Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-03

ANAA a@l
Congress can previously decide the objects
to which negotiation shall be applied. how
much stronger is the case Of war the pow
err 10 declare which Is conhded ercinsiuely
TO Congressf
conclude, therefore, Mr. President and
fellow citizens, with entire confidence, that
Congress has the right, either at the begin
ming, or during the prosecution of any war,to
decide the objects and purposes for which Il
was proclaimed, or for which il ought to be
continued. And | think il is the duty Of Con-
gross, BY some deliberate aud authentic act,
TO declare for what objects the present war
shall be longer prosecuted. suppose the
President would not hesitate to regulate his
conduct by the pronounced will Of Congress,
and 10 employ the force and The diplomatic
power Of the nation 10 execute that will
But, IL the President should decline or re.
fuse TO do so, and, in contempt OF the su-
preme authority OF Congress, should per-
severe in waging the war, for other objects
than those proclaimed by Congress, then il
would be the imperative duty Of that body
TO vindicate its authority by the most strin-
gent, and effectual, and appropriate meas
ures. And il, on the contrary, the enemy
should refuse TO conclude a treaty, contain
ing stipulaiions securing the object desig.
mated by Congress, il would become the
duty Of the whole government TO prosecute
the war with all the national energy, until
those objects were attained by a treaty of
peace. There can be no ~insuperable diff.
Guilty in Congress making such an author
itative declaration. Let il resolve, simply,
that the war shall, or shall not. be a war Of
conquest and if a war Of conquest, what
is to be conquered. Should a resolution
pass, disclaiming the design Of conquest.
peace would follow in less than sixty days,
If the President would conform to his con-
stitutional duty.
Here, fellow citizens, | might pause, hav.
ing indicated a mode by which the nation.
through its accredited and legitimate repre-
sentatives in Congress, can announce for
what purposes aud objects this wal shall be
longer prosecuted, aud can thus let the
whole people Of the United States know for
what end their blood is TO be further shed,
aud their treasure further expended, instead
OF the knowledge Of il being locked up aud
concealed in the bosom OF one man. We
should no longer perceive The objects Of the
war varying, from time TO time, according
10 the changing opinions of the Chief Mag.
istrate charged with its prosecution. But
| do not think it right TO stop here. Il is
the privilege Of the people. ia their print.
tive assemblies. aud Of every private man,
however humble, to express an opinion in
regard to the purposes for which the war
should be continued; and such an express
sion will receive just so much consideration
and consequence as il is entitled TO, and no
more.
Shall this war be prosecuted for the pur-
pose Of conquering and annexing Mexico,
IN all lis boundless extent, 10 the United
States
| will not attribute to the President OF the
United States any such design bat | con.
fess ] have been shocked and alarmed by
manifestations Of il in various quarters. or
all the dangers and misfortunes which could
belall this nation, / should regard that Of
its becoming a wariike aud conquerine pnw-
er the most direfui and fatal. History tells
the mourniul tale Of conquering nations, and
conquerors. The three most celebrated
conquerors in the civilized world, were
Alexander, Cesar and Napoleon. The
first, after oyerrunning a large portion Of
Asia, and signing and l%amenting that there
were no more worlds TO subdue, met pre-
mature and ignoble death. His Lieuten.
ants qUarrelled and warred with each other,
as TO the spells of his victories, and finally
lost them all. Cpsar, after conquering
Gaul, returned. with his triumphant legions
10 Rome, passed the Rubicon, won the bat
tie Of Pharsalia. trampled upon the liberties
Of his country, and expired by the patriot
hand Of Brutus. But Rome ceased 10 be
free. War and conquest had eneryated and
corrupted the masses. The spirit Of true
liberty was extinguished, and a long line of
Emperors succeeded, some OF whom were
the most execrable monsters that ever ex-
listed in human form. And Thai most extra
ordinary man. perhaps, in all history, after
s~uhiugating all continental Europe, occupy
ing almost all its capitals. seriously threat.
ening, according to NJ. Theirs. proud Abb.
on itself, and decking the brows Of various
members Of his family with crowns torn
from the heads Of other monarchs, lived to
behold his own dear France itself in the
possession Of his enemies, and was made
himself a wretched captive, and far remov-
ed from country, family, and friends, breath
ed his last on the distant and inhospitable
rock Of ST. Helena. The Alps aud the
Rhine had been claimed as the natural boun.
daries Of France. but even these could no
be secured in the treaties to which she was
reduced 10 submit. Do you believe that
the people Of Macedoa or Greece, Of Rome
or of France, were benefited, Individually
or collectively, by the triumphs of their
great Captainsi Their sad lot was immense
sacrifice of life, heavy and iniolerable bur
deus, and the ultimate loss of liberty itself.
That the power Of the United States is
competent 10 The conquest Of Mexico, is
quite probable. But il could not be achiey-
ed without lrighiful carnage. dreadful sacri-
fees of human life, aud the creation of an
onerous national debt nor could il be CON.
pletely effected, in all probability, until at.
lie! the lapse OF many years. II would be
necessary to occupy all IFS s~trongholds, to
disarm its inhabitants, aud TO keep them in
constant fear and suhjeoiion. To consum-
mate the work, | presume that standing ar
mics, not less Than a huadred thousand
men, would be necessary, to be kept, per.
haps. always in the bosom of their country.
These standing armies. revelling in a for