Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-09
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WHAT HAS THE WAR COST
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What has the war cost us One Hundred
and Twenty Millions o. Dollars !-Sl20, 900, 600
Is this a great sum? Is it a loss to us? Could
we have made any use of it?
With the interest of Sl20,000000 we might
found National Gallery, that would rank with
the British Museum as the British Museum docs
with the Cabinet of Pennsylvania College.
The famous "Garden Of Plants" founded and
endowed at Paris by Rcheu in the times OF
Louis the Fourteenth, and which is the greatest
in the world did not cost from then till now as
much as the Mexican war.
With $l20,O00,000, a School-house and a
Church might crown every hilltop to the Rio
. Grande aud Teachers of knowledge and right
eousness might do8heir missions OF good with.
Qua money or price for any one.
With $l20,000000, we might connect every
town in our land by railroad and the Magnetic
Telegraph might be made to stretch It's magic
wires along every thoroughfare from he Allan
ic TO the Pacific.
With Sl2Q,0QQ000 we might build such Ma
Wy as the wofs never saw, and carry on such a
commence as Venice in her pamest days never
dreamed of; our flag might float on every breeze
and our sails whlten every sea, and our name be
heard and feared in every harbor between the
poles.
With Sl20,000,000 we might feed every poor
man, clothe every beggar, and relieve every dis
tress, not once only, but always, as long as the
pol ulaton of the globe did not exceed 950,0O0,-
OUO Starvation, poverty and famine need never
have foothold on earth.
And more, with l20000,000 we might give
the Bible and tell the tdngs of our Holy Faith
to every Heather land 10 every Foreign nation
and to every human soul.
The Government complains that the Post Office
department is heavy tax upon the Treasury on
account of the Low rates of Postage. Devote
four months interest of the Mexican War debt
to this end, and our people would never use the
word Postage"
The Government doles out with mser's hand
and mlsers spirit, trihing, ptiful suTs, for har-
bors in our Western Rivers and LIKES. Devote
two months interest of the Mexican War debt
to this end, and no more petitions for appropria-
tons would come from the people OF the West.
This is the way 10 calculate the cost Of War
aud these are not idle fancies Let not the read
er be satisfied until he works with his pencil
each one of these statements Figures would
verify them all. Is our country able TO squan-
der money in this wise ?--ls gold a matter OF
such little concern as TO be disposed Of in this
summary ?-Wh hat says the farmer whose
taxed lands help to heap up those hords OF vast
ed money. What says the Mechanic whose
taxed occupation" aids in amassing this squan-
dered treasure? What say the PEOPLE, who
pay for 1t in their clothes food books, houses,
furniture and property? Can we afford it? We
might be doing good with it, such no country
has ever done.
Is this, then, the much boosted destiny of our
great country-to tax her people, collect and
borrow an immense sum, and spend it in she'd
ding blood and killing men? Heaven forbid
The war has cost US $3.50, 100000 and what
nave we gained: Respect abroad Doubtful.
UmAy at home No. Fear in Mexico? Doubt
!ul. But this we have gained: we have taught
our people to love the excitement, the glory of
War: we Fave taught them the lesson that
"might makes rght;' we have called into Wig
orous play the passions of NATIONS NATURE
we have given our people taste of blood. E.
nough of this-let US have peace By the good
which l20,000,000, can do-by the harm 1t is
doing-let US implore our Rulers for peace!
But the war costs in way that money cannot
count. Who will estimate by dollars and cents,
the cost Of the broken limbs the shattered con-
stitutons, and the legions of crippled soldiers
Philadelphia North american.