The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-16

producing distraction, discussion, possibl,
dsunion. Let, therefore, tho integrity Of
the national existence and national terrific
~ Of Mexico remain undisturbed. For Que,
| desire TO see no part Of her territory torn
from her by war. Some Of our people have
placed their hearts upon the acquisition Of
the Bay Of San Francisco in Upper Cali
fornia. To us, rs n great maritime power,
It might prove to I've Of advantage hereafter
in respect to our commercial and naviga-
ting interests. To Mexico, which can new
CT be great maritime power, it can never
he Of much advantage. Ii we can obtain
il by fair purchase with just equivalent,
! should be happy TO see il so acquired
AZ, whenever tho war ceases, Mexico
ought 10 be required to pay the debt due our
citizens, perhaps an equivalent for the Bay
may he found in that debt, our Govern
tncnt assuming to pay TO our citizens what
ever portion Of il may he applied TO that
object. But il should form no motive in
the prosecution Of the war, which ! would
not continue n solitary hour for the sake
of TINT harbor.
But what, it will be asked, shall we make
peace without mn indemnity Tor the expcn-
scs Of the wnr? II the Published docu
mcnts in relation To the nego,inn between
Mr.. Trist aud the Mexican Commissioners
be true, aud have no, seen them any
where contradicted, the Executive proper
" waived nnv demand oil indemnity for the
expenses of the war. And the rupture OF
that negotiation was produced. bv our Gov
eminent insisting upon ccssion from Mex
iro, Of the strip of mostly barren land be-
tween tho Nncccs and The Rio Bravo mud
New Mexico, which Mexico refused Il"
make. So that we arc now fighting, it moi
Tor the conquest ofnll Mexico, as in,imated
in some quarters. for thu, narrow strip and
fnr the barren province d! New Mexico,
with its few miserable mines. We bought
NIL the province of Louisiana for fifteen
millions ofdollars. and it is, in INV opinion.
worth more than nll McAico together. We
bought Florida for five millions of dollars.
md hard bargain il was, since, besides
that sum, VIC gave up the boundary OF the
Rio Bravo, 10 which think we were cnii-
tied, rs the Western limit Of the Province
Of Louisiana, aud were restricted TO that oil
the Sabine. Aud we are now. il not seek
ing the conquest Of all Mexico. to continue
this war indefinitely for the inconsiderable
objects to which have Just referred.
But, il will be repeated, arc we 10 have
no indemnity for the expenses Of this war
Mexico is utterly unable 10 make ms an,
pecuniary indemnity, il the Justice Of the
war ON our part entitled us Ia demand it.
Tier country has been laid waste, her cities
burned or occupied by our troops. her
mems SO exhausted that she is unable t.
pay even her own armies. And ever,
days prosecution ofihc war, whilst it would
augment the amount OF our indemnity,
would lessen the ability of Mexico to pav
another iorm in which We arc TO demand
indemnity. II is 10 he territorial indemni-
Iiv! ] hope, for reasons already stated.
that tia, fire-brand will not be brought in
To our country.
Among the resolutions which il is my
intention 10 present for your consideration.
at the conclusion Of this address, one pro-
poses, in your behalf and mine, to disavow.
in the most positive manner, any desire on
our part, 20 acquire any foreign territory
whatevcr, for the purpose Of introducing
slavery into il. do not know that any
citizen Of the United States entcrtnins such
wish. But such a motive has been Of.
ten imputed 10 tho slave States, md l.
therefore think il necessary TO notice il on
this occasion. Nv opinions on the subject
Of slavery IRE very we'll known. They
have the merit, il il is one, Of consistency
uniformity, md long duration. have ever
regarded slavery as great evil. wrong
Tor the present, fear an rrcmcdiable wrong
to the unfortunate victims. ! should re-
joice il not single slave hrcathcd the mir
or was within the limits Of our country.
But here they are, to DO dealt with as we'll
MS We can, with due consideration Of oil
circumstances affecting the security, safety
and happiness of both races.
Every State has tho supreme, uncontrol-
led and exclusive power 10 decide for itself.
whether slavery shall cease or continue
within its limits. In States where slaves
outnumbcr the whites, as is the case with
several, tho blacks could not be cmancipa-
ted and invested with all the rights Of free
men, without becoming the governing race
in those states. Collisions between them
would be inevitable, md the expulsion or
extinction Of the blacks would certainly
take place. In tho State Of Kentucky.
ncnr 30 years ago, thought the proportion
Of slaves, in comparison with the whites,
was so inconsdcrable that we might safely
adopt n system Of gradual emancipation
tina, would ultimately eradicate this evil in
our Stntc. Tint system wns Totally differ
ent from the immediate abolition of SLAYER.
Coz which the Aboli,ionists Of the present
dny contend According 10 tho svsfen