The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-24

do not think it right to stop here. 1t is the
privilege Of the people, in their primitive as
semblies, and Of every private man, howev-
er humble, to express an opinion in regard
to the purposes for which the war shall be
continued; and such an expression viii re-
ceive just so much consideration and conse-
quence as it is entitled to, and no more.
Shall this war be prosecuted for the pur-
pose Of conquering and annexing Mexico, in
all its boundless extent, to the United Statesi
| will not attribute to the President Of the
United States any such design !; but con-
fess that have been shocked and alarmed
by manifestations of it in various quarters,
OF all the dangers and misfortunes which
could befal this nation, ] should regard that
of its becoming warike and conquering
power the most direlul and fatal. History
tells the mournful tale Of conquering nations
nd conquerors. The three most celebrated
aconquerors, in the civilized world, were Alex
ander, Cesar and Napoleon The first, after
ovenunning alarge portion Of Asia, and sigh
ing and lamenting that there were no more
worlds to subdue, met premature and ig-
noble death. His lieutenants quarrelled and
warred with each other, as to the spoils Of
his victories, and finally lost them all.
Caesar, after conquering Gaul, returned, with
his triumphant legons to Rome, passed the
Rubicon, won the battle Of Pharsalia, trampled
upon the liberties OF his country, and expir-
ed by the patriot hand Of Brutus. But Rome
ceased to be free. War and conquest had
enervated and corrupted the masses. The
spirit of true liberty was extinguished, and a
long line Of Emperors succeeded, some Of
whom were the most execrable monsters that
ever existed in human form. And that most
extraordinary man, perhaps, in all history,
after subjugatipg all continental Europe, oc-
cupying almost all its Capitals, seriously
threatening, according to Mr.. Theirs, proud
Albion itself, and decking the brows Of vari-
Gus members Of his family, with crowns torn
from the heads of other monarchs, livedto
behold his own dear France itself in the Fps
session of his enemies, and was made hIm-
self a wretched captive, and far removed from
country, family, and friends, breathed his last
on the distant and inhospitable rock OF st.
Helena The Alps and the Rhine had been
claimed as the natural boundaries Of France,
but even these could not be secured in the
treaties to which she was reduced to sub
nit. Do you believe that the people Of
Macedon, or Greece, of Rome, or Of France,
were benefited, individually or collectively
by the triumphs Of their great Captains:
Their sad lot was immense sacrifice Of life,
heavy and intolerable burdens and the ulti-
mate loss ofliberty itself.
That the power Of the United States is
competent to the conquest of Mexico, is
quite probable. But it could not be achiev-
ed without frightful carnage, dreadful sacri,
fees Of human life, and the creation of al
onerous national debt; nor could it be com
pletely effected, in all PROBABILITY, until after
the lapse Of many years, 1t would be ne.
cessary to occupy all its strongholds, te
disarm its inhabitants, and to keep them il
constant fear and subsection. To consum.
mate the work, presume that standing ar
mics, not less than a hundred thousand men
would be necessary, to be kept perhaps al
ways in the bosom Of their country. These
standing armies, revealing in a foreign land,
and accustomed to trample upon the libarties
Of foreign people, at some distant day,
might be fit and ready instruments, under
the lead Of some daring and unprincipled
chieftain, to return to their country and
PROSTATE the public liberty. = #
Surprising the conquest to be once made,
what is to be done with it' Is it to be go.
verned, like Roman Provinces, by Procon.
suls' Would it be compatible with the &c.
MUS, character, and safety Of our free institu'
tons, to keep such great country as Mexico
with population Of not less than nine mil,
lions, in state of constant military subjuga
ton, @
Shall it be annexed to the United States Doe
any considerate man believe 1t possible that tw'
equal extent, with populations 80 incongruous, So
different in race, in language, In religion andi laws
could be blended together in one harmonious mass
and happily governed by one common authority
Murmurs, discomfort instructions, rebellion, would
inevitably ensue until the incompatible parts woa'
be broken asunder, and possibly, in the fighttu
struggle, our present glorious Union itself would b
discovered or dissolved We ought not TO forget tn
Guilty ofcombning and consolidating together, con
quering and conquered nations. After the lapse Q
eight hundred years. during which the Moors he'll
their conquest of Spain, the indomitable courage
perseverance, ana ODSllnuCy VI ue TaCe iui
ly triumphed and expelled the African invaders iron
the Peninsula. And, even within our own time
the colossal power Of Napoleon when at its lofties
hight was incompetent to subdue. and sub
iugate the proud Castlian. And here in on
own neighborhood, Lower Canada, which nea
one hundred years ago, after the conclusion o
the seven years war, was coded by France to Grea
Britain, remains foreign land in the midst Of TIL
British provinces, foreign in feelings and attachment
and foreign in laws, language and religion And wha
has been the fact with poor. gallant, generous ant
oppressed Ircland2 Centuries have passed away
since the overbearing Saxon over run and subjuga
ted the Emerald Isle. Rivers of Irish blood hav,
flowed, during the long and arduous contest. In
surrection and rebellion have been the order of tn,
day; and yet up to this time iceland remains aier
in feeling, affection and sympathy towards, thu
power which has so long borne her down. Every
irishman hates, with mortal hatred, his Saxor
oppressor Although there are great territorial difc
rences between the condition Of England and Ire
land as compared to that of the United States anc
Mexico there are some points Of striking resemblance
between them Both the Irish and the Mexicans
are probably of the same Celtic race. Both the
English and the Americans are of the same Saxor
origin. The Catholic religion predominates in botf
the former, the Protestant among both the latter
Religion has been the fruitful cause dissatisfaction
and discomfort between the Irish and the English
Ia nDDreheUd TINT III