The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-18

mt say that we have not Bnt say il is no,
certain that We have--it is uncertain. We NAV
not Now, II we have not force enough Cor this
campaign. Mexico will be encouraged and we will
be discouraged. She will he fortified anew and
we will he more irresolnte in guiay on But sun
pose we do reach the city of Mckee so as 10 die
tate peace-with whom have we To deaI2
people--a race 1T all others renowned in bis,,,v
tr their obstnacy and powers Of long continued
Resistance! people whose hereditary prid. il
rs that they stand 0ui To the utmost-, ne,,Ie
who warred with the Moors for UPWARDS of seven
centur'es-a people who for eighty years warred
against Their mother country---a people who would
mol recognise The independence If their colonies
IN twenty years! Those are the people We have
To deal With. and is it presumable that Mexico
VIII at once yield tn our trrns2 Is there any
cer'ainty--for 90 TN ceramics now more than
probahiiies--can any gentleman see any certain.
" ct Mexic" yielding to orr terms even sun
posing this hrst campaign shuuld find us in the
city of Mexlco2 Well, then. We must have
another campaign
Now s"lemn question comes up--have we the
means-can we raise the money! Remember
u must be much n'ore costly than either of the
first. IL will he carried IN ut greater distance
II will be at character different from the others
for if we do not conquer Mexico--if her govern
men' wi'hdraws. and we can make no peace. we
must then have mere Guerilla war-snch as
exists between France and Algeria at the presen,
T., day-such as existed between the Russians and
Circassians. Snch is the descrption of var we
must have. Shall we have>the means To NEE,
this en"rmous expense? Let me tell Won. in the
hrst place. this campaign over. the spirit of vol
un'eer'ng is gone. So many men of broken con
situations reiurn--so many who went for glnrv
return with shattered health-sp many give such
desperate account Of the affair. that we pe, no
more volunteers. We must depend upon the
ordinary recruiting and that might he sufficient
10 give ns twenty thousand men for our next
cafnraign-inr third campaign If il took place
wen. suppose that difficulty surmounted-sup.
pose the men ready-ran you raise WAYS and
means? A far more difficult question Remem
her, you will have longer resources in your
treasury notes. That's exhausted, perhaps mnre
than exhausted ny this single campaign You
must borrow and lay taxes. Can Won horrow 2
Can you Law taxes2 What tax.s? Ucnn ynur
imposts They give you hut small supply
You must 90 To internal taxes Can Won ore,
them This country has resources alnos, he
yond any one on earth But there il one cir .
cums'ance which greatly embarrassrs ne in refer
ence to internal taxes. Many of the States are
greatly in debt. Many of them owe as much as
ihey can pay with the most nnernus taxes Well
now, all taxation must ne uniform. Can you col
lect in those Siates2 If yuu atIempt. will M,
Will the people bear il? Will Pennsylvania
with forty millions her shoulder, hear add
tonal taxation? Will Maryland, who cannot
resume now, hat is Struggling Ia resume-wiIl
she bear enough to pay. and also again resume 2
No. YET. suppose that difficulty over-sunpose
we get all we wants their sufficient unaniroitv
and zeal IN the prosecution of this war Ia warrant
me behef that Congress would give supplies =?
Does the evidence Of this session furnish salts
nj In hat;
much division of sentiment for that very
large proportion of our country believe that the
war might have been avoided and that it onuht
to have heen avoided. A large portinn of our
country believe that the war was commenced
without the authority Of the constitutions and
without the sanction Of Congress- vast num
her believe that the war is highly injurious and
nexpedient. These opinions we cannot donb,.
are honestly entertained. What my opinions are
on all these points. should be glad TO oo into.
on any suitable occasion. But do not hold il to
he proper to mngle my own private views and
sentiments IN justification nf my course on so
grave question. II is Sufficient for me Ia saw
that, these deep convictions on all these points in
reference to the war, which extend if Won NAV
Judge from Appearances Ia nearly half nf our
whole population. render il highly improbable
that there will be that zeal of unanimiry necess,
~ to enable us 10 procure the means of carving
on this third campaign.
But suppose all these difficulties overcome
there il another still deeper-stilr more alarming
to be met. There is another question To he met
which touches the very foundations Of our repub
lie. 10 whose benefit shall the lands aconired
If any be acquired. inure2 Shall the henef, he
exclusively enjoyed by one portion of the Union 2
We are told, sir. ard am afraid thai apoear
ances justify II. that all parties in the non slave
holding portions of this Union insist that they
hall ka,ya n
Hnali nave an exclusive monopny -ihai such pro-
visions shall be made as shall exclude those ,vbo
are interested in the institutions Of the sou,b =
Sir. If the non slaveholding States, having M
other interest but aversion To slavery-iC Tbev
can come In this conclusion with no other ntaree,
but that turn TO them. and ask them VIVA,
must De the feeling of slavehoIdinp States. WIN
are to he deprived of their right-to be depriyed
and desPolled Of that which belongs to them and
10 ne assaIled IN HE most vulnerable point and tn
"nom ms question is one of safety, and not mere
Poi'cy aoont poot which they have no real in
terest? " there he sternness on one side he az
snrrd there VIII he sfernnPss on the other Now
" may Judge from what has hpen declared an
this fl"or--from what hear on all sides-ir mem
oPfs rom non slaveholding States were perfectly
sure tha' tney wonld Hot acquire one foot of this
iahn Hee' they would hesitate to- carry ont yino
rous prosecution Of the war by which i, was r., no
acquired Can they, then. suppose that there !,
less feeling on the part of those who are to be
entirely excluded; and do they suppose iba,
means can be furnished for a war to be regularly
carried on. where these radical differences lie a,
the botlom2
Mr. President. will suppose, however, that
all these difficulties are relnnved-I will sunpose
, mat men and money. and unanimiiy can he had
ne question then comes. can you. if Won do no,
maze peace with Mexico IN The city Of Mexico
can you bring this war TO successful conclusion
ny subduing the country That's the oues,;nn
Is there any certainry-6r do not make !, a
question OF probability at all7 Look at the hisfo.
~ OF these wars There are two now existing
10 which ! have already alluded-tbe war Of
RUSSIA WIN me Caucassiaps-l the war If France
IN Africa. These wars are soinev hat analogons