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

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Powers, and the archives Of the Executive u
rartment furnish abundant evidence Of the accoI
Piishment Of those objects, or the attempt to q
compi'sh them, by subsequent negotiation.
. Frior to the declaration OF the last war again.
Great britain, in all the restrictive measures whc
congress adopted, against the two great belligs
rent Powers of Europe, clauses were inserted i
Tho several acts establishing them, rendering I
both or either OF tho bclligerents the abolition
those restrictions if they would repeal their hostile
Berlin aud Milan DEGREES and Orders in Council
operating against our commerce and navigation
Ana these acts OF Congress We're invariably com
municated, through the Executive, by diplomatic
notes to France and Great Britain, as the basis up
on which II was proposed to restore friendly inter
course with them. So, after the termination OF
the war, various acts Of Congress were passed,
from Time to time, offering to Foreign Powers tho
PrnciPie OF reciprocity in the commerce and navi7
CATION OF the United States with them. Out of
'nese acts have sprung class, and n large class,
oil treaties, (tOur or five of which were negotiated.
whilst was in the Department Of State.) com
monty called reciprocity treaties concluded under
al al the Presidents, from Mr.. Madison to Mr. Van
nuren, Inclusive. And, with regard to CONNER.
cai treates negotiated with the sanction Of prior
acts OF Congress, where they contained either ap
preparations or were in conflict with unrepealed
statutes, 1t has ever been held rs the republican
doctrine, from Mr. Jays treaty down 10 tho pre-
sent tinc that the passage Of acts of Congress was
treaties
IL Ia me matter of foreign commerce. IN respect 10
wnich the power vested in Congress to regulate il
anu the treaty making power may be regarded as
concurrent, Congress can previously decide the OBJ
Jec's 10 which negotiation shall be applied, how
much stronger is the case Of war, the power to do
clare which is conided exclusively to Congress?
conclude, therefore, Mr.. President and fellow
citizens, with entire confidence that Congress has
the right either at tho beginning, or during the
prosecution OF any war. TO decide the objects and
purposes tor which 1t was proclaimed, or for which
1t ought to be continued And | think il is tho
duty OF Congress, by some deliberate and anthem
tic act, 10 declare for what objects the present war
snail be longer prosecuted. l suppose the Presi-
dent would not hesitate to regulate his conduct by
the pronounced will OF Congress, and TO employ
inc iorce and the diplomatic power of the nation to
execute that will. But if the President should
decline or refuse to do and, in contempt Of tho
supreme authority of Congress, should persevere
III Wagng the war, for other objects than those pro
claimed by Congress- then it would be the impera-
i've duty OF that body 10 vindca;e its authority by
the most stringent and electual and appropriate
measures. And if, on the contrary the enemy
should refuse to conclude treaty, containing stip-
ulations securing the objects designated by Con,
gross, 1t would become the duty of the whole go-
vernment TO prosecute the war; with all the nation
al energy, until those objects were attained by a
treaty OF peace There can be no insuperable diff
hcuty In Congress making such an authorativS
declaration Let it resolve, simply, that the war
shall, or shall not, be war of conquest and if y
war oi conquest, what is 10 be conquest what is to
be conquered. Should resolution pass, disclaim-
ing The design OF conquest, peace would follow in
less than sixty days, if the President would con,
form to his constitutional duty.
Here, fellow citizens nigh, pause. having in
dicared mode by which the nation, through its
accredited and legitimate representatives in Con
gress, can announce for what purposes and objects
ms war shall be longer prosecuted, and thus
let the whole people Of the United States know for
what end their blood is to be further she'd and their
treasure further expended instead of the knowledge
oi IL being locked up and concealed in the bosom of
one man. We should no longer perceive the OBJ.
ecis of the war varying, from time time, accord
ING TO The changing opinions Of the Chief Magis-
irale charged with lis prosecution. But / do not
think II right TO stop here. 1t is the privilege of
the people, In their primitive assemblies, and Of
every private man, however humble, to express an
opinion in regard 10 the purposes for which the
war should be continued; and such an expression
VIII receive just as much consideration and consc
iuence as it is entitled to, and no more
Shall this war be prosecuted for the purpose Of
and anneXing Mexico, in all its bound
ess extent, to the United States?
Will not attribute 10 the President of the Uni
ed States any such design; but / confess | have
'cen shocked and alarmed by manifestations of it
n various quarters. OF all the dangers and mis-
ortunes which could beal this nation should re-
gard that OF It's becoming warike and conquer
ng power the most direful and fatal. History tells
ne nourniul taio OF conqueriDg nations and conque-
OTIS. The three most celebrated conquerors in
he civilized world, were Alexander Cesar and
Napoleon. The first, after oyerrunning large
portion OF Asia, and signing and lamentng that
here were no more worlds to subdue, met pre-
nature and ignoble death. His Lieutenants quar-
elled and warred with each other as to the spoiIs
II his victories, and finally lost them all.
Cesar, after conquc-!ng C2ul returned, with his
legions, to Rome, passed the Rubicon,
won The battle Of Pharsaia. trampled upon the IL
'erties Of his country, and expired by the patriot
land of Brutus. But Rome ceased to be free
War and conquest had enervated and corrupted tho
masses. The spirit of true liberty was eytinguish-
I'd, and long line of Emperors succeeded, somo
,f whom were the most eXecrabe monsters that
ever existed i'll human form. And that most en-
raordinary man, perhaps in all history, after sub
ugating all continental Europe, occupying almost
all its capitals, seriously threatening, according to
MIR. Theirs, proud Albion itself, and decking the
Drows of various members Of his family with crowns
torn from the heads of other monarchs, lived TO be-
hold his dear France itself in The possession of
his enemies, and made himself wretched
captive, and far removed from country, family, and
friends, breatiied his last on the distant and inlos
ptable rock of st. Helena. The Alps and the
Rhine had been claimed as the natural boundaries
Of France, but even these could not be secured in
the treaties to which she was reduced to submit
Do you believe that the people Of Macedon or
Greece, o. Rome, or Of France, were benefited in
diydually collectively, by the triumphs of their
great Captains? Their sad lot was Immense sac
rlce oflife, heavy and in;oeable burdens, and tho
ultimate loss of liberty itself
That the power of the United States is compe-
tent to the conquest OF Mexico is quite probable
But II could not be achieved without frightfnl car
mage, dreadful sacrifices Vf human life and the Gre
alton OF an onerous national debt nor could it be-
effected, in all probability, until after
the lapse OF many years. Il would be necessary to