Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-10-05
Richmond Wayne III diana, Oct. ia

freedom, from InquIrlng INTO and expressing the
opinions upon, the origin and objects Of the hor
rid war in which this government is engaged viii
our feeble ana distracted ne ighbor the sister e
public of Mexico. And | cannot but believe
that if they will employ intelligence and cando
IN the investigation and truth in announcing the
CONVECTION they will declare its origin was in The
Annexation Of Texas aud its object the acouisi
siuon of still more Mexican Territory And /
they will scrutnise the motives which led 10 III,
acquisition of Texas and are now LEADING TO III.
requirement of still more boundless domains o.
Mexico, they cannot escape the conclusion thai
the rrte"s,on Of Slacery was and is principal ans
controlling n both That such was the fact
in reference to The former, Mr. Calhoun, who
as Secretary Of State, bore principal agency in
executing the shameful plot, has unblushinsly
Acknowledged and that such is the fact in refer
encc 10 the latter, the late letter of Mr. Bucl.-
anan, now Secretary Of State, urging the APP
plIcation of what he frauduently terms the prn :
ciple Of the I" Missouri c Compromise" to the COW
eted Territories, in other words establishing
slavery in countries now unstained By that foul
blot conclusively proves. Against such prost-
tuition and debauchery of the powers, policy and
character Of THIS glorious Republic, established
Tor the promotion and protection OF Freedorn ev-
cry Son OF Liberty, every true Patriot should
raise his honest and earnest voice in 10 nd and IN
dignant condemnation. Why even our bret llrcn
of the s!ave-holding States themselves it ought
not to be doubted, at least the more rejecting
portion of them, who know and acknowledge
slavery TO be great evil, of which their ances-
tors made them the unwilling victims, will scout
i,yur II -, ~,
posed territories, so politically unjust to-
wards their northern brethren, and so impolitic
in view Of their own future political security
can see no honorable and safe retreat from
this horrid war, no escape from the terrific do
mestic commissions to ensue from it. menacing
! isui,ion and civil redemption from,
the destruction that awaits our republican insti-
tutions but in firmly resisting the acquisition Of
any territory at all, rs a condition of peace with
Mexico. Our wants do not require another inch
of territory and if they did, it would be dishon-
orable TO seze it by the title Of the sword as in
demnIty for the expenses of an unjust war All
history warns that every nation on the face Of
the earth, whether Republic or Despotism, that
has indul ged the criminal passion for Conquest,
has IN turn been conquered, overhrown and
crushed under the weight of its crimes, and
corrnPtions engendered in the pursuit of ter
itorial acquisitions. The spirit Of Conquest is ut
terry incompatible with, utterly fatal to- the ge-
MUS and existence of Republican governIne at;
and if the people do not reprcss this base passion
and rebuke this accursed lust, already alarming
ly inilamed, they may prepare themselves for
Military Despotsm that will enslave themselves
and forge chains to nanacle their children.
We dol r-ftL III 81 ~,
Of military glory-we may contemplate with
vain glorious complacency, the extension of our
may insult justice and deride
mercy in Jnstlfying violence and rapine by the
nfdel and blasphemous pleas Of Destiny and
fFogFess-wc may cheat ourselves with the Ty-
ants argume Mt that ustities power in ag-
,randizing itself at the expense of weakness; but
should be remembered that for all these things
We shall be called to account; that we shall be in
icted by History; and that the sword of that very
'estiny we now seek TO propit!ate, Will execute
lghal punishment upon The Ruler Of the
inverse Is a Just Gods and, sooner or later, the
rotation of His laws, VIII pluck down upon the
ne heads of the violators, their sternest penal
les II twas the destiny of Rome to conquer
ne northern nations. it was her destiny, in turn,
. be conquered and Inundated by them. Such,
$50, must be our destiny, if we dismemher the
leSIcan Republic. The fippant levity with
Inch the thoughtless and empty headed, or the
wicked, now speak Of such great ua-
onal crimes, will be followed by the burning
orrows of our children, when in the revolutions
nd VIC issitudes of governments that same desti-
y they late invoked, shall
l he luck Of Caesar, which the C DDS gave men,
10 excuse their after wrath
true sense of justice, moderation magnanim-
y and sound policy, dictates thatwe should pro-
.ct rather than overthrow Mexico. 1t is bv good
eeds, not by violence, rapine, nor even valor
nd prowess, however CONNIE ndable when exert
in just and necessary causes, that nations prove
uly great.
But if W. needed more territory and would
cquire it honorabiy and peacefully, the peculiar
rganization of our government is affected bv
he intractable sentiments of the pc ople of the
,quire it without CONFUSING, if not destroying.
lat Union. The North wields decisive ma
rity in the House the South is equally pre-
ominant in the Senate the sentiment of each
ranch, on the subject of slavery, is directly OPP
osed to the other; and yet it requires the con-
lrrence OF both to perfect any acquisition.
he North is unalterably opposed to the extern
on of slavery into new territories, and especial
into those now free. 1t will never consent to
lie acquisition of another acre, unless slavery
forever excluded from il. and this W i'll be in