The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-10-19
Mr. Websteris Speech.

! OesI sketches we nave seen Ci The speech o.
Mr.. Webster at The late Wing Convert ton
in Springfield. II appears to be an accu-
rate and very comprehensive report of the
points presented by MIR. w on the subiec.
of the Mexican War, 10 which topic his re-
marks were chiefly confined. The 81 esch
was evidently an elevated and states IRAN
like review of the great interests OF the
country, as they are involved in the pre- sen,
unfortunate and unnatural war with sister
republic. The signifed tone of Mr.. WIS
remarks is slrikingly in contrast with The
manner in which the mOmenious subject ia
too often discussed in the newspapers. VS.
shall not probably think Of publishing hl..
WIS speech in full; as his views are no
doubt faithfully presented in the report Of
the Springfield Gazette, we cory that re-
port below. Mr.. VS. survey OF the rcliri-
cal aspect OF the country is maniiest,y ken
through wider medium Than that of mCIc
part, and his sentiments will find re
spouse m thousands Of patriotic minds -
Ere. Traveller
We are engaged said MIR. ". in IN uu-
necessary aud uujus'iiable war. of T. hich
10 man can iores &c the end. There is iu
be sure slight prospect oil peaIe, which I
pray God may prove well-iounded, but. what
sort of n peace Or on what terms 10 one cal.
divine.
In the constitution Of all governments
there Is any Ultimate poweG-a supreme will
-llom which there is no appeal but 10 rev
oluton. In mOnarcl.ies that power lies in
the monarch, but in our governments the
public will expressed through its constituted
organs is the supreme power 10 whch We
must all submit. or resort to the other alter
naIiye-auarcIy, We are all bound 10
obey The Constitution and The laws. say
this, said MI. W, not because sentiments OF
an opposite character are abroad in con mu.
nilv which | consider of dangerous ienden.
cy. do not sny, added Mr.. w. that power
may not be so abused as 10 render resistance
necessary il is natural right. which Must
be exercised if at all, not uH0er but against
the Constitutions.
! We who are officers Of the U. S. Gov
eminent are all OF us sworn to support the
Constitution and laws. The Con Jress Of
the U. States has declared war in the con.
slilulional form. and we are hound 10 obey
its mandate, so far as the duty OF q good
citizen goes; bpt this does not require OF
Us the prefer oil rOiHHtGry aid TO carry il
on.
The crisis said Mr. W. is an important
one. and requires serious and rnergriIc ",
constitutional action. Many people seem
TO regard violence as strength but violent
conduct is ALWAYS 1rcdE conduct, and violent
language. Our sentiments always COM
mand most respect when expressed with
dignity and proper regard for ourselves and
Tor d hers. II is not always the noisiest wat
ers that are the deepest, Tor DO those who va
POI most prove the best men 10 meet and
overcome difficulties.
The war added Mr.. W. have stated to
be unnecessary. and unconditional in is
origin. IL is q trdr Of Prete.rts. The laws
Of nations which enbniy the general sense
ci manGind Instruct Us that ilie mOfires g.
all wars are either good or vicious. There
may be good cause of war. aud not gOoL
ElOtires for engaging il. Aud before Pso
rOunclng tie motive Tor war good. We must
be CONVINCED OF lis nercs-ity aud utility
There are wars OF prciexs; aud such is the
war will Mexico. il IS war in which the
real motive IL not distinctly avGwcI.
There are three prelex's. all uniounded-
by which this war has hrrn advocated and
defended. Tue P'esidcn; in his message OF
the l In Of May 1916 puts the war Oh The
ground that the MexicaHs had invaded our
soil and shed American blond. This de-
laraiion. which was subsequently eaGcted by
Congress thar war existed by tho act ot
Mexico. said Mr.. w, cannot be sustained
by facts.
He here proceeded in Il clear and CON
vincing manner to state the facts proceeding
the first collision of arms between he Two
nations, and thoroughly Illustrated the !act
that war was not the acl Of Mexico but OF the
United States.
He next adverted TO the other :wo pre-
texts in justification of the war. One Of these
was that Mexico had refused 10 receive Mr..
Sidell as our minister. But who ever be-
fore heard, said Mr.. W. of the refusal oil one
nation to hold diplomatic intercourse with
another, as constituting Just ground OF
war. This was simply pretert and con-
situted no part Of the reasons suggested by
the President in his war message for declar-
ing war.
Another pretext was that Mexico had re-
fused 10 pay debts honestly due to our gov
eminent and citizens. This is fact, but il
was not put forth in the war message, nor
in the congressional declaration Of war
Moreover il was a matter OF long standing,
and was as much cause OF war six months
OF year before. as it was on the llih Of
May. 1916 or afterwards.
What then was the real object oil ilis
war; profess no superior sagaciiy, said
Mr.. w., but 10 me the whole matter is as
plain as a turnpike The most eminent
supporter Of the ad inistration man so en-
| inent that instead OF saying that he belonged
10 the administration il should with more pro-
prieiy be said that the administration be-
ionged to him-that man. Mr.. Calhoun
had declared in the U. S Senate thai il there
had been no annexation there would have
been no war, and that The march oil our ar
mics 10 the Rio Grande was the direct cause
ofihe war.
Mr.. Webster here remarked thaths VAS
no apologlst for Mexico. He piued her for
he believed her TO be the worst governed
nation on the face oil The earth, pretending
TO civilization. Her government is a mii-