The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-01-20

dom, induced them 10 adopt many Of III
wisest provisions.
But Of the few nations who have been 81
fortunate as to adopt wise constitutions
still fewer have had The wisdom long Il
preserve them. II is harder to preserve
them than to obtain liberty. Alter year.
Of prosperity, the tenure by which i, l.
held is but too often forgotten; aud | fear
Senators, that such is The case with US
There is no soicilude now about liberty
II was no, so in the early days Of the Re
public. Then il vas the first object OF ouI
solici,ude. The maxim then was, tina
"power is always stealing from the man,
to the few" 1.-THE price Of liberty is per
petual vigilance" Then no question o
any magnitude came up in which the frs
inquiry was not ais it constitutional 2
" is it consistent with our free popular in.
situations 7" -. how is it to affect our liber.
Ity 7" Ii is not so now. Questions Of the
greatest magnitude are now discussed with,
out reference or aIlusion TO these vital con
siGeIations. have been often struck with
the fact that, in the discussions Of The great
questions in which We are now engaged,
relating to the origin and the conduct Of
this war, their effect on the free institutions
and the liberty If the people have scarce
ly been alluded 10, although their bearing
IN that respect is so direct and disastrous.
They would, in former days, have been the
great and leading topics Of discussion; and
would, above all others, have had the mos,
powerful effect in arousng the attention OF
The country. But now other topics occu.
py the attention of Congress and of the
country-mllitary glory, extension Of the
empire, and the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the
country. To what is this grea, change to
be attributed Is it because there has
been decay of the spiri, of liberty among
The people think not. believe that il
was never more ardent. The true cause
is, that we have ceased TO remember the
tenure by which liberty alone can be pre-.
served. We have had so many years of
prosperi,y-passed through SO many diff.
ticulties and dangers without The loss Of
liberiy-,ha. we begin to think that we
hold it by right Divine from Heaven itself.
Under this impression, without thinking or
rejecting, We plunge into war, contract
heavy debts, increase vastly the patronage
Of the Executive, and indulge in every
species Of extravaganza, without thinking
that we expose our liberty TO hazard. II
is great and fatal mistake. The day of
relribution will come; and, when il does,
awful will be the reckoning, and heavy
the responsibility somewhere.
have now shown, Senators, that the
conquest Of Mexico, and holding i, as
subject province. or Incorporating it into
our Union, is liable TO the many and ire. (
sistible objections assigned in the first res (
Olullon. have also shown tina, the policy .
recommended by the President, " carried
out, would terminate in all probability in
its conquest, and holding 1t either in one
or the other mode stated and that such
is The opinion of The President himself,
unless in the mean time peace can lie OBJ.
tanned. Believing, then, that this line Of
policy might lead TO consequences SO dis.
asirous, il ought not, in my opinion, in the
language of the second resolution, to be
adopted. Thus thinking canno, give it
my support. The question is then pre-
scented. What should be done? II is
great and difficult question, and daily be.
coming more go. |, who have used every
effort in my power to proven, this war,
might excuse myself from answering it,
and leave il 10 those who have incurred
greater responsibility in relation TO ii. Bu,
| will not shrink from any responsibility
where the safety Of the country or lis IN
stltulions are at stake.
The frs, consideration in determining
what line Of policy, in the present state OF
things, ought TO be adopted, is to decide
what line will most efeclualy guard a
ganst the dangers which baw, shown
would result from the conquest Of Mexico,
and the disastrous consequences which
would follow it.
After the most mature reflection which
| have been able 10 give to the subject,
am Of opinion now, and have been from
the first tina, the only one by which it car
be certainly guarded against, is to take the
question Of indemnify in our own hands
to occupy delensively, and hold subject II
negotiation, portion Of the territory 0
Mexico, which we may deem ample Il
cover all proper claims upon her, AM
which will be best suited 10 us TO acquir,
and least dsadyanageous to her to lose
Such was my impression when the mes
sage of the President Of the United State
recommended to Congress the recognize
Of the existence Of The war win Mexico
My view, at that time, as to the propc
course to be pursued, was 10 vote the sup
, plies, to rescue Gen. Taylo and his arm
from the dangers which surrounded then
and take time to determine whether "
should recognise the war or not. Had
been adopted, | would have insisted q
: raising provisional army, to be colecte
. at some proper point and 10 be trained al
!, disciplined but TO posipose The deciari
: ,ion of war until the Congress Of Mexc
: in which, according TO her constitution, II
" war making power resided, should be u
. lowed lime TO disavow the intention Of m
!, king war on US, and to adjus, all dffere