic of
Texas had not a shadow of RICH. to the territory
adjacent to the left bank of the lower portion OF
the Rio Norte that though she claimed, she
never had actually exercised jurisdiction over a
nv portion oft; that the Mexicans were the sole
inhabitants, and in actual possession Of that dis.
trict that therefore It's forcible occupation by
the army of the United States was, according to
the acknowledged law of NATIONS. as well as in
fact, an act of open hostility and war; that the
resistance of the Mexicans to that invasion was
legitimate; and that therefore the war was I'M
provoked by them, and commenced by the Uni
ted States.
If any doubt should remain ofthe correctness
OF these statements, let them be tested by the di-
vine and undeniabe precept, "Do uuto others
as you would be done by"
II at this moment France was to contract
treaty Of defensive and offensive alliance with
Mexico, treaty taking effect Immediately, and
pending the war between the United States and
Mexico, and binding herself to defend it with all
her forces against any and every other Power,
would not the United States at once consider
such treaty as declaration of war?
If, in lieu of declaring war against Great Brit
ain, in the year 1872 the United States had on.
ly suspended the ordinary diplomatic relations
between the two countries and Great Britain
had declared that she would not enter into any
negotiation for the settlement of all the subjects
of difference between the two countries, unless
the United States should as preliminary con-
dItion, restore those relations would not this
have been considered as most nsolent demand,
and one TO which the United States never would
submit?
If the United States were, and had been for
more than a century, in possession of a tract Of
country, exclusively inhabited and governed by
them, disturbed only by the occasional iorays OF
an enemy, would they rot consider the forcbe
military invasion and occupation of such dis
trict by third Power, as open and unprovoked
war, commenced against them? And could
their resistance to the invasion render them LA
BILE to the imputation of having themselves com.
menced the war?
Yet it would seem as if the splendid and al
most romantic success of the American ARM
had, for while, made the people Of the United
States deaf TO any other consideration than al
enthusiastic and exclusive love of military glo
ry; as it, forgetting the origin Of the war, ant
with an entire disregard for the dictates OF jus
tice, they thought that those successes gave thu
nation right to dismember Mexico, and to ap
pirate to themselves that which did not belon;
to them.
But do moi despair, for | have faith in our in
stitu,ions and in the people; and will now as
them whether this was their mission? and wheth
er they were placed by Providence on this con
tinent for the purpose of cultvating false glory
and of sinking TO the level of those ger con
querors who have at all times desolated TN
earth?
yII.-THE MISSION OF THE UNITED STATES.
The people of the United States have bee
placed by Providence in u position never befor
enjoyed by any other nation They are posses
sed of most extensive territory, with very fer
tile soil, variety of climates and productions
and capacity of sustaining population grea,
er in proportion to its extent, than any other tel
rtory Of the same size on the face of tn
globe.
By concourse Of various circumstances the
found themselves, at the epoch of their indeper
dence in the full enjoyment of religious, cyi
and political liberty, entirely free iiom any ht
reditary monopoly Of wealth or power TT
people at large were in full and quiet possessiC
of all those natural rights, for which the poop
Of other countries have for long time conten
ed, and still do contend. They were and yc
still are the supreme sovereigns, acknowledge
as such by all. For the proper exercise Of thes
uncontrolled powers and privileges, you are r.
sponsible to posterty, TO the world at large ar
10 the Almighty Being who has poured on yc
such unparalleled blessings.
Your mission is, to improve the state of Il
world to be the "Model Republic;' to sho
that men are capable of governing themselye
and that this simple and natural form Of COVER
ment is that also which conlers most happine
on all, Is productive of the greatest developeme
of the intellectual faculties above all that viii,
is attended with the highest standard of priya
and political virtue and morality.
Your forefathers, the founders of the Repu
lie, mbued with deep feeling of their rigl
and duties, did not devate from those princp,
The sound sense, the wisdom, the probity, I
respect for public faith, with which the inter-
conc erns of the nation were managed made Q
institutions an object of general admiration.
Here for the first time, was the experiment
tempted with any prospect of success, and on
large scale, of Representative Democratic X
public. If it failed, the last hope of the fren
of mankind was lost or indefinitely postpone
and the eyes of the world were turned towai
You Whenever real or pretended apprehensic
of the imminent danger Of trusting the peo
at large with power, were expressed, the ansv
ever was, Look at America"
In their external relations the United Stat
before this unfortunate war, had, whilst susto
ing their Just rights, ever acted in strict conf
nifty with the dictates of justice, and display
the utmost moderation. They never had volt
tarly injured any other nation. Every acqui
ton OF territory from Foreign Powers was ht
estly made, tho result Of Treaties, not impos
but freely assented to by the other party. I
preservation OF peace was ever primary obje
The recourse to arms was always in self defen
On its expedency there may have been diff
ence of opinion that, in the only two instan,
of conflict with civilized nations which occur
during period Of sixty-tbree years, (i7e3
1885, the just rights Of the United States