The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-04
T HE G A L e DON MAN.

have pronounced should live assunder, couIo
never be permanently and tremendously uni
ted together.
Do we want for our own happiness oil
greatness the addition of Mexico 10 the exist
ing Union of our States? II our population
were too dense for our territory, ana mere
was difficulty in obtaining Vhonorably the
means of subsistence, there might be some
excuse for an attempt TO enlarge our domin'
ions. But we have no such apology. we
have already, in our glorious country, a vast
and almost boundless territory. Beginning
at the North, in the frozen regions OF the
British Provinces, it stretches thousands OF
miles along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean
and the Mexican gulf until il almost reaches
the Tropics. Ii extends to the Pacific Ocean,
borders on those great inlnnd scas,the Lakes
which separate us from the possessions oil
Great Britain, and it embraces the great futh-
err of rivers, from its uppermost source to the
Balze, and the still longer Missouri, from its
mouth to the gorges ofthe Rocky Mountains.
1t comprehends the greatest variety Of the
richest soils, capable of almost all the pro-
ductions of the earth, except tea and coffee
and the spices; and it includes every variety
of climate, which the heart could wish or de-
SIRE We have more than ten thousand mil
lions ofacres of wasteSSunsettled lands-en-
ough for the subsistence often or twentytlmes
our present population. Ought we not TO be
satisfied with such IL country? Ought we not
TO be profoundly thankful 10 the Giver OF all
good things for such n vast and bountiiul
! land? Is il not the height of ingrotitude TO
Him, 10 seek, by war and conquest, indulglng
in spirit of rapacity, to acquire DINER lahus'
the homes and habitations Of large poruoh
! of His common children? five pursue the
object ofsuch conquest, beside mortgaging
the revenue and resources OF this country Tor
ages TO come, in the form OF an onerous Ma
tional Debt, we should have greatly TO aug
ment that Debt by an assumption OF me Sixty
or seventy millions of the National Debt OF
Mexico. For take il that nothing is more
certain than that if we obtain voluntarily or
by conquest a foreign nation, we acquire II
with all the encumbrances attached 10 IT.
In my humble opinion, we ARE now bound
H. honor aud morality, 10 pay the Just debt OF
Texas. And we should be equally bound 10y
the same obligations, 10 pay the debt OF Mex
leo.
Ofthe possessions which appertain to man,
in his collective or individual condition, none
should be preserved and cherished with more
seduous and unrcmiting care than that OF
an unsullied character. II is impossible TO
estimate it too highly in society when attach
ed to an individual, nor can II be eXaggera-
ted or too greatly magnifed in u nation
Those who lose or are Indifferent 10 il be-
come lust objects discern and contempt
OF all the abominable transactions which
suly the pages of history, none exceed IN G.
mormty that of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT and par
tition Of Poland by the three great Continental
Powers-Russia Austria aud Prussin. Ages
may pass away, aud centuries roll around but
so long as human records endure, all man
kind.Will unite in cXecrating the rapacious
and detestable deed. That was accomplish
ed by overwhelming force, and the untortu-
nate existence of fatal dissensions and divis-
ions in the bosom of Poland. Let us avoid
affixing to our name and national character
siuIiar, if not worse, stigma. ! am afraid
that we do not now stand well in the opinion
of other parts of Chris;endom. Reputation
Us brought upon us much reproach. All the
nations. | n;,prehend, look upon us i'll the
prosecution O the present War, as being nc
tuated by spirit OF l2p2cliy, ana an lhoroi-
nate desire for territorial d . T5randlZement.-
Let us not forfeit altogether Their %c2d opln-
ions. Let us command their applause by u
noble exercise offorbenrancc and justice. III
the elevated station which we hold, we can
safely afford to practice the God-like virtues
of moderation and magnanimity. The long
series of glorious triumphs, achieved by our
gallant commanders ana their brave armies,
unattended by single reverse, justify us
without the least danger oftarnishing the ma
tional honor in disinterestedly holding out
the olive branch of peace. We do not want
the mines, the mountains the morasses, and
the sterile lands of Mexico. To her the loss
of them would be humilinting, and be per-
petual source of regret and mortilcallon.-
To us they might prove fatal acquisition,
producing distraction, dissensiou, division,
possibly disnnion. Let therefore the integri-
tv OF the national existence aud national ter
ritory of Mexico, remain undisturbed. For
one desire 10 see no part of her territory
torn from her by war. Some of our people
have placed their hearts upon the acquisition
of the Bay OF San Francisco, in Upper Cali
fornia. To us, as great maratime power, II
might prove to be of advantage hereafter i'll
respect to our commercial and navigating i'll
terests. To Mexico, which can never be n
great maratme power, it can never be of
much advantage. IF we can obtain it by fair
purchase, for just equivalent, should be
happy TO see il so acquired. As, whenever
the War ceases, Mexico ought to be required
to paw the debts due our citizens, perhaps an
equivalent for that Bay may be found i'll that
debt, our Government assuming to pay to our
citizens whatever portion Off may be applied
TO that object But it should form no motive
in the prosecution of the War, which would
not continue a solitary hour for the sake of
that harbor.
But what, it will be asked, shall we make
peace without any indemnity for the expenses
of the war? Ifthe published documents i'll
relation to the late negotiations between Mr.
Trist and the Mexican Commissioners be
true, and have not seen them any where con-
tradcted, the Executive properly waived any
demand of indemnity for the expenses of the
war. And the rupture of that negotiation
was produced by our Government insisting
upon cession from Mexico of the strip OF