Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-02-11


President represents this war to have been com
menced ard carried on? believe it is less than
three millions of dollars. We have already ex-
pended more than Thirty millions in this war -
and by this message, we are asked TO appropri- |
ate twenty more This vast expenditure is said
to have been made with view to extO:t three
millions fiom Mexico! But this fifty millions
is but part of the pecuniary loss by which the
nation must suffer. The time of every man en-
gagged in this war is lost, yea worse than lot
The amount cf injury to our commerce. and to
the business of the country, by dWerting the
circulating medium from its Legitimate channels,
cannot be estimated But the whole pecuniary
damage constitutes but small portion of our
real loss The effect which this war is destined .
to exert upon the morals Of our people, is far
more to be depIored than its effects upon proper
ty. Again how can we estimate the anguish !
and suffering Of our sick, and wounded, and dy-
ing soldiers! How shall we compute their az
onles and despair! Go, count the graves of
those whose lives have been sacrificed to recover
this three millions Of dollars. Then number
the widows and orphlns and ascertain their
sreE, their poverty, their disappointed hopes
and blighted expectations, Add these to the
whole loss and suffering which this war has brot
upon our land Then proceed to Mexico, form
a catalogue Of the crimes committed there by
our troops, and ascertain the amount of pecun-
airy, physical, and mental suffering inflicted up
on her people Find the sum total, and compare
it wi,ll three millions of dollars for which we
are contending; strike the balance, and then
Judge Of the policy and humanity of this war
and those who sanction it.
But, Sir, the Executive never assigned the
non-payment Of money as cause of war un-
til after the hostiIites were commenced Our
troops had invaded Mexico The battles of
Palo Alto and 'Resaca de la Palma, had been
fought before this reason for commencing the
war appears to have been discovered 1t did
not, therefore, operate to bring on the war
1t was an after thought, subsequently brought
forth to justify it. But here, again, the different
parts of the message do not sustain each other.
In the forepart Of that document the author
says, 'Mcric0 commenced b0$tjhticS, aud in the
latter part he goes into long argument to show
that we had good cause for commencing the
war, and tacitIy admits that me djd, in fact COM
mence it But have only time to truch upon
some of the interesting points Of the message.
have no opportunity under this hour rule, to 60
into detail
have now stated the amou Of moneys al.
ready, expended and now asked for carrying en-
this war The President avows his intention
to hod the territory which we have conquered
until Mexico shall repay US this expenditure
We have waged an unnecessary and unjust war
upon weak aud defenceless republic We
have squandered uutod millions in its prosecu
ton; anG now the President expresses his in.
tenton to rob Mexico of her territory, unles.
she repays the money we have so profusey spent
This we all know she can never do The ayow
al thereof, amounts to declaration of the Pres
dents intention to render it war of conquest
Indeed, we have abundant evidence of such in
tention.
During the darker ages, and among savage
nations, such war might have been tolerated
but it will surely be condemned by all Christian
nations Of the 10Th century Such war is op
posed to the sentiment of the age in which W,
live. Sir, | would as soon lend my vnte t,
commence system of national robbery or pira
cy, as ! would to support war commenced 70
the evident purpose Of wrestling from neigh
boring Government portion of her territory
How much Mexican territory does the Presider
think it will require to indemnity US for our e!
pendhure? How much land will he deman
for the two thousand American citizens who's
lives have been sacrificed in this war! Again
Sir, are the President and his friends consciou
that public lands III Slave States have never pal
the expenses OF surveying and selling them ?
They have cost us forty millions of dollars MOI
than we have been able to sell them for Ever
acre has been an expense to us, Nearly the Ell
tire profits arising from the sale of lands in tt
free states has been expended to supply the e.
pense Of those in slave states Such will /
the case of those acquired in Mexico II
more territory we get there the greater will
the loss. standing army must be mantainC
to mold the people in sutjcction to our laws
With the expenses of the lands and maintainanc
OF an army, burdens will be incurred, that al
to sit like an incubus upon the nation for comir
generations Aud the more territory we get Il
greater will be the expense Under these CT
cumstances, leave it for the supporters of til
war to determine on the amount of territory
will require to satisfy us for the money we ba
paid out for its support
But, Sir, this is an Executive war II y
commenced by his orders. He directed our
my to leave Corpus Christi, to enter the Me
can settlements, and to take position upon ,
Rio Grande, without advising with Congre
It was under his orders that the battles of 'Pj
Alto and 'Rcsoca de la Palma were fought.
The lamented Ringgod, aud those who fell W
aim in those sanguinary conflicts together W
those Who bled al Fort Brown, were victims