Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-05


the honorable chairman OF the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, tMr G. J. lngcrsoI( on a former occasion,
when he said; "Ihe stupendous deserts bet,oecn The
Nueces and the Rio Grdnde ripcrs are the nuiural
boundaries betccen the Aneio-Saron ondthe nIau-
r,taaian races. There ends The Vdleyot The Vest
l af' BONN sas1 Sfgns % .n ss e s d.
or mir Nth each other" DO this be just to your
selves and to Mexico; and have little doubt that
peace will be restored and the national honor saved
from reproach But, unhappiy, and doubtless much
sooner than the honorable chairman, at the time he
uttered this language anticipated, the spirit OF con
quest RACES and opens before us, in reference to
the termination of the war only dark and uncertain
future, the end whereof no can ioresee The "stil
small voice of reason and humanity is lmost unheed
ed and unhcard amidst the cangor OF arms. The
blessings of peace may be restored to country.
when, and not till when the spirit OF conquest shall
cease TO rule the hour, and shall be abandoned; and
when the demoniac idea OF vindcating or preserving
the national honor, by committing national robbery up
on feeble ncigboring sister Republic, shall be orev
or discarded
Mr. Chairman, my opposition to taking any terrific
ny from Mexico arises, more from the consideration
OF its injustice to her than because believe it would
prove curse and not blessing to own country.
And this after all, is the paramount and aimportant
consideration growing out of the whole question OF the
Mexican war. However Just you may claim the war
with her to be, and however inst that in any peaceful
arrangement she should indemnify lis for its expenses
IN whole in part, it would be infinitely better for us
10 yield 1t all. than to receive indemnity that
which in reality would prove tobe banc to us What
liioc madness, then, Is it 10 wage war for the
quest oil possessions which, if granted us peacefully
and gratuitousy, would forever upon the heart of
this nation like the incubus of death The acquisition
OF territory from Mexico, upon whatever terms, of
peace or OF war; would forever be OF con,cu-
ton and strife with US, not, sooner or later, fatal to
the int Irity of the Union itself This Hall has al
ready witnessed the iorebodings of those evils which
are sure to OF the accession of territory in
the excited discussion and wrangling which has arisen
III relation TO the division OF the expected acquisitions
lon are despoiling neighborng republic of its pos
Sessions, and yet, before the prize is in your grasp
while you are yet IN hot pursuit, and painting in the
chase, you are warning among yourselves about the Ill
innate condition upon which your anticipated con-
quests shall be Incorporated into this Government and
the pledge upon either sde is nothing less than dis
solution OF the Union. You are rushing headlong and
binltolded upon appalling dangers, before which the
stout heart sinks, and brave men turn pale on
reminding the sumberng fires of volcano, which
whenever they shall burst forth, will consume all the
plain Heaven oreiend, that the happiness and the
hopes of twenty millions OF rccmen shall be made the
sport and the sacrifice OF miserable ambition for ter
ritoria ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The only guaranty OF onr
safety and salvation is to keep the ship of state from the
rock upon which our skiu pilots are fast driving it.
Take territory from Mexico, either by treaty or by
conquest, and you will have strife about the condi
tons OF its annexation.
Sir am opposed to taking one foot ofcrrtory from
Mexico. either by force or by consent: upon any
condition, whether bond or free, with slavery with
ont slavery. And let me warn the people OF the North
not to deceive themselves, be deceived with the
idea that the territory we may acquire from Mexico
will remain tree territory. And let me tell them, in all
rankness, that let attach what conditions may
to It's acquisition, incorporate into these preliminary
acts as many Wilmot proyisocs" as we please they
viii be otno practical avail IN the end and will not be
regarded or treated as OF any binding obligation upon
future legislative treaty action upon the subject And
let me tell them, furthermore, that with the Texas let
son before them, the only guarantee upon which they
can rely agninst the indefinite extension of slave terri
tory is 10 take none at all. This new and strange
horror oil the extension OF slavery, which has sud-
denly come over certain portion OF the northern De-
ocracy upon this floor, is, say the least of it, in sin
gnar contrast with their action upon the Texas
question. hope this new born zeal, which they ex-
hlb o! late, may prove be the fruit osincere rcpen-
tance that 1t may prove to be the result OF principle
rather than potca calculation OF mere party advan-
tnge. But they Will pardon us i we are little doubt
ful 0i their sincerity while their hands yet unwas-
ed oil the louIness OF their Texas votes.
"limeo Dannos, ct dona ferentes"
Mr. Chairman there herand formidable grounds
oil opposite to this spirit of national Acknowledgement
by territorial extension. Suppose that Mexico to
yied her reluctant assent to our possession of all the
country OF which you claim the military occupa-
ton! With the territory you must take its mixed and
semI-barbaIian pop1ntion-a distinct and d-simi.ar
race OF people-oi different habits, and OF dicnt Ian
gnage from Us, and feeling interests in common
with US and having no sympathies with but to hate
US, You could hold authority such people on
ly by the same force with which conquered them
Obedience to your laws and respect for your mnris-
trates must be enforced at the point of the sword
Standing armies must be stationed and kept around
their borders 10 keep in subsection these scattered and
turbue 1t people, unused to the restraints OF law With
the civil ana military government OF these new prov
inces comes vast extension of the already oyergrown
power OF Executive patronage power which already
ouershadows all the other departments OF your & oyern
ment-a power which, with the command of armies
and naves mas IN more than one instance in the his
tory OF republics been made the passport of bold and
bad men to imperial despotism. What political righ +
immunes and privileges will YOU extend tn the IN
habtants OF these new provinces, suited and appropr-
ate to their wants, their character and their new rea
ton TO our Government have only time To glance
and not to enlarge upon, suggestions like these
They iraught, nevertheless, with fearful imnor,
InIt flpm wit irrgst- 10 r..
and earnest reflection of all American s,ates
men and patriots Look at the subject we may i,
presents to our solemn consideration iunumerabe il
not insurinountable, difficulties
Mr. FooT thus concludes his excellent speech
Mr.. Chairman, do no, underestimate the SIX IN m,
proves OF American arms. am not undertaking til,
strength and power of this notion Although we ma,
be omnipotent for sel-deencc, we yet may not b,
strong enough 10 subugate foreign through ii be
feeber nation. We may conquer and slbrugatr Mex
leo but instead OF its being six-mons holiday ex
ercse, as some seemed To fancy it in the outset
must be the long and bloody work OF years and at n
incalculabe waste of treasure and OF life. The con
current testimony OF all who best acquainted viii
the ply sical and geographical character and formation
of Mexico, represent ii as country most cas-
TO defend and most difficult conquer. Ii is defend
ell from the approach OF an enemy, the whole lin
OF its eastern border, by periodical pestilence
terrible than an army with banners which sweep
over it with fearful fatality one-haf of the year 1t
defended by long lines OF mountain barriers and desc
plains, impossible for armies. Its capital is accessbl
an hundred men can resist thousand. 4 popuuliu
of eight millions OF Inhabitants, surrounded By a
these natural deences dispersed over nearly haa con
tinent driven the madness OF desperation in deenc
OF their affairs and their fresdes, in defence OF iii
graves of their fathers and of their very existence
nation may be conquered but that conquest must i
most dearly bought, and most dearly maintained
mus, be IA conquest unto death. Who shall count j
millions OF cost Who shall measure its rivers OF bloc
and its rivers of tears And when You shall hay
gained it, tell me, ye who glory in the deeds OF wa
tell me what i; will be worth When you shall has
conquered Mexico, if TINT time shall ever be, VIII;
will you do with it how will you govern it Ho
will YOU hold in submission your authority, her nero
and untltored people, eXasperated and revcngeiG
the remembrance OF past defeats and present hun,
ton put it TO the advocates OF this war OF conque
to answer these questions before God and their coul
try. =, c,. -,
of our own country in the mean time-thls noble p'
trmony oil ours which we inherited from our fathers
lis vast and varied interests neglected. overlooke
almost forgotten in the hot pursuit oi war Its resou
es are TO be exhausted and drained TO their very dreg
heavy and accommodating national debt TO be entail,
upon it, and the millions, who earn their daily bret
nv their daily toll must be taxed to their utmost end
rance to supply the snews' OF foreign wars and 10
eign conquess. The young men, the strength and Il
hone of the country are to be called from the iia