Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-12
From the Boston Courier
Mr. Asallala,El's speech,
o. THE THREE Observation-Disclosures Bill

''A''
Though not so long as some Others is more COM
prehenslve. The argument is condensed, but remark
ably clear and altogether unanswerable. He confined
himself to the consideration of three propositions, viz
4. That the war in which we engaged is direct
consequence of the annexation of Texas and the ma
tura AMI anticipated fruit of that iniluy , That
the is waged FOR the conquest of foreign territory,
as its great purpose and end as has been openly an
nounccd by those who profess to be the faithful and
confidential friends the Executive in both branches
of Congrcss 3. That after the conquest and dis
membermcnt of the Mexican republic, it is designed,
as the browning crime of this of inGuity, to cx
tend slavery the acquired territory, there to exist
as an element of political power
We regret that We are prevented by other engage
mens from giving the whole of this speech to
dcrs but We give them cupious cXtracts, by which
they will see with what bodness Mr.. Ashmun attacks
the instiga,ors and apoosists of the war, and with
what trmness he announces his determination to give
it no support by voting for supplies of men money to
carry it About its origin, after auding to the ap-
prehensions expressed in various quarters that the
nextion of Texas would result in war he says
These apprehcnsions were attempted TO be quieted
by assurances from high quarters that war would not
follow. One of the most remarkable vouchers was
given this ioor by the person who wns then, ms he
is now chairman of the Committee OF Foreign Atlairs
(Ilr c. ] ngersoll) 1t was bv him that the original
resolutions for the annexation OF Texas nfroil-
ced in this House and upon that occasion he made a
speech in which, among other things he lahored II
quiet all fears OF war. On that day Feb. 81, 1915 he
said " Although the public correspondence between
the two North American republics has become angry,
| am happy to be authorized 10 assure this House.
that those best acquainted with the true state OF things
apprchend little no danger of war, The main snrw
oi war; money will heal the breach, and end the con-
roversy amcaby. ltailords great satisfaction to
be ant state, thl Institutes are not probable
with Mexico"
The speech of Mr.. Benton in the Senate concern
i'm the boundary of Texas next referred TO, and VI
Ashmun then proceeds
Nothing, surely, could be more clear AMI emphatic
unless perhaps, the statement of the same position lay
the chairman oi Foreign AiIus in this House. On
the 81 OF February, lS3 he introduced his resolutions
and spoke III explanation OF thine and on the SUBJECT
OF the boundary, said:
"'rhc stupeudous deserts between the Nueces and
the Bravo rivers are the natural boundaries between
the Anglo Saxon and rhc Mauranian races. There
ends the valley OF thu West. There Mexico begins
Thence, beyond the Bravo begins the Moorish people.
md their Indian associates to whom Mexico properly
belongs who should not that vast desert itthey
could, "a we, side too ought stop there, be-
cause intcrminable conflicts must ensne our going
s,lth, their coming northo that stntlc boundary.
IIhHe peace is CHERISHED, that boundary irH be scr
red Not an tie spirit Of Conquest RACES, Will the
people on either side modest or mix with each other
and whenever they do, one or the other races must be
conquered, ii not eXtinsuished"
Here Mr. Chairman, we sec an official declaration
of this bound larry made TO quiet all fear that onr rela-
tlons with Mexico would be disturbed hy claiming to
the Rio Granlc! Aud W. see, also, the $ ir of pro-
phecy procalming, in tones OF solemn warning, that
while peace Is cherished The desert viii be held sacred
the boundary that not I'LL the spirit OF conquest
mgcs will the people either side OF modest or mix
with each other Sir, it is because peace is longer
cherished, tina, the boundary is not held sacred II is
because the babarous rt OF conquest does rage hat
IL. hat. trHRatta
across that desert to crafty the burning lust Of acqui
siton aud dominion les, sir, II the spitI that AMI
mated this declaration. could still have controlled the
councils the President, we should now be IN the EN-
ioyment of peace But mark how the lapse Of lev
months brings with change of opinions TO suit the
changing purposes OF party ana OF men we were
called upon, few days since, by tins same chairman
TO pn some extra copies u report make al the lest
session by him. on the subject OF the Mexican war. 1t
had fallen dead upon the attention OF the country but
by the vote 10 PRINT, II was elevated to degree OF
distinction which alone entities il To attention land
accordingly have run through its yoluninous pages
And was not surprised to find paragraph upon this
subject OF boundary so entirely contradictory o every
thing contained in the above extract, that Is worthy
OF beng cualed and contlasted 1t Is on the iith
page, and is as follows;
"PrcSidenfPok had no constitutional right 10 stop
short OF the Bravo and in truth, the province OF Texas
extended TO that river by territorial conigurntion,
which nature itself has rendered the mitary demaIca
ton OF that REGION
lfany explanation is demanded of the papable in- |
consistency between these two official xposiiions by
the person, OF the natural and legal boundary
cap only say that one made before the anne VA
ton OF Texas To induce To believe there would be
no war and the other is made after has actually
come, tor the purpose oijustiyngi Its OF the
many proofs OF the iacile change OF parzan positions
where there is no principal to control them.
IL was, then, this question OF boundary which Tex
as brought with her and the attempt settle by the
sword, that involved us IN this war AS To the hsiori-
cal and geographical view of the boundary question,
consider IL