Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-12
NEW SERIES,...No ~


object has been. more particularly, to show that an,
n,xation brought war in spite OF the deceptive and
hollow statementsand Assurances which Democratic
leaders held to pave the way for the admission Of
Texas Is there man, in the nation who believes
we should now be in war that thousands Of our
countrynen would now be dead and dying in for,
eign land that our Treasury would be bankrupt, and
all the pursuits Of peaceful life be disturbed, IT, IN
fatal hour, the opposition TO that measure had not
The chairman of Foreign Affairs in the Senate, IN.
Sevicr) declared yesterday. in speech in his Place,
that" no one thought Of getting less than Ncp Mer.
leo and Colitornii :"
Aud the chairman of Foreign, Aflhrs in this House,
(Mr. Ingersol) has also given us his views at two diff
iercn, times on this point. In the report OF August
last to which have alluded and which was made be-
fore it was deemed to be expedent to admit tho
world tina, conquest was the object he labored IA dis
pc! all fear that '"ss, * page 81 he say'-
| The armies and @of ." un!cd state1 will no
tiIities-o male war, az as lie means Of osJition
or tor the sake Of conqncst-bnt as, when all pacific
cndeavors have been exhausted, and not till then, the
only way 10 peace.
As in hr order of overriding Providence, war has
been forced upon this country ii will make the most Of
it to disabusc the world OF The uniounded aud unme-
red charges against republican, government, Of inca.
pacity Tor warsand lust Of dominon.
But, as | remarked before, n lapse Of time having
made a change of position on the rar Of the admins
trauOn necessary, change OF tone the part OF its
representatives. this floor easily follows and ac-
cordngIy, we heard him say few days SINCE
Everybody kncw--yes, everybody knew that this
was to be war OF inynson-a Of territorial con-
guest, although it spoken OF i'll terms oicon-
demnation in that respect But it could not be other
wise than war OF conquest. That was the only use
that could be made OF all the power granted by Con-
gress and by Congress commanded 10 be employed.
read from the report Of lis speech in the Union,
and ask the attention of the llouse not so much to the
garin. Inconsistency which is deyeopcd-ior that is
OF little consequence to the full disclosure ofhe
purposes OF the they officially declared
. in this Hons, Sir. upThlus be that
" everybody knew that this was TO be war o. inva-
sion--a war OF territorial conquest" | certainly
thought 50 last August, aud said so but at that time
we had the assurance of the report Oh The Mexican
war, that it not to be waged for the sake OF con-
quest, the lus, of dominion. II any more proof is
desired l1t conql st l. the purposr, look at the a
thorty given to Commodore Stockton and Gen kear-
ney. to establish civil governments in New Mexico
and California, and the manner in which hey have
executed their orders. Look also at the significant
iHct that day alter day, during the present session tho
Democratic members Oh this floor have been wrangng
and qunlreling to the fundamental laws which shall
b, cstablis!.e n the conquered provinces The motto
which War Secretary established for partlzan rur.
poses, is to be applied TO our foreign relations
TO the vctors belong the spells, now, before
safely say that there any spois TO divide,
the party which susains the administration are i'll al.
most state oinuny as to the terms OF distribution
Sir this may result i'll the conquest OF these pro-
vnces although present appearances give no hope OF
speedy termination of it. 1t may terminate in the
dismemJern,nt OF our sister republic, and partition
OF her territory.
Dut what 4OQu 10 US, ii II uteS we Sldi HeilIicT
gain national wealth, national strength, nor national
: honor We shall gain the seeds OF thousand evils
internal jealousy and bckerngs-and we shall gain
> the condemnation and shame OF the world. History
has 10 blacker page than that which records the par
tition q Poland among the stronger powers around
her The plea that the safety of their institutions.
the institutions OF monarchy which made slaves OF
their subjects does them. That great crime
has an uidyng fame but, sir if this plan OF the dis
inelbennent OF the weak republic upon our southern
border is cousummated that crime will lind its rival.
y The plea that domestic - institutions" demand IT,
viii ind no favor, VIII n the judgment OF all civilized
. and Christian mankind p:ca'l., and future now and
forever, CONES to be made up
i 1t for such war leading to such consequences
II that we are now, IN our chnraccro Repre- sentatlve5
called upon to vote supplies Treasure, and human
II liir-nlilon> OF dollars and thousands ct mcnare de-
" nanded OF rs, to b. expended to accomplish such Ie
e suit. And we told that without scrupc, without
to complaint, it is our duty grant this demand We
j. are told that now after the war has been begun the
Executive is charged with full power over It's conduct
ana end and that our duty as good patriots Is to weld
to his requests and keep silence his usurpauons
Il Sir, hold to no such slayish doctrine.
ot Sir, that doctrine be true then indeed we are but
rs little better oil than the srts Of Russia and the slaves
e OF the Sultan and really aud in truth, the Presidents
= Generals in Mexico are, what the gentleman from
nj Sont- Carolina (Nir RhclU dcnominated them, his
/ sArRArS" But utterly deny that the sp nit OF our
a Constitution lustles any such alarming prcension on
% til" part OF the Executive SonsTess indeed. by de-
II OF conducting but he must conduct II with the
:, means which Congress, III view OF all the crcusan-
>, Chooses 10 give nm. IN Judging OF the amount
3 aud nature OF those means Congress has the rgi,and
it i. its duty, look the end which ought TO be
compslcd To what the Interests, rights and hon.
OF the country require should be done Ii enough has
bcendone protect rights and vndcatc our honor
and ii the President desires still further to proong til,
war Tor personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or or any other no
tive must Congress still all which lie demands! Il
said that ii he doe, exercise his power wrongiuy he
may be impcached in the l!c phrase OF the day, we
, may hold him responsible" Bnt We oil know that
impcachmrnt j. farce and tie Impeachment Of
r.sl. who has a. back and 10 whom
, you have given the dospotic power Of Nahmoud over
the army viii hardly have many terrors for him. No
sir; hold it 10 ne my impeIious duty to scrutnize
every demand Tor men and money aud y u appenIs
that they are used for unlustiiahe ends shall not hes
itute to resist the requston. II be not So there is
no necessity tor voting at MI Upon The subject We
are only To keep the treasury full and let the President
Put in his hand, and help himself Whenever he tit
' ---aud-hoi him 10 h!s responsibility. The moment
that the right OF voting upon the question at all is
coded then the right Judging, and OF refusing upon
proper reasons, is admitted to the fullest extent. Il is
upon this ground that have acted thus tar and shall
continue To act. see the Executive using, tor pur
poss OF conquest such Us have been shown, the
power which has been given him, and refuse to aid
him in carrying out those purposes. If the
one OF defence; i.no matter how begun, however
stupsndOus might be the Jolly or the crime that brought
it upon u.ii hostile fleets were Iayagng our coasts
and an rnrmy's army invading our towns, should
not hesitate give all every thing, that might be cal
led for In such state OF things, every dollar that my.
constituents could raise would be freely offered, and
every man on our hills and in valleys would spring
TO array himself for the conflict Lite and treasure
would be all ready for sacrifice Mt the counts need
But such Is not the and en- determined 10 stand
, by the declaration that will give
MILLIONS For OFFENCE, Dur NOT A CENT roR CONQUEST
Mr. Chairman, the desire crafty this lust Of do
miuon which first INDUCED in the acquisition of Tex.
as well nigh led us into war for part of Oregon,
now bcclIons on, with innmcd appetite, to other
regions upon the Pacific and threatens m cIcy TO
consume the true principles and proper objects Of
publican government, but to make US deaf and isen-
sihc 10 those humane considerations which belong TO
and advance nation whose pursuits are those opcace
War brings IN its train not merely loss OF treasure,
public debt and destruction of human lie hut il
TO turn the hearts of those who engaged in IT, and
urging ii on, to stone. Aslna illustration OF this is
to be found in the speech Of the Chairman of Foreign
Affairs made the other day in defence OF the war its
authors aud its purposes have rcicrIod 10 the sane
speech before and my only apology for doing it again
is that its author stands here in peculiar relations the
administration, aud as the supposed exponent OF its
plans and opinions. He spoke OF this war a FORUM
ate occurrence, which TO settle difficulties with
which they did not know how 10 deal before and
adds
| I'ar brought them al once 10 state Of things
nhich he RECORDED rcry fortunate; and though
they had heard great deal about the misfcripnes
end calamies Of ,car, hch il rery easy 10 talk
about 10 the dciisht0f all old trOmen, yet he rouid