The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-03-16

NOe IUt cA0 SSPNNiaAt VI NotS-
quest and invasion, are dangerous to the
character, integrity, and best interests OF
this Union. As a friend of peace, pre-
sent and prospective. | am in favor of Ibis
proyiso. The object of this war being
the acquisition of southern territory, as
long as there is a hope of accomplishing
this object, there will be no peace. Put
an end to this hope, and you at once put
an end to the war. by defeating It's object.
The moment the President finds this pro-
viso accompanying this grant of money,
he viii be for making peace; and so will
all the South. They want no restricted
territory. III the restriction is imposed,
and the territory acquired is to be free,
from that moment the President would
pay Mexico 10 keep her territory, rather
than bring it in on such conditions. am
for the p~roviso, therefore, because it will
bring US peace. Impose this restriction,
and Mr.. Polk will say he wants no terri
tory-the South win say they want none;
we say, agreed, we want none. Then, if
Mexico is to lose no territory, she will be
for peace; and IL we are 10 acquire none,
what are we fighting for! Then. impose
this restriction. and the war will be
promptly ended, to the great benefit and
JOY of both Republics.
But this restriction would not only ter
inmate the war, but it will promote peace
at home, domestic peace. 1t will avoid
civil, and perhaps, in the end, s@ervile
wars.
The acquisition Of unrestricted terrific
ry win be an s'apple of discord'' to the
States of this Union. New questions
viii at onc spring up new lines of par
ty distinction viii be drawn, and the old
ones obliterated. We shall be no longer
divided as Wings and Democrats. As
long as our party distinctions are founded
on abstract principles, and measures of IN
@ternal policy, they never will divide this
Union-neyer; but as soon as you make
a geographical diYision-a free party and
a slave party, a northern party and a
southern party-you al once strike a fatal
blow at the integrity of this Union. |
want to shun all these dangers-dangers
which, l believe, can be avoided only by
keeping out foreign territory. But the
President tells US, in his Message, that
this war was not commenced, and is not
prosecuted, for conquest. Sir, am sor-
~ he has said SO. am sorry for the
credit and character of my country; for
what man is there so blind as not TO see
that conquest is the whole and sole end
and object Of this war! Whether We
look to the manner Of its commencement,
or the manner OF its prosecution, every
one must see that territory, the acquisi-
ton of territory, was the first and last,
the cherished and darling object of the.
President. But the President tells us
that Mexico began this war; that she
struck first; that she invaded our territory,
and s.shed American blood on American
soa." If this be true, it is sufficient
Then why 90 back twenty years 10 give
what the President calls "a history of the
causes that led TO this war. Led who
to this war! That led him to make it Of
course. Why rake up and cite, in order,
this long string of old grievances and eau
ses Of quarrel, long since settled by trea-
ty! Why dwell on Mexican outrages,
and what Mexico owes us! She has ac-
knowledged the debt, and has agreed to
pay il; and did pay as long as she had
the means. But will war bring the mo-
ney! Or will it not rather destroy both
the ability and disposition Of Mexico to
pay Suppose a man living in Texas or
Florida owes Mr.. Polk, not S. 1900, 900,
but $4,000; he sends a man over there to
collect the money. The man acknowled-
ges the debt, but says he cant pay, Mr..
Polk flies into a passion, and says, ell
make him pay" He hires a hundred
men, agrees TO pay them $40 per month,
gives them 100 acres of land, finds them
horses, borrows $4,000 10 pay expen-
ses, and away he goes. The man col
Iects his neighbors, they have a fight;
Mr.. Polk, with the loss of half his men
gains a glorious victory; he burns the
mans barn; he sets his stacks on fire;
destroys his cattle, and kills his wife and
children; and what is the result! Mr..
Polk has ruined the man, and ruined him
self; the debt is lost, and Mr.. Folks pro-
perty is sold by the sheriff TO pay the ex-
penses of his folly, and that is the end
Of il. Such a course would be just as
reasonable as this war upon Mexico TO
collect what she owes us. But who be-
lieyes Mr.. Polk to be in earnest. Who
does not know that this is only the osten-
sible motive, the pretext, for the war, and
that the true, the real Objects, and was
from the beginning, the acquisition Of ter
ritory!
But the President insists, that Mexico
struck first. Is this trnel II SO, that is
enough; why assign twenty other insult
fcient reasons for this war, The course
Of the President puts me in mind of .