Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-09


peace and war, Mr. H. would undoubtedly be in favor Of
peace. But such election offered him, The spec
acle before him in progress his country on
one side, foreign country the other This enough
for him he ranged himself with that side which he
his counnys standard Over the troops in Mexico float
ed the standard which had been borne in the Revou
ton, and which often had been dnmed by the smoke of bat
e and around which hostile bayoets had bsed but which
Mad emerged from the conflict covered with the light of victory
Would gentlemen that banner trailing in the dust Or
did they desire that should be borne in triumph whatever
breeze should be flung He very that every gentle
man here exulted in its trumphs. The fleets which
now blockadng the ports and cruising the of Mexico
bore the same glorious flag that steamed from the mast head
OF the Constitution, when she carried the thunder of
to distant seas, o swimming along coast rushed
upon her prey And long he those stars cleaning
he cared not under what sky his heart told him that
American, he must follow where they led The question for
congress was, Shall we prosecute this war r. On that
question Mr. III, could not hesitate for moment The
situon conferred Congress the perogaivc Of declaring
war; We had recognised the existence Of the and by
that vote had made the Chief Magistrate responsible for the
mode OF conducting it, So long he thus responsible,
by the theory OF Government the President charged
with the conduct of the 1t for say how far
we would in voting supplies and il must be great crisis
ndeed and one which he had never yet seem which would
warrant him in refusing them Other gentlemen must
decide for themselves; these his convictions.
But every had object What had been the object
OF the great war Of the Revolution Liberty first and then
independence Our fathers struck, not Off petty
duty tea but because that twopenny duty involved
gale We struggled for freedom, and in struggle had
the sympathy of mankind In the late the object
the immunity of our flag; that those who sailed under the
American flag should look 10 that flag protect and defend
them. That successful. Never again would any
foreign Power attempt to violate the protecting ancy of
national banners.
What was the object now The immunity of our soil,
and redress for past wrongs Whenever Mexico should be
disposed to yield hem he held bound accept them
at her hands Till then he could not hesitate moment not
only to hold what we had Obtained but to make still stronger
demonstrations Because, until the objects Of the
accomplished we must prosecute these objects He had
desire for war Of conquest. He had wish strip
weak neghbor because stronger than she. But till
Mexico gave some unequivocal sign that she willing
give honorable peace he should the war;
and prosecute 1t with the utmost yigor He for follow
ing the advice of Poonus g Beware of entrance quar-
rel but being in be in it that the opposer may beware
Of thee"
olive leaf her bill he would gladly hail her approach
But, till then, he held that bound nation, to
prosecute the We ought not to strike with view to
dlsmember the possessions Of weaker people but he would
strike to convince her that to have peace
would take it only honorable He would accept
the first sign of peace offered by Mexico would grant her
the most terms They should be marked by the
magnanmity of great nation treating with weak
The President said he desired peace. But, If there
any thing in his early instructions to those whom he to
conduct the IT. subsequently, there had been any
aons of the law of nations which show his part
desire of conquest then the diverted from its true
and legitimate purpose Mr. III. not, in actous spirit
about to inquire whether the President had transcribed his
thony Hehad nober purpose. 1t comparatively small
question whetherthe President go office with honor
not Mr.. H. had lotier purpose. For the time being
the President had the conduct of this under his charge
The question whether the instructions he had given dis
closed or not purpose of conquest He should speak to
that question in the spirit of fairness without attempting
mlsrepresent the President.
What the instructions given to those whom he had
sent the agents of his will He would read first from
letter Of the Secretary of War; dated June g. 1916, and
addressed to General kearny, marked confidential "
You assure the people of those that the
wish and design of the United States provide for them
free with the least possible delay, similar
which exists in Territories They will then be called on
to exercise the rights of eemen eectng their repre-
sentaves to the Territorial Legislature II
what relates the civil government will be difficult and IN
pleasant part your duty and much must necessarily be left
your own discretion G.
How had this discretion been employed In declaring that
the conquered provinces annexed the United States
and IN devsng and procamDg large and extensive scheme
of civil government looking evidently the permanent an
nexaton of the whole territory the American confederay
Another document TO which he should refer was letter
from the Secretary Of the Navy to Commodore Stockton
You WILL therefore, under circumstances voluntarily
lower the flag of the United States, renquish the actual
possession OF Upper California OF other points of the
territory which the forces under YOUR command NAV o
cupy you will maintain the possession or Withdraw as IN
Judgment be most advantageous prosecution of the
any circumstances whatever Mr. H. did not undertake to
say whether this right wrong the question
the purpose the part Of the Executive hold these pro-
ynces permanent conquests Mr. H. would not say
he by prosecuting the war; eventually acquire
new territory but what he contended for was that
ought not to carry the violate the law
TONS That code sacred, and solemny be observe
ed by and by all other nations collection of alb
srac essays public questions oeh and wrong These
were dusive as the air breahed they spread them
selves by sort OF omnlpesence land and They
silent the midst of M nation might
disregard them. Guavus Adophus in all his for civil
and religious liberty carried Grous with him in his tent and
took his guide. We should be careful do the same
Hookers well known and eloquent euogy law in general
applied in all its force and beauty the law Of nations Well
might he say "Oflaw there be less acknowledged
than that her seat the bosom od her voice the harmony
the world all things in heaven and earth do her homage the
very least feeling her care and the greatest not exempt
from her pouer Now what the language of this law
in regard the rights which resulted from conquest On this
subject he would turn to Vael who generally acknow-
lodged as the highest authority Here Mr.. H. quoted.
The argument made by the gentleman from Virginia on
this subject very able one Mr. II. admitted its ab-
ty but the gentleman misapped the law What did he say
"Thc right of the State its public property domain
absolute aud excludes that of its Subjects well other
things belonging private individuals bodies corporate
within its territorial limits, is absolute, far it excludes
that OF other nations but respect tho members of the
State is paramount only and forms what called the emf
nen domain - Uheatotls La1p Of Nations, D. 2os
The existing state of possession maintained except
far altered by the Of treaty nong be said about
the conquered countries places they remain with the
queror and his title afterwards be called in question
Ibid, P ST.
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