The North-Carolina standard., 1848-09-13
RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA MORNING sEPTEMBER

tay achievements but it is the justice of the
which stamps them with true glory, and which alone
can make military theroism public virtue. = g.. g..
To return to my argument. / maintain that it is
not only unconstitutional for the federal government
to make conquests, except in the single case of a
war for the common defence, but it is in direct
pugnance to the very principles of our declaration
of independence. which proclaims, that the only
right to govern is derived from the consent OF the
governed All of our State constitutions recognize
the same great truth. With what consistency then,
upon what principle of equity we, after hav-
that have right to govern men and make them
subjects, by force of arms If a nation becomes
under obligations to by the misconduct of its ci
zens to make indemnity, Congress have the ample
constitutional power take steps for redress though
deny according to Democratic principles and in
stitutions, that upon mere question of dollars and
cents that we have right to destroy their political
soverogn or any part of that sovereignty. 1t So,
at become their masters and they SLAVES
relation which every single principle of const-
tutons both State and federal repudiates, except in
the single instance where right to hold property
in certain description of persons is recognized. 1t
is true that some writer's the law of nations admit
the right of conquest, and many American statesmen,
as conceive, have adopted their views without duly
examining their utter inconsistency with our repub-
can principles. Most of these writers were them
selves the subjects of monarchies, and wrote at a
time when invasion and conquest Were in full prac-
tce among the ambitious conquerors of Europe, and
when the idea of political sovereignty among the
people was deemed heresy. -.. ... . .s. .. .-
1t appears to me that no portion OF the American
people are so deeply committed principle as well
interested from policy in denying to the federal
ernmen the right to acquire territory as the Southern
States. Standing they do In point OF numerical
strength as the weaker section of the Union, and
maintaining themselves that no power on earth had
right to control the sovereignty of State, except
the people who nhabit it and to whom 1t belongs, 1t
is certainly not good policy to weaken that which
their valor is their great shield and safe
ty, by admitting contrary principle. MI Jefferson,
letter of his correspondents, written shortly
after the last with England, the date of which
do not recollect, not having the volume now before
me, but the substance of which have positive re-
collection of, denounced the doctrine of conquest
with severity of language scarcely equalled in any
of his writings on any other subjects. This great
founder of the Democratic faith, and the ablest states
man, in my opinion, of ancient or modern times, lays
down in his first inaugural address the noble prnci-
pie of equal and exact justice to all men, as among
the first and highest duties of republican govern
ment. To vindicate mankind from the libels them
BY the tyrants of the old WORLD and to raise popular
government standard of excellence above the old
world he inscribed this noble sentiment of the first
! of its duties. .r...
The advocates of tyranny had made it standing
charge against republics that they sought to overrun
other nations by conquests, without regard to right
wrong. To carry out this noble sentiment of Mr..
Jefferson, both in foreign and domestic policy is
the highest duty, and the most glorious part which
great and free nation can perform Democracy, when
rightly understood and properly carried OUT is but
an exemplifcaton of this great truth OF equal and
exact Justice among men," If properly carried out,
what glorious contrast would 1t not afford to the
unjust and tyrranncal governments of the old world
which in every age have stricken down the liberties
of other nations by ruthless military power!
| l have ever believed that Republican Govern
ment should be governed by the same principles OF
moral rectitudc in its actions, that should govern an
individual in private life and such is my devotion to
our republican government that could wish for it
to be recorded in Its future history, that 1t had exe
plifed in the character OF the naton the hlgh and
infexible sense of justice, hrmness OF purpose mod
Grafton, benevoence and magnanimity SO beautifully
associated in the character OF General Washington
AS to our courage, need victories over the de-
generate Spanish and Mexican race to prove that tc
! the world. The battles of Saratoga, orktown and
others in the war OF the Revolution, and the noble
achievements at Chippewa, New Orleans, and else
where as well as the ocean In the late war agalns
the best troops in the world, gained national char
acter for us which has caused our national flag to be
respected to an extent scarcely ever equaed In every
mart of the civilized world To act now with justice
and moderation, will give our republican form o
Government more moral force than all the wars
conquest acquisitions OF territory couio eve
qiye it. both of which would tend powerfully t.
weaken its effect abroad. Besides, the acqulsltoI
of territory as have lately seen, must ever, ny
bringing up dangerous sectional questions, endange
the Union. To this view OF the suoJect, Woule
add that wars however demanded sometimes by ne
cessity ever end in giving new strength to the gov
eminent and weakening to thatextent the democrat
"a rrDc;nle am aware, that some have attributed
views of this character to feeling resulting iron
the Presidential nomination in 1914. Nothing Is
could be more unjust. l have approved most decid
edlv in the main the leading measures OF the ad
mnistration and have objected only to those whlcl
] considered coming IN conflict with tnese primer
Dles. while am at the same time far from saying
that their approval was given at any time to some
the extravagant views to which have referred W.
views on these questions are Identical with VIVA
thew were as far back 1885, which the record VII
sbow. and: which relieves me of any lmPutatio
rien from the result of the Presidential NOMINATION
IN 1Ri4 aGIs.Ja0 rEf E''1 .t't... -.. .-
" In the summer of 1886, and in few very week
fer the hattie of San Jacinto was fought, and lmme
Aiately after intelligence of that event had reaches
Was6ihgton Congress then being In session, a ols
.inuuished Democratic member of the Senate otere'
resolutions In that body declaring II 70 DC ine out
of the President to recognise lmmeoiateiy 'ne lde
onJenee of Texas In the debate which followed, n
Pss sbIv sustained by Whig Senator from South
ero state as we'll as by Others In which lntlmaonS
o annexing that territory were very distncty aiuo
ed to- ..a'Phe debates Of that day as puDilshed
GaIas and Seaton and Blair and Rives, VIII snow Una
in nv speech in repy5 opposing 1t, TOOK suostdl
t;sIiI1 tbe same grounds as now, and expressed m
So tat It would only be the precursor OF more ea
tos;ve schemes of conquest as we'll as most na
ant violation of all neutral obligation 1t was de
3a+od then by not more than one or two votes: . Ih
messed with fe belief that some OF our PoDIle1h
looked with too eager an eye on Sill gfedter eA
of Mexican territory than IexaS, IN aii q, Suue 20
, f;arad hv me before the two Literary Socieues
Tol G{ilI in 1888 repeated in substance the sam
ie1vs. still more ernphaticay urged against tne ac
ouiston of territory by conquest, Whien are - y
fnod in NV published address OF that date:t a wa
~ hn.h snetfods an ardent supporter OF Democrau