The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-24
THE U MON .

4N Il ~ 4Ns
records endure, all mankind will unite in execrane
the rapacous and detestable deed That accom-.
plshed by overwhelming force and the unfortunate exist
enee OF fatal dlssenslons and divisions ia the bosom
roland Let us avoid aixlng to our name and national
character similar, if not worse, stigma. am afraid
lha we 90 not now stand well in the opinion OF othe
parts OF christendom Reputation has brought upon US
much reproach. All the nations apprehend, look upon
us, IN the prosecution of the present war; being au
aed by spirit OF rapaclty, and nordnate desire fol-
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Let not forfeit altogether
their good opinions. Ls command their applause by
noble exercise of forbearance and justice In the ell
evated station which hold, we can safely afford to
practise the godlike virtues OF moderation and magma
nmty The long series OF glorious triumphs achieved BY
our gallant commanders and their brave armies, unat
tended by single reverse justify without the leas
danger OF furnishing the national honor in dsinerested
holding out the oivebranch OF peace. We do not want
the mines, the mountains the morasses, and the sier
lands OF Mexico. To her, the loss OF them would be
Illuminating and be perpetual source of regret and
ilhcaton To us they might prove fatal acquisition
producing distractions dssenson, DIVISION possibly dis
union Let, therefore, the integrity OF the national
lsience and national territory OF Mexico remain undis
turbed For one, desire part OF her territory
torn from her by Some of people have placed
Their hearts upon the acquisition of the Bay Of San Fran
cisco in Upper California To us, great maritime
power, 1t might prove to be OF advantage hereafter in
respect TO commercial and navigating interests To
Mexico, which never be great maritime power il
can never be OF much advantage Ii obtain it by
fair purchase with just equivalent, should be happy
to see ii SO acquired AS (whenever the ceases)
Mexico ought to be required to pay the debt due cit
zens perhaps an equivalent for that bay may be found
IN that debt, government assuming to pay cit
liens whatever portion of il may be applied to that object.
But II should form motive in the prosecution of the
war, which would not continue solitary hour for the
sake of that harbor.
But what! il will be asked, shall we make peace with
out any indemnity ior the expenses of the war; If the
published documents In relation to the late negotiations
| between Mr.. 1rst and the Mexican commissioners be
true-and have not seen them anywhere contradcted-
the Executive properly waived any demand of indemnity
for the expenses Of the And the rupture of that
gotaon was produced by government insisting upon
cesson from Mexico OF the strip of mostly barren land
between the Nueces and the Rio Bravo and New Mexi-
| CO, which Mexico refused to make So that are
ROW fighting, II not for the conquest OF all Mexico,
tmated in some quarters for that strip and for
the barren province of New Mexico, with its few mise
rable mines, We bought all the province of Louisiana
for fifteen millions OF dollars; and it is, in my opinion,
worth than all Mexico together We bought Flor
ida for five mill lions of dollars; and hard bargain was,
SINCE besides that sum, gave up the boundary OF the
western limit of the province OF Louisiana and
striced to that of the Sabine And we are now if not
seeking the conquest of all Mexico, to continue this
indefinitely for the nconsiderabe objects to which have
Just referred
But it will be repeated, are we TO have no indemnity
for the expenses OF this war? Mexico is utterly unable
to make any pecunlary indemnify If the Justice of the
our part entitled to demand it. Her country
has been laid waste, her cities burned occupied by
troops her exhausted that she is unable to pay
even her armies And every days prosecution of
the war, whilst it would augment the amount OF our in
demnity would lessen the ability of Mexico to pay it.
We have seen, however that there is another form in
torial indemnity hope, for reasons already stated that
that fre-brand will not be brought into our country.
Among the resolutions which it is my intention to pre-
sent for your consideration at the conclusion OF this add
Dress proposes Your behalf and mine, to disayow,
in the most positive manner, any desire, part TO
acquire any foreign territory whatever for the purpose of
introducing slavery into it. do not know that any cit-
zen of the United States entertans such wish. But
such motive has been often imputed to the slave
States and therefore think it necessary to notice it
very well known They have the merit, if be one,
OF consistency, uniformity, and long duration. have
ever regarded slavery as great evil wrong-ior
the present. fear, rremediabe wrong to its unfortu
nate victims should rejoice if not single slave breath
ed the air within the limits OF country. But
here they are, TO be dealt with well can, with
due consideration of all circumstances affecting the
ry safety and happiness OF both races Every State has
the supreme, Uncontrolled and exclusive power to decide
for itself whether slavery shall continue within
its limits without any exterior Intervention from any
quarter In States where the slaves outnumber the
whites, the with several the blacks could not
be emancpaed and invested with all the rights of free
men, without becoming the governing race in those
States. Collisions and conflicts between the two races
would be inevitable and after shocking of rapine
and Garnage the extinction or expulsion OF the blacks
would certainly take place. In the State of Kentucky,
fifty years ago, thought the proportion OF slaves,
in comparison with the whites, inconsiderabe,
at hs waS S sem % gadS1a eY
the immediate abolition of slavery, for which the
party of the aboonsts of the present day contend.
Whether they have intended it not, it is my calm and
deliberate belief that they have done ncacuable mis-
chief to the very which they have espoused,
say nothing of the dscord which has been produced
between different parts of the Union. According to the
system attempted the close OF the last century,
all slaves being to remain such; but all who
might be born subsequent to specified day. to be-
come free at the age OF wentyeght, and, during their
service, to be taught to read write, and cipher
Thus, instead of being thrown upon the community, gno
rant and unprepared as would be the case by Immediate
emancipation. they would have entered upon the posses
sion OF their freedom capable in degree, of enjoy
ng it. After hard struggle, the system defeated;
and regret it extremely as, had been then adopted
our State would be nearly rid OF that reproach.
Since that epoch. a scheme of unmixed benevoence
has sprung up, which, if it had existed at that time,
would have obvated of the greatest objections which
tInuance OF the emancpated slaves to abide among
That scheme is the American Colonization Society About
twenty EIGHT years ago. few individuals myself among
them, met together the city of Washington, and laid
the foundations OF that society II has gone on, amidst
extraordinary difficulties and trials, sustaining itself al
most entirely by spontaneous and voluntary contribu-
tons from individual benevolence, without scarcely any
auspices are now well-established communities with
churches schools and other institutions apperainng
the civilized state. They have made successful war in
repelng attacks and invasons by their barbarous and
savage neighbors They have made treaties, annexed
territories to their dominion, and blessed with
free representative government. | recently read a
message from one of their governors to their legis
full attention to the public affairs of their republic
would compare advanageously with the messages of
the governors OF States am not very
supcrstitous; but do solemny believe that these colo