The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-07-24
War Opkni0ns.

remarks:
Yes. gentlemen, certainly concur W.T.
you in deprecating this Mexican War, th
causes which brought il about, and the me n
her of its commencement.
! | sincerely wish that every bayonet an,
sword employed in its prosecution, by boil
bellgerents, Were converted into scythes
Ploughshares, and axes, and they dedicate,
to their respective uses, in the innocent am
peaceful arts of life.
Mr.. HALE. of the Journal Of Commerce
(anti- Whig,) addresses his countryInen will
ability. He discusses the cause Of the war
declares ii q great mistake; denies that il
was made for the extension Of slavery; givei
his views Of military chieftains whose
claims for civil office he admits; &c, &c
and closes as follows:
! 81 ask my comtrymen to look randidly
al Our present position before the world
Kings, and Emperors, and aristocrats, have
combined TO preserve the peace Of the
world, and yet this nation perpetuates the
policy OF devils These United States,
whose glory is love for individual man and
protection for his rights-who have all
along proclaimed good will among men;
We TO whom the Great Father OF all men
nave gwen this widespread land OF plenty,
with millions OF acres vet unoccupied upon
which future generations may expand; We
to whom he has gwen intelligence, spread
ing schools and churches everywhere, and
placed His Book Of love where every fami-
ly may have il; We who have all lhat heart
| could wish, are the nation last left upon
! the earth to make wal, 10 send our young
men to invade the territory Of Our neighbor.
to murder her young men in battle, and her
old men ia their homes; to spread desola.
ton, terror, and death, on every hand.
This is the work in which America is ell
gagged, now that all other nations have
abandoned the abOminable trade.
What curse we have inflicted on our
selves The waste Of treasure is vast, but
the nature of that consideration renders il
| almost unworthy Of mention in comparison
with the terrific moral evils which have
been brought upon Us. OF thousands Of
our citizens, who, leaving their peaceful
domestic occupations have engaged in this
wicked war. nearly half have died misera-
! bly, ia a country which thev invaded.
/ Some Of them have been killed BY the
Nexicans in the honorable defence OF their
soil, but more have persisted by the vista
ton Of God. Aud they who al the expi-
| ration of their year OF engagement have
fed 10 their homes agaIn--whaI are they
Some are manned. Others infected with dis
eases which they bring home 10 propagate
among their friends many broken down in
morals, and transformed IN one year from
good citizens, To the habits and feelings Of
| lerocious war.
wv ho, curse mas tiIi> wei bcru alIrady
to our country, \ long list of pension
ers, - not honored as those Of the Revolu-
ton, will fill up the ranks Of that patriot
| ,hrong who served IN the defence of their
| country against foreign foe, who had much
more reason for invading our territory than
We have for invading that Of Mexico. 1t
is consolatory reflection that those citizens
of ours who have suffered 80 pitiably in
Mexico. went colsniarily TO their destiny.
They were not cOnscripts taken by force
from their occupations. They went OF
their OWN accord 10 invade Mexico, and il
they have persisted, il was their own chosen
way.
Under such views. the second invasion OF
| Mexico. under Gen. Scott. seems 10 me q
| measure of unmitgated wickedness. We
had fought long enough 10 know that that
was not the way 10 peace, and that io
| fight longer must be without an object.
Yet the city OF Vera Cruz was doomed
| The ioundries OF our commerce and manu-
features were turned from their useful pur
suits, to the manufacture of bombshells ant
all the implements which destroy cities
| The explosion OF these shells in palaces anC
in private dwellings where the mother sa
terrified in the midst Of her family, wa:
foreseen and deliberately resolved upon Il
is idle, in a moral view of the subject, Il
plead ''the laws Of war" Those laws. NJ
more than the laws of honor, or the laws
which regulate the internal policy of ban
ditti. are recorded in the Bible, or Will b,
pleaded in that great day when rulers anC
people must stand on one level, to be judy
ed BY that perfect Christian rule. ''Whatso
ever We would that men should do TO YOU
do YOU even so TO them.
well, what are we 10 do, after all III
wrong. of the war We have troddel
down the national existence OF Mexico, 5
tina, peace upon the basis Of the nationa
will, is impossible Whatever treaty W
may now make, will be in reality a farce
Il mere lhins dictated by force; and SO
will be understood by the civilized world
|, 1t will be impossible for us TO acquire
good title to the least thing conceded b
any such treaty. Beside, Mexico has mott
ing that We want She has nothing t
cede but territory, and more territory at PR
sent would be curse to us. Our populs
ton is rambling too loosely for our best IL
terests. Oar laws and Our responsible
are already spread TO very dangerous e.
tents over people 50 thin and Of such habi
that the whole nation is kept in cons,aI
: exposure Even the ports of the Pacif
$ are now as fully open for our use. and WEI
before the war commenced, as they ever wi
D be. 1t is but damage and indefinite hazaI
D that We extend our territory farther by force
: The rapid advancement OF our populate
D will show in future years what will then
required. But if the territory OF Mexico {
. any portion of it were worth our having,
a is impossible for us now to gain any goo