The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1847-04-21
THE VOICE OF ONO

wat Stale, SPEAKS IN tone which mioh well be m
~ some Of the leading Wing papers in our own State
Inc Journal of the 81 inst uers the folio ing manly
sentiments
foT aOhdf purpose are zoe engaged in this Uar7
After the most deliberate and Careful consider
auon which we have been able TO bestow upon
me SUBJECT, we are constrained to admit-and we
90 II with shame and confusion of face as am
American citizen TO his fellow CONFERENCE.-THE
the purpose for which this war was instigated,
ana ior which it is now being prosecuted, is the
acquisition OF territory which properly belongs
to another nation 1t this be not in truth essen
tally and emphatcally the purpose for which we
are now waging sAugninary foreign war; we
confess our inability to assign reason more con-
sonant with truth, which comes home with
more force TO the conscience and understand
ing.
Ii Is then mistaken notion of national az
| grdndiZenlent, which has prompted us to the
monstrous and unnatural position for a Republic.
which we now occupy We say mistoken no
tion-for the true glory of Republic consists
not so much in the wide extent of our domains.
as in that Righteousness which eraltcth nation
that devotion to the cause of equal and eaact
justice which we should measure to other nations.
and which we should expect to be melted TO us
again. We have no need for more territory The
present area oil our country is ample Tor all the
purposes OF that experiment we are making in the
science OF human government Already have
the counsels OF the nation been yexed with cues
tons relating TO the government of the country
not our own With what accumulated weight
OF acrimonious veXation would those questions
press upon us, were that territory once clearly
within our owledged Imits For one. then.
we say, ace acant no more territory aeather bg
conquest nor by purchaSe-NEITHER WITH NOR
WITHOUT THE WILMor PRovIso. Did this
sentiment but pervade the councils of cur coun
try. are confident theIa vponld ,an,,;D -.
one obstacle to an immediate cessation OF bostiG
ties. And that obstacle consists in what we hold
to be
Il mistaken idea Of natlonol honor.
1t would require at our hands at least tact
admission, that the present position oil our coup-
try-thatin which we have been placed by the
evil counses of weak men, stimulated by ambi-
tous purposes~-is acrong. Do we not in our very
heart OF hearts believe such to be the fact? What
Wing, throughout the whole length and breadth
oil our country, hestaes TO believe that in the
matter of this Mexican War, we occupy a wrong
position before the nations of the earth-aye, and
before that God of Nations, TO whom ali hearts
are open, and before whom no secrets are hid?
What then does honor require? That we should
renounce and forsake the error OF our WAYS. Let
as sag to Merico explicitly, that IRE hare no p,-
pose to despon her IF her territories-that ace
acdnt none OF her pr0UiaceS-that the genius of
our people, and the safety and perpetuity Of their
institutions require that they should, as far as
practicable, culticate peace aoih oil nations
we can now afford to be magnanimous. Lney.
cry successive conflict, the superior provess Of
the American has been made sufficiently
manifest. Does honor, then REQUIRE al orr hands
That we further humiliate that weak and distract
ed sister Republic! At what point nrav u;u
this idea OF honor be satisfied Would il not In
TACT comport with true honor for us while orr
| victorious troops are flushed with snccess ana
crowned with fha lie ~
TO tender to our feeble and falterinq foe he
olive branch Of peace and reconciliation Can
| we, under any conceivable circumstances 40
rive additional renown as a nation or lasting hon.
ehts TO ourselves by further prosecution Of This
unnatural war upon sister Republic! WIN
then not tender her peace-and that upon such
| terms as would not compromise any inst motions
OF her selt-respect' In the sight of Cod and Of
| just men, we would not exchange the consc;o,s
ness that our countrymen are pouring ont of their
abundance Tor the relief Of furnished Ireland tor
all the true glory that can result from connnes,
and subjugation Of Mexico
We opposed to those measures Which
have led TO the war, before the catastrophe was
upon Ms. We desire the restoration of p1-
chic relations, as as that end can be obtain
ed without the sacrifice OF national character
We think the present time propious for an over
ture OF peace on our part. Had our arms met
with disaster and defeat, instead of victory the
matter might present different aspect but as il
is, we believe vast majority of our countrymen
concur with Us, in desiring termination oil this
war. HoW can that reasonable desire be con.
summated Let the voice of the people go up
TO 0ur rulers, in tones that cannot be mistaken
Let them urge it as matter Of eXpedieDcy. Let
them press it as the dictate OF sound morality
Let them demand il as their unquestionable right
II the Executive government turns deaf ear to
their earnest appeal, still the remedy is with
themselves. The representatives OF the People
have alone the rightfal power of declaring war
they have the undoubted right to say for what
purpose, to what extent, in what manner
the war shall be prosecuted.
but, without All extra session Of Congress eight
months will intervene before the Representatives
| OF the People will be assembled. Shall all that
time be lost TO the peope-or what is worse, oc-
| cupied in sanguinary contest ; Such is not our
counsel We would say to our fellow citizens.
take counsel among yourselves. Let every man
| converse with his neighbor; we have common
interest in this matter Our personal interests
are identified with the welfare OF our country
let US compare opinions and see how we are 10 be
affected by prolonged state of war. We deem