Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-01

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unto in execra,iug the fapaclous and detostable
deed. That was accomplished by overwhelming
force and the unfortunate existence Of fatal dissen
sions and divisions in the bosom Of Poland. Let MS
avoid affixing to our and national character
similar, if not worse, stigma. am afraid that
do not stand well in the opinion of other parts
of christendom Reputation has brought upon US
much reproach. All the nations, apprehend, look
upon us in the prosecution Of the present war, as
being actuated by spirit of rapaci,y. and inor-
dinate desire for territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Let
us not forfeit altogether their good opinions. Let
us command their applause by noble exercise Of
forbearance and justice. In tho elevated station
which we hold, safely afford to practice the
the god like virtues of moderation aud magnanimi-
ty. The long series of glorious triumphs, achieved
by our gallant commanders and their brave armies,
unattended by single reverse, justify u.s. without
the least danger of furnishing the national honor, in
disnteresedly holding out the olive branch fpeace.
We do not want the mines, the mountains, the
morasses and the sterile lands of Mexico. To her
the loss Of them would be humiliating, and be a
perpetual source Of regret and modification. To us
they might prove fatal acquisition, producing dis
traction, Jissension, division, possibly dsunion.---
Let. therefore, the integrity Of the national exis
tence and national territory of Mexico remain undis
turbed For one, desire to see part of her ter
ritory torn from her by war. Some of our people
have placed their hearts upon the acquisition Of the
Bay Of San Francisco in'Upper California. To US.
as great maritime Power, it might prove to be Of
advantage hereafter in respect to our commercial
and navigating interests. To Mexico, which can
never be great maritime Power it can never be of
much advantage.
II we can obtain it by fair purchase with just
equivalent, should be happy to see it SO acquired.
AS, whenever the war ceases, Mexico ought to be
required to pay the debts due citizens. Per
haps equivalent for that bay may be found in that
debt, our government assuming to pay to our cit-
zpnS Of in no cd 81.
object. But it should form motive in the prose-
cutlon of the war, which would not continue sol
iary 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
Ii the published documents in relation to the late
negotiations between Mr.. Trst and the Mexican
commissioners be true, and have not seen them
} anywhere contradictcd, the Executive properly
waived aEy demand Of indemnity for the expenses
) of the war. And the rupture of that negotiation
, was produced by our Government insisting upon
cesson from Mexico, of the strip Of mostly barren
land between the Nueces and the Rio Bravo and
New Mexico, which Mexico refused to make. Sc
that VIC are now fighting, if not for the conquest Of
3 all Mexico, as ntmated in quarters, for tina
! narrow strip, and for tho barren province of New
4 Mexico, with its few miserable mines. We bough
all the province of Louisiana for fifteen millions
o dollars, and IL is, in my opinion, worth thai
all Mexico together. We bought Florida at five
millions Of dollars, and hard bargain it was since
besides that sum, we gave up the boundary of the
t Rio Bravo, to which think we were entitled, a.
the western limit Of tho province of Louisiana ant
were restricted to that of the Sabine. And we ART
now, If not seeking the conquest of all Mexico I,
continue this indefinitely for the inconsiderabl,
I objects TO which have just referred.
t But, it will be repeated, we to have no in
= demnlty for the expenses of the war2 Mexico il
: utterly unable to make us any pecunary indemnity
: If the justice Of the part entitled us I,
demand 1t. Her country has been laid waste. he
s cities burned or occupied by troops, her means
:, 80 exhausted that she is unable TO pay even he
e own armies And every days prosecution Of tn.
Q war, whilst 1t would augment the amount of on
d indemnify, would lessen the ability Of Mexico (,
a pay 1t. We have seen, however, that there is an
= other form In which we are to demand indemnity
, II Is to be territorial indemnity! hope for rea
sons already stated, that that firebrand will not b,
u brought into country.
% Among the resolutions which it is nv intentio,
II 10 present for ynnr consideration al the conclusion
J. Oh this address, one proposes, your behalf ant
o mine, to disavow, in the most positive manner an,
desire, on our part, to acquire any foreign territory
IS whatever Tor The purpose ofintroducing slavery int
: 1t. l do not know that any citizen of the Untet
;, States entertains such wish. But such motiv,
It has often been imputed to the Slave States, and
therefore think 1t necessary 10 notice it this
: casion. My opinions the subject of Slavery ar
well known. They have the merit, if it be one O
! consistency uniformity and long duration. I hav
e the present fear irremedable wrong to its I'm
: fortunate victims. should rejoice if not single
S slave breathed the air within the limits O
our country. But here they are, to be dealt with
well as can, with due consideration Of all cir
cumstances affecting the security, safety and happi
= ness of both races. Every State has the supreme
uncontrolled and exclusive power to decide oritsel
= whether slavery shall cease continue within il
limits, without any exterior Intervention from an,
quarter. In States where tho slaves outpumbe
the whites, as is the with several, the black
IS could not be emancipated and invested with all tn
IT rights OF freemeD, without becoming the goverpn,
IT race In those States. Collisions and conflicts be
g tween the two races, would be inevitable, and af
e Ter shocking of rapine and carnage, the ex
i tinction or explosions of the blacks would cerainl,
o take place.
II In the State of Kentucky, near fifty years AGO.
thought the proportion ofslaves in comparison wit!
l. the whites, was so lnconsiderabe that we mich
/ safely adopt system of gradual emancipation tha
u would ultimately eradicate this evil in our State
} That system was totally different from the mme
date abolition of slavery for which the party of TIT
Il Aoolltonists OF the present day contend. Whethe
. they have intended or not, it is my calm and DELHI
u crate belief, that they have done incaculabe mis-
chief even to the very cause which they espoused
to say nothing Of the discord which has been pro
IL duced between different parts of the Union. Ac
cording to the SYSTEM attempted, the close
OF the last century all slaves in being were to re-
I main such, but all who might be born subsequent
! 70 speclhed day, were to become free at the age
OF twenty eight, and during their service were To
ne Taught to read, write and CIPHER. Thus, in.
8 stead OF being thrown upon the community igpo-
? rant and unprePared, would be the case by i'm
> mediate emancipation, they would have entered I'D
on the possession Of their freedom pablo in aone
degree, Of enjoying it. After hard struggle the
system was defeated, and regret it extremely, as,