Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-31


GENTLEMEN Every one has heard of the thief
who on trial for his crimes begged the Judge to re-
nit his punishment because il was his " manifest
destiny . to be thief. 1T may be So" said the
Judge, g but dost thou not see that is also thy
manifest destiny to be hanged for stealing? 70
In my opinion, gentlemen, honor, justice, hui
manity, morality, and prudence are much safer
guides than Z" manifest destiny - and, if we neglect
the former TO pursue the latter, we may find our
selves involved in the most serious difficulties
1t was the "manifest destiny of Bonaparte to
conquer half Europe; but it was also his mani
fest destiny" to die miserable exile on the rock
OF st. Helena.
1t was the "manilest destiny - of the Romans
to conquer and plumber half the world; but it was
also their " manifest destiny" to be harassed by
incessan civil wars, oppressed by ferocous despots,
and, finally, conquered and plundered by innumer-
able hordes of pitiless savages.
1t may be the " manifest destiny " of the Anglo
Saxon race to possess the territory of Mexico; but
if we pursue this manifest destiny y by wantonly
invading her soil, harassing her people, breaking
up her civil institutions, and numbering men, wo-
men, and children, it will most assuredly be our
manifest destiny" to be punished for our crimes,
or, what is the same thing, Divine Providence will
permit us, in the indulgence of our ferocious pas
sons, to punish ourselves.
But, gentlemen, do we really need any Mexican
territory? BY no means. 1t would be an ncum-
brance to if we had it. Our present territory is
amply sufficient for three hundred millions of peo-
pie, which is more than our population will amount
TO for century to come. And if the situation of
the Mexican people is wretched as it is repre-
scented, they will before that time have destroyed
each other and we can then take possession of their
vacant territory without bloodshed and without
Or IL the forty thaucopd which
have sent to Mexico had remained at home attend
ing to their farms and workshops, or if they had
been employed in constructing canals and railroads,
improving harbors, building cities, and clearing out
our Western forests, the product of their labor
would in few years have purchase he fee simple
of all Mexico; especially if I'D to it the prin-
cpal and interest OF the hundred millions of dollars
which we have already expended.
Again, gentlemen, would it be good policy in us
10 annex any part of Mexico to the United States
if her people were willing Most assuredly not
In country prodigously extensive as this would
then be il would be impossible to frame laws equal
ly acceptable to all parts of our populations and,
unless they were acceptable, they could not be
enforced.
Let US remember that the most ancient Re-
public in the world is the smallest. The Republic
OF San Marino, IN the mountains of Italy, with
territory Of only thirty square miles, has existed
Tor nearly fourteen centuries A deputation Of her
citizens waited upon Bonaparte, when he COM
manded the French armies in Italy, and were re-
ceived with marked respect He offered them some
cannon and an increase of territory. The cannon
they accepted the territory they wisely declined
not wishing probably to be engaged in the misera-
Die folly OF attempting to govern people without
their consent.
But we are told that this war is doing much
good to both countries" Those who give us this
information bound to inform us in what this
good consists. Is it doing good to Mexico to muir
der her people, destroy their property batter down
their Cities break up their civil Institutions and ex-
pose the peaceable portion of her population to the
insults of unprincipled men from this country and
murderous guerrillas at home Or is il doing good
to the United States to entice away our valuable
citizens to die or be killed in foreign land to Gre
ate an enormous national debt TO exasperate the
feelings OF all Mexico against US and to neglect all
improvement at home, in order that we may have
money to spend in numbering our neighbors abroad
If wars do good, then TAMERLANE, who laid
waste half Asia with his horde of barbarians, mur-
dered FIVE millions of people, and raised pyramid
Of seventy thousand human skulls on the plains Of
Samarcand, was a philanthropist, benefactor Of
his race and WILLIAM PENN, the friend of peace
and humanity, who founded the noble State of
Pennsylvania on the strictest principles of justice
and benevolence, was fool and a visionary.
But peace is emphatcaly the mission Of these
United States, and if we elect men TO office who
instead of encouraging the pursuits Of peace SHALL
in their insane folly, make it their business to ex
cite wars between Us and foreign nations, we shall
show but little more wisdom than the tabled trees
of lothian, which, in cheering their king, neglected
all the useful trees of the Forest, and "put their
trust in the shadow of the bram5e.''
AN OLD FARMER.
Washington county, (Md.) July 81