Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-02-24


.z7ery word that is spoken here is heard
Upon the plateau of Mexico. Legislative
discussions, with open doors, are, in this
ags Of progress, discussions before the
world. As we watch the indications OF
public opinion in Mexico, and seek them
in the journals of the day the same univer-
sal messengers carrysback all that we are
saying, and doing, and proposing. Far be
il from me to question the conduct or the
motives Of any honorable senator. be-
lieye that every member of that body is
scfuated by as pure intensions as am my
SELF But suggest, is it prudent to say
here that it is uncertain whether we shall
banble toreach the city Of Mexico during
this campaign, and that if we do not, she
will be encouraged, and we discouraged,
she fortified, and we irresolutel Is it pru-
dent to say, that there are doubts whether
we can raise the means for another, more
costly, and at greater distancee 10 say,
that the spirit Of volunteering is gone! To
say, that for third campaign there will
be no longer resources in treasury notes2
Exhausted, perhaps, more than exhausted
by this single campaign! To ask, if we
gan borrow? five can lay taxes? What
saxes, &c.2 To ask, if we can collect
them in certain States that are embarrass.
ed: md to answer no! TO inquire, ifthere
will be sufficient unanimity and zeal in
the prosecution Of the war, to warrant the
belief that Congress would grant the me-
cessary supplies!
These are irksome inquiries to me, Mr..
President, and | shall not pursue them. If
'all this is 80, we are already unfaithful to
the trust transmitted to US, purchased by
the exertion and blood of our fathers, and
left as a precious legacy for those who are
to come after us. The lofty position of
the distinguished Senator from South Car.
olina, his reputation-a European one, in
Sact-his great services, and his pure char
.acter, give extraordinary weight to all the
sentiments he utters; and the deeper there
fore, is my regret. If these spprehensions
are well founded, there is, another. point Of
application for the epigrammatick remark
Of a French statesman, speaking of us in
the earlier period Of our history, who said,
.Lf such is The youth of that republic, what
~iil be lis old ags'" Sir, it will have no
old age.
The eyes Of Europe are upon US. Moth
ing worse can happen to us than to stop
ingloriously. This is our last recourse.
We have, then, but to prosecute this war,
as other wars are prosecuted by other ma
tons. We have but to discard dangerous
experiments, and to hold on to the expert
ence Of the world. We must breast our
selves to the shock. We must continue
our occupation of Mexico, and push the
invasion still farther. We must do as
other people have done must attack
and disperse her armies, take possession Of
her towns and capture her fortresses.-
There seems to be some analogy between
the cities Of Paris and Mexico. Both are
the native seats of revolutions. Both ex-
ert a preponderating influence over their
respective countries. have no right to
give an authoritative opinion respecting the
expediency Of demonstration upon the
capital. Still, | do not hesitate to say that
/ think it would be wise and probably de.
'cisive measure. 1t would disperse the gov
ernment, and weaken, if not break, its
hold upon public opinion. 1t would divert
the revenues from them to US. And IN ad-
dition to this resource, agree fully with
the honorable senator from Missouri in
opinion, that we should call contributions
to our aid in defraying our military ex-
.penses. 1t is a legitimate means Of support
for hostile armies. 1t belongs to the pre-
sent age, and not exclusively to the past
During all the wars Of Europe in our time,
almost the 6rst thing the commander of a
foreign army does on entering an enemy's
town, is to convene the magistrates and
make acquisitions upon them for bread,
meat, wine, forage, and such other supplies
as are wanted. And this, too, under threat
Of military execution. And the process
has been e1ectual, and the practice uniyer-
sal.
But it is said, Mr.. President, that the
Mexicans will fight 10 tho last extremity.
1t may be so. There are many desperate
deeds recorded in history, and obstinac is
Q prominent trait in the Spanish character,
and belongs to all the affiliated people oft
thatstock. But men do not fight for the
mere purpose Of being killed. We do not
e.iter Mexico to conquer her--oniy to con.
quer peace. We do not assai her inde-
pendence. We only ask her to do us JUS
tice. Il seems to me, then, that this is not
ne Of those cases sometimes prominent in
In the history Of nations, where the public
slergy ii aroused to a fit Of desperation,
and BY which means victories are achieved
against all previous calculations. With
out government, without trade, without re-
sources, sowing but not to reap, and with
oil the evilsof hostile occupation, / cannot
but think that the Mexican people may bel
coAqusred-to Justice.
Mr.. President, the senator from South
Carolina has adverted to the periodical Wis
its Of fever, BY which the low lands of M
icoare, duringthat season, impervious to
the stranger. 1t Is a tax which those rich
countries pay for other bounties that nature
has given them. But this is a reason for
Nt. "a y 4 II