The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-12-02

OF uOt, lIOlil puDlS NAN~SAN
ingly / have stated
9Th That it seems to me that it is the duty
of our country, as well on the score OF mode
ration and magnanimity, as with the view OF
avoiding dscord and discomfort at home, to
abstain from seeking to conquer and annex
to the United States, Mexico or any part OF
it; and, especially, to disabuse the pubhc
mind in any quarter of the Union OF the I'M
preston, if it anywhere exists, that desire
Tor CONQUEST is cherished for the purpose OF
propagating or extending Slavery.
have embodied, Mr.. President and fellow
citizens, the sentiments and opinions winch
have cndeavored to explain and enforce in
series Of resolutions, which l beg now to sub
init to your consideration and Judgment
They are the following:
l. Resolved, As the opinion of this meeting that
the primary cause of the present unhappy War eX-
listing between the United States Of America and the
u S. of the Republic of Mexico was the Annexation
of Texas to the former, and the immediate occasion
of hostilities between the two Republics arose out
Of the order of the President of the United States for
the removal of the Army under the command OF
Gen. Taylor from its position at Corpus Christi to
point opposite Matamoras on the east bank OF the
Rio Bravo within the territory claimed by both
Republics, but then under jurisdiction OF Mexico
and inhabited by its citizens-hAt the order oil he
President for the removal Of the Army to that point
was improvdent and unconstitutional, 1t beng With-
out the concurrence Of Congress- or even cohsuita-
ton with it, although it was i'll session; but Una.
Congress having by its subsequent acts recognized
the War thus brought into existence without It's
previous authority consent the prosecution OF 1t
became thereby national
Q. Resolred That in tho absence of any formal
md public declaration by Congress of the objects
fr which tho War ought to be prosecuted, the
President of the United States as Chief Magistrate,
MS Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy Of
the United States is left to the guidance OF his own
Judgment to prosecute it for such purposes and OBJ
jccts he may deem the noAor anu interest VI lhe
nation to require
3. Resolsed, That, by the Constitution OF the
United States, Congress being invested with power
to declare war and grant letters of marquc and re-
prisals to make rules concerning captures by land
and water, to raise and support armies, to PROVIDE
and maintain a navy, and to make rules Tor the
government of the land and naval forces-has the
fullest and most complete war making power oil the
people of the United States, and, so possessing it,
has right to determine upon the motives, causes
md objects of a war, when once commenced, or at
any time during the progress OF its existence.
d. Resolved As the farther opinion Of this meet
ing that it is the duty of Congress to dec are, by
some authentic act, for what purpose and object
The existing war ought to be farther prosecuted
that it is the duty of the President in his official
capacity to conform to such declaration OF Con-
gress; and, if after such declaration the President
Should decline or refuse to endeavor by all the
means civil diplomatic and military, in lis power
n exncutn the announced will of Congress and. in
defiance of its authority, should continue to prose-
cute tho War for purposes and objects other than
those declared by that body, it would become the
right and duty of Congress to adopt the most eihca-
cious measures to arrest the farther progress OF inc
War. taking care to make ample provisions Tor the
honor the safety and security OF our armies III
Mexico i'll every contingency; and II Mexico should
decline or refuse to conclude treaty with us, stp-
ulating for the purposes and objects so declared by
Congress, it would be the duty Of the Government
to prosecute the War with the utmost vigor until
they were attained by Treaty of Peace.
p.,o7,sd That wo view with serious alarm,
,,,J arn uttarlv onnoscd TO any purpose like the
AM ~ kIIi;ro ~ fla Irnitcd States in any
as ", b conOuest that we believe
the two Nations could not be happily governed by
na co,,oon authority owing TO their great differ
oe e oF rono law isngnoge and RELIGION, and the
t o.tont ~ thair rosnectyo territories and large
om9nnt Of THAR respective populations, that such
en-; o;t ha opnsent oF Tho eyosneratcd Next
'o 'aoIa co,IJ onlv bo cffectrd and preserved by
49, cfPo,',is Hrn,cs the constant qualification of
N1;i;tor, cnron in nthor words bv delnotic sway
,ai1j a tho Wnxicon Poonle in the frat in
etoncn hnt which there Womb be, lust cause
stance, put M"cii, tileto "ouam ~, J" ti,o ho
"lP 'o .r ,oIo If tba ITnited Stotes that
go denraco+o ttnraC1ra such n union MS wholly
Incompatible with the genius of our Government
and with the character of our free and liberal lnstl-
tuuons ana we anX9a,N nope @ c"G ~ t |,,0
i iu ~ a iV1r cbcrshcd rcoon and territory to
pursue its own happiness according to what it may
deem best for itself
G. Pesolrca, That considering the series of spen-
did md brilliant victories achieved by our brave
Mies ana ther snn'ar dod h .Ce .,'
N'i'''Si''ON
suffering the slightest tarnish can practice the virtue