The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-02-25
The Mexican Warand the Wings.
No. W..

No. ".
The wings, ever maniiesting great love
for our government, pretend to fear its dura-
ton will be endangered by extending our
territory. This love for our government is
much like the love they pretend for the far.
mers, whom they would compel to pay high
duties on every thing they buy, for the pur-
pose, as they pretend, OF protecting labor.
monarchical government is like great
chain. IL may be extended until its own
weight breaks it. A consolidated govern
mcnt, covering a vast extent of territory, in
which the controlling and organic power Of
the nation must all be AT one point, cannot
be administered without great inconveni-
ence, and injustice TO the people, and can
only be sustained by military power. What
weakcns an aristocracy strengthens dem
ocracy. Whilst ignorance and dense pop
ulation are the bulwark of inonarchical
government, intelligence and n sparse pop
Ulation are the sheet anchor of democracy
Thus whilst the wings by word manifest a
great love for our government, their acts
show them to be aristocrats, and to be doing
all they can against il. None Of the obiec
lions to All extent Of territory in an arisioc
racy apply 10 our government. II may be
compared 10 q pa.t chifice, supported Nv
columns. The greater the number of col
umns the greater the strength.-Ihe states
are the columns.
All the territory which docs now, or NAV
hereafter belong to the United States, must,
as il becomes settled, be divided into states
OF convenient size, each state being free and
independent, forming its own constitution
and laws, regulating its internal affairs ac-
cOrding To It's own views and interests, and
administering its own laws, the same as il
! il was an independent nation, except that
al! relations with foreign powers are yield.
ed to the general government, in which each
state has lis iul! weight according TO lis pop
ulation; aud except, too, that the inter
course, trade, aud commerce between the
states and territories are free and unencun-
bered, rs they should be with all the world
Whilst individuals of any state are Above
to buy and sell their commodities in all parts
of the nation free from all restrictions or tax
of any kind, aud whilst every state is lei
| free and independent in all its acts and do.
ings, still any infringement upon state, OIL
an individual Of any state by a foreign pow.
er, brings the combined powers of all The
states to the protection Of the injured state
or individual. An illegal act by foreigr
power upon any one of the states would bt
considered by all the other states as mucl
an act of aggression rs if committed within
their own borders. 1t must be clear to eve.
ry cnquiring mind thatin government with
such framework, with all its internal ma,
chinrry so perfectly arranged as ours, nc
trouble or difficulty can arise whatever ex.
tent OF territory is embraced. The more d.
vcrsiiied the interests and pursuits, the
greater the interchange Of commodities, and
the intercourse and connections between the
states, and consequently the stronger the
Union. The strength and durability Of ON
/ Union depend upon the virtue and intelli
gence ofthe people. Extended territory ant
sparse population is sure guarantee for thi:
virtue and intelligence. As population be.
comes dense, property always did and al
ways will find its way into the hands of the
few and the many become ignorant. Lee
every rejecting mind think what would ir
all likelihood be our condition now ifthe fed
eral policy Of no acquisition Of territory hat
I prevailed, and we were now confined with
in the limits of the thirteen original states
with Great Britain on the north and east
France on the west aud Spain on the south
surrounded by aristucratical governments
pent up in small territory. It is not to be
supposed that our form OF GOV eminent could
long have sustained itself. But, thanks tc
the far seeing wisdom and burning patriot.
ism Of Thomas Jefferson, the great apos,l,
OF liberty, who, by his firm determination
obtained aud annexed TO the United State.
the valley of the Mississippi aud its tributa.
ries, this vast extent of country from the
lakes the Atlantic, and from the Alleghe.
ny to the Pacific, is now under the protect.
ing mgis of our glorious eagle. This pur.
chase and annexation was opposed by the
whole federal party with the violence of DIES.
peration, and no man in the United State,
ever suffered so much SANDER and abuse a.
Thomas Jefferson did from the federal party
for this and other acts calculated TO ensure
the permanency of our republican institu.
tons, the establishment of which was oppos.
ed by this same federal party, who have
constantly opposed our government in ever,
act that iendcd towards its nrrmanency. and
who have always taken part with its enc.
mics IA time of wnr. Daniel Webster, the
great leader of that party. declared in tn,
senate of the United States, when we were
in difficulty with France, that he would no
vote for n bill then pending TO place the coun
! try in n state Of defence, and if the French
were battering down the walls of,he capitol
They are'now, ms usual, opposing our gov.
crnment and taking the part oi Mexico. who
Through long series OF years. robbed and
murdered our citizens, and finally comnenc.