The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-04

!
ident the duty of endeavoring to obtain thos
objects by The direction Of the national fore
and by diplomacy.
| lam broaching no new and speculative the
DRY. The statute-book ofthe United States j
| full of examples of prior declaration by Con
gress ofthe objects TO be attained by negotla
tons with foreign powers, and the archiVe
of the Executive Department furnish abun
dani evidence ofthe accomplishment ofthost
objects, or the attenp! 10 accomplish them b.,
subsequent negotiation. Prior 10 the declara
ton of the last war against Great Britain,in al
the restrictive measures which Congress n
dopted, against the two great belligerent pow
ers of Europe, clauses were inserted in the
several acts establishing them, rendering tC
both or either Ofthe belligerents the abolition
of these restrictions if they wonld repeal thei
hostile Berlin and Milan DEGREES and orders
in council, operating against our commerce
aud navigation. And these acts of Congress
were invariably communicated, through the
Executive, by diplomatic notes, 10 France
and Great Britain, us the basis upon which il
was proposed to restore friendly intercourse
with them. So after the termination of the
War. various acts of Congress were passed.
from time to Time, Offering to foreign powers
the principle of reciprocity in The commerce
and navigation ofthe United States with them
Out ofthese acts have sprung class, OF trea-
ties -four or five of which were negotiated
while | was in the Department ofState( com
monty called reciprocity treaties, concluded
under all the Presidents from Mr. Madison TO
Mr. Van Buren,, inclusive. And with regard
to commercial treaties, negotiated with the
sanction ofprior acts Of Congress, where they
contained either appropriations, or were in
conflict with unrepeaed statutes, it has been
ever held as the republican doctrine, from MIR
jays treaty down to the present time, that
the passage ofacts of Congress was necessary
TO secure the execution Of those treaties. IL,
in the matter of foreign commerce, in respect
10 which the power vested in Congress can
previously decide the objects to which nego-
liation shall he applied, how much stronger
is the case ofWnr; the power to declare which
is coufided exclusively to Con gress?
conclude, therefore, Mr. President and
fe llow-citizens, with entire confidence, that
Congress has the righi, at the beginning,or
during the prosecution ofany war,to decide
the objects and purposes for which it was pro-
or for which it ought TO be continued.
And, think it is the duty of Congress, by
some deliberate and authentic act, TO declare
for what objects the present War shall be
longer prosecuted. | suppose the President
would not hesitate to regulate his conduct by
the pronounced will of Congress, and to en-
ploy the force and the diplomatic power of
the nation TO execute that will. But. 1.-THE
=, ,csiden. should decline or refuse TO do so,
and, in contempt of the supreme authority
of Congress, should l'crs@Vere IT. "aglhg the
War, for other objects than lhpse PROGRAMMED
by Congress, then it would be the iuhHel "uVe
duty ofthat body to vindcate its authority ~
the most stringent and effectual, and appro
pirate measures. And the contrary, the en-
envy should refuse to conclude treaty, con-
tanning stipulations securing the objects de-
signated by Congress, it would become the
whole Government TO prosecute the War,
with all the national energy, until those OBJ
jects were attained by a treaty of peace.
There can be no insuperable difficulty in
Congress making such an authorative decla-
ration. Let it resolve, simply, that the War
shall or shall not be war of Conquest; and,
if War of Conquest, what is to be conquered.
Should resolution pass, disclaiming the de-
sign of Conquest, pence would follow in
less than sixty days, if the President would
conform TO his constitutional duty.
Here fellow-citizens might pause, having
indicated n mode by which the nation, through
its accredited and legitimate representatives
in Congress, can announce for whatlpurposes
and objects this War shall be longer prose-
cuted, and can thus let tho whole people of
the United States know for what end their
blood is to be farther shed, and their treasure
farther expended, instead ofthe knowledge of
it being locked up and concealed in the bosom
of one man. We should no longer perceive
the objects of the War varying, from time 10
time, according to the changing opinions of
the Chief Magistrate charged with its prose-
cution. But do not think it right to stop
here. 1t is the privilege ofthe people, in their
primary assemblies, and ofevery private man,
however humble, to express an opinion in
regard to the purposes for which the War
should be continued; and such an expression
will receive just so much consideration and
rs it is entitled to- and no more.
Shall this war be prosecuted for the pur-
pose of conquerng and anneNing Mexico, in
all its boundless extent, TO the United States?
will not attribute TO the President of the
United States any such design; bat i confess
| have been shocked and alarmed by mani
festations oft i'll various quarters. OF all the
dangers and misfortunes which could befall
this nation, should regard! that Of It's becon-
ing warlike and conguering power the most
direful & fatal. History tells the mournful tale
of conquering nations conquerors. The three
most celebrated conquerors, i'll the civilized
world, were Alexander, Ceser, Ma poleon. The
first, overrunning large portion of Asia aud
signing and lamenting there were no more
worlds to suhdue, met premature and igno-
BILE death. His lieutenants quarreled and
warred with each other as to the spoils of
his victories, and finally lost them ali Cesar,
after conquerng Gaul returned with his tri-
umphant legions to Rome, passed the Rubi-
con, won the battle of Pharsalia, trampled
upon the liberties of his country, and expired
by the patriot hand of Brutus. But Rome
ceased to be free. War and conquest had
enervated and corrupted the masses. The
spirit oflrue liberty was extinguished, and n
long line of emperors succeeded, some of
whom were the most execrable monsters that
ever existed in human form. And that most