Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-12-04

may have been difference opinion That in the only two
instances Of conflict with civilized nations which occurred
during period OF sixythree years. 1873 TO 1896 the
rights of the United States had been invaded by long con-
timed series of aggresson is undenabIe In the first in
stance not declared and there were only partial hos
ltes between France and England. The Congress of the
United States the only legitimate organ for that purpose did
IN 1872 declare war against Great Britain Independent of
depredaons ON our commerce. she had twenty
ed on an actual war against the United States say actual
war, since there Is now but opinion that subject
renewal OF that impessmen of men sailing under the pro-
lection OF our flag would be declaration of
war The partial opposition the Of 1912 did not rest
on denial OF the aggresons of England and of the justice
OF our cause but on the fact that with the exception of i'm
presments similar inactons of just rights had been
committed by France and the erroneous belief that
the Administration was partial to that country and insncere
IN their apparent efforts to restore peace
AT present, all these principles would to have been
abandoned The most just, purely defensive war; and 10
other IS justiabe, is necessarily attended with train Of
great and unavoidable evils What shall we say of one mi
qutous in its origin and provoked by oursevesof war Of
aggression, which is now publicly avowed be of
tended conquest
persisted in, its necessary consequences will be per-
manen increase OF military establishment and execu
tive patronage its general tendency make man hate man.
to awaken his worst passions, to him the
OF blood has already demoazed incqnsideabe por-
hSn OF the nation
The peace which has been preserved between the
great European Powers during the last thirty may be
ascrbed to the purest motives Be these what they may
this long and unusual repose has been beneficial
more amentabe scandaous, than the between
adjacent republics Of North America.
our mission was to be model for all Governments and
Tor all other less favored nations adhere to the eeva
ted principles of political morality apply all your faculties
to the gradual improvement of your institutions and
cal state and by your example, to exert moral influence
most beneficial to mankind at large Instead of this APP
peal has been made 10 your worst passions cupdy
the thirst OF unjust ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by brutal force the
love of military fame and of false glory and has
tried pervert the nobest feelings of your The at
akn iha
your fathers occupied to substitute for it the political mora
lily and heather patriotism Of the heroes and of
antiquity.
have said that attempted to pervert even your vr
tues Devotedness to country patriotism, most
ta virtue since the national existence of any society depends
upon It, Unfortunately, most vrtuous dispositions
perverted not only by vices and sehness, but also by
their own excess Even the most holy of attributes the
religious feeling, may be perverted from that cause
but too amentaby exhibited in the prosecutions
death, 81 those who deemed heretcs 1t not there
FORE astonishing that PATRIOTISM carried excess should also
be perverted In the entire deyotedness their country the
people, every where and at all times have been apt for
get the duties imposed upon them by justice towards other
TONS 1t against this natural propensity that you should be
specially your guad The blame does attach those
who led by their patriotic feelings though erroneous, flock
around the national standard On the contrary
worthy of admiration, better entitled the thanks of
their country, than those who, after has taken place.
acuaed only by the puiest motives daily and with the
most sedeyotedness, brave death and stake their lives
the conflict against the actual confess that
do not extend the charity TO those civilians who cooy
and deliberately plunge the country into any unjust
cessary war.
We should have but conscience and happy would
II be for mankind statesmen and politicians only hon
est their management of the internal national
they private life. The rreproachabe pri-
character Of the President and of all the members of his
Administration is known and respected There of
them who would not spun with indignation the remote
hint that similar peences those alleged for dismember-
ing Mexico he might be capable of attempting appropriate
to himself his neighbours farm.
In the total absence of any argument that justify the
war In which we involved resort has been had to
most extraordinary assertion IL is said that the people Of the
United States have hereditary superiority of the
Mexcan which gives them the right subugae and keep
iii bondage the inferior nation This it is also alleged will
be the enghtenng the degraded Mexcans of i'm
proving their social state and Of ultimately increasing the
happiness of the masses.
Is compatible with the principle Of Democracy which re-
ects every hereditary claim Of individuals admit here
dtary superiority of races You very properly deny that
the can, independent of his merit derive any right
privilege whatever from the merit any other social
perory of his father Can you for moment suppose that
very doubtful descent from who lived thousand
years ago has transmitted you superiority your fell
low-men But the Anglo Saxons inferior to the Cloths,
from whom the Spaniads claim be descended and they
in respect superior the Franks and 10 the Bur
gundians.
1t is their Anglo Saxon descent but variety Of
among which the subsequent mixture Of Frenched
Normans Angevns and Gncons must not be forgotten that
the English indebted for their superior institutions. In
the progressive improvement OF mankind much has been
due to religious and political institutions than
Whenever the European nations which from their language
presumed TO belong TO the Latin Scavonian race shall
have conquered institutions similar those Of England there
will be trace left Of the pretended superiority of Of
those above the other AT this time the claim is but
pretext for covering and usyng unjust usupaon and
bounded ambition.
But admitting with respect Mexico, the superiority Of
race this confers superiority Of rights Among ourselves
the most Ignorant the most INFERIOR either physical
mental faculties recognised having equal rights and he
has equal with any one however superior him in
all those respects This is founded the mmuable prnc
pie that no is born with the right Of governing
other man. He may, indeed, acquire moral influence
others, and other is legitimate The principle will
apply to nations. However superior the Anglo-American
be 10 that Of Mexico this gives the Americans
right to infringe upon the rights of the inferior The
people OF the United States may rghtfuy and will if they
use the proper means, exercise most beneficial moral nfu
ence over the Mexcans and other less enlightened nations Of
America Beyond this they have no right to go.
The allegation that the subjugaon Of Mexico would be the
means OF enghtenng the Mexicans Of improving their social
state, and Of increasing their happiness is but the shallow at
tempt to disguise unbounded cupidy and ambition Truth
never was can be opagated by fire and sword by any
other than purely moral by these and by these oone
the christian religion popagaed and enabled in less than
three hundred years. conquer dolay During the whole
Of that period christianity tainted by other blood than
that of its martyrs.
The duties Of the people Of the United States towards other
nations obvious Never losing sight Of the divine prccep
"Do to others you would be done by they have only
consult their conscience for benevolent Creator
implanted in the hearts Of the moral sense Of right and
aplth Inv r,tln. r