Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-02-11
VERMONT PHOENIX.

GY-The joint special committee Of the Massa
chusetts Legislature, to whom was referred so mucl
OF the Governors message as relates to the Mexi
can war, have made an able and pungent report
We copy from the Boston Courier-the editor o
which, Mr. buckingham was chairman Of the Com
mittee--a few extracts
Passing over the alleged ouuses for booianisg IN,
war it will be observed that the President propose.
to continue 1t, TO obtain naturalization for all Tho
expenses incurred by our government in its prose.
eu'ion- The committee are OF opinion that ihi.
motive cannot be justified, on any principle hither.
to admitted in any acknowledged code OF national
ethics They are aware that what is called the law
oil nations Is Of nature elastic and flexible that
the Strong may always find in il an apology for
preying upon the Weak but it is believed that his.
tory furnishes no example to illustrate the principle
nyol 'ed in this claim for Naturalization. from
Mexico for the blood and treasure il has cost us 10
invade her territory, to take possession Of her sea-
ports, TO batter down her castles to burn her towns
TO butcher her people, and to convert her fruitful
heids and smiling villages into scenes Of mourning
desolation, and wo. The committee have found no
language sufficiently expressive OF their deiestation
oil this novel doetrir-and, hsi'it not been promul-
gated more than from the highest authority in
the nation they would suppose it to have been pre-
sented in derison of all the avowed causes of the
war.
One OF the purposes declared by the President
for pushing on the war with relentless yigor il 10
conquer Pedoeg The absnrdity of the phrase i
palpable, and is paraeled BY nothing but the afro
cious inhumanity of the sentiment In the ordinary
aeceptation of the words to conquer peace would
be to carry eternal warfare 10 Danish peace from
the earth, and to establish the reign OF perpetual
unappeasabe discord. Peace has already been
conquered in Mexico, and expelled from her terri
tory Mserably poor and feeble, she has not the
power to repel aggression. Submission is all that Is
missio ia moi IL.
cessation of active resistance, when the capacity 10
resist no longer remains should be called hy that
holy name, it is such peace as exists between the
parties, when the lamb to struggle under the
paw OF the lion-when the dove has done futterinp
IN the grasp OF the vuture That il is such peace
winch our government proposes to make with Mex
leo, mere Is some cause to apprehend, If there be
not too much evidence to admit OF doubt or disbe.
lief ~'0'S
Neither can the committee doubt or disbeleve
that II IS the intention Of the authors of the war
and OF those who in favor Of continuing il. to
pursue the career of conquest for the acquisition Of
territory, and to acquire territory whereon to extend
establish and perpetuate the institution Of slavery
Ihis has been denied by some, but by others has
been openly and frankly ayowed and the general
tone Of the press throughout that region where the
insulation already exists and is cherished as one Of
the vital elements of social happiness and prosperi-
~ but too plainly indicates that the current OF pop
uiar sentiment flows in that direction. The acqni-
tee are confident is project that can never find IA
Vor with the majority Of the people of Massachu-
sets They will not avail themselves Of this occa.
sion TO descant on the immoral effects of slavery;
It's grieVous injustice to those who condemned
10 wear its etters its infringement Of the precep:s
of the Christian religion or its cruel violation Of the
plainest dictates Of humanity. These views of sla-
very and its effects, they leave TO be discussed by
others, on occasions more pertinent 10 their eonsid
Grafton and ask the attention Of the Legislature
n s,fe1 -
slavery over an immense region, which, at no very
remote period may be annexed u the United
States, divided and arranged as to form as many
states as now compose our Union, each equal in
extent OF territory and eventually in population to
this Commonwealth. Should such an event take
place,-and the children may be already born who
may witness its occuTence,-the free states can no
longer be called free "a large majority of the Sen
ators in Congress, if not Of the representatives will
be shareholders, able and willing TO enact such laws
and TO provide such executioners OF their laws as
would secure and perpetuaie the enjoyment Of their
tayorte peculiar institution, and to impose on the
Tree states restrictions on commercial and social in
tercourse-perhaps on political relations, legis-
lanon and Iurisprudence-to which no remedy could
be applied but dissolution of the Union. In this |
view of the subject without extending their remarks
to the naked question Of no more territory the
committee, feeling the deep responsibility Of their
position, believe il to be the solemn duty Of this
Legislature,-in the name of our sainted fathers
men are created equal and endowed with the ina
enable right Of life, liberty and property--in the
name Of the sages who composed our own venera-
BILE bill of rights, which affms that all men are
born free and equal, and entitled to the enjoyment
Of life, liberty and property-in the awful and sa-
cred name Of JEHOVAH, who has declared that he
made of one blood all the nations that dwell on the
face Of the eath,to protest against the institution
Of slavery on single inch OF territory that may,
hereafter in any manner, be acquired, and annexed
TO the United States.
And the committee deem ii the duty OF the Leg
stature further to protest against the continued
prosecution Of this war. In the name Of justice
which is one Of the highest attributes Of the AL
mighty in the name Of JEsUs CHRIST, who was
emphatically the messenger Of peace, and who has
directed us to do unto Others as we would that 9TH
should do unto US in the name of the people Of
Massachusetts, who are unwilling that innocent
blood should defle their garmenis,-we protest
against the further preparation Of great national
crime. We call upon the Congress Of the United
States to nterpose its authority stop the further
expenditure Of treasure and blood for purposes Of
aggression, and TO seek, by the exercise of Justice
humanity and magnanmity, that solid peace be-
tween two neighbor republics, which Christianity
and the spirit Of the age demand and which will be
source of truer glory than any acquisition Of treas
ue or territory that result from the present
moody and unnatural contest.