The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-12
SHALL TINS WAR GO ON?

The accounts published every day in the
papers show that the people of Mexico, driv-
en- near to desperation, are not disposed TO
sue for peace. Our armies are approaching
their Capital. we are everywhere victorious,
while their armies are defeated, and their cit
les plundered and ruined; yet the MeXicans,
from deep love of country and proud de-
termination not to submit to an invading force
hold out against us. We may call this folly,
stubboruess, or whatever you please, but Il Is
what has ever been, and ever will be called
Patriotism. When the Armies of America,
in the darkest period of the Revolution, were
marching in the dead of winter over the froz-
en- fields of New Jersey, their footprints on
lhe snow marked with blood flowing from
their lacerated feet, then it was that the patrl-
.Otism of the colonists shone out purest and
brightest men who could patiently submit To
these priyations were not to be inundated
by the armies Of a foreign King. We ask if
the people of Mexico, do not, in their deter
minaton to resist the invasion of their coun-
try by II foreign enemy, follow the example set
them by our revolutionary fathers? Talk of
lhis war as we may, shout, rejoice, and lllu-
sninate your cities, it is still war ofconquest
and unmitigaled evil and it is high time that
the virtuous and patriotic should speak out in
condemnation of it, as Chatham, Barre. and
their glorious associates did in the British
Parliament, on the colonial war Of North A
merca. If the friends otpeace had been as
bold us the evils ofthis war are great, the war
would ere now have ceased. The people Of
the country are opposed 10 it. Religion, viz
tue, humanity, love of country, patriotism, all
are opposed to it. 1t is only upheld by force
of party drill, and from pusillanmous fear
that we may be charged by the venal and
corrupt, with being enemies of our country
five oppose it. Danish all such miserable,
time-serving motives. Let us untlnChlngly
uphold the side of humanity, right, justice
and peace, and urge upon the country, with
whatever power we possess, the guilt this
war imposes on us, and the cruelty and suffer
ing it inhicts upon weak, though proud, sis
ter Republic. "The employment of force"
says Sir James Mcintosh, sin the intercourse
of reasonable beings, is neverdawful but for
the purpose ofrepelling or averting wrong
full force" We ask then in the words otanolh-
en- chow dare we, as Nation, lift our hand
10 take away, without necessity, the life of II
fellow nation? Whatever barbarian hordes,
abandoning one part of the earth, may have
inflicted upon another, savage or clvliZed,-
We are not wandering ravagers, but people
with homes, fields. laws: whatever despots
and conquerors may fave committed, we are
oflhosc TO be their enemies and opposltes, To
resist aud not 10 initiate their crimes; and let
sophsters and demagogues drvel or roar for
absurd ears, whatever they will, as if Ambi-
,ion and Rupine and Carnage were only
crimes when caWselessIy enacted by Kings,
vet it should be ours to know that, one or
many, People or King, the guilt and the fol-
~ of such acts fall alike on all who partici-
pate in them, and each separate sovereign a.
Inong all this severe gn people bears on his
shoulders full Kings load of'the offence"