The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1848-02-09

\ the NinAF ~ thE 0lFAtrAb trFUiufN stf0rh
ms viii aslonishmrni and l.0rFnr. Il 10 but
because the human mind Is more strongly
affected aud impressed By subjects which
appear large, yei. that in truth. The seizure
Of one foot Of Slexiran soil % just IS much
m invasion Of tie eternal principles Of
right. as much saeyi6ce NJ The claims Of
justice and Inc obligations which We owe
our fellow men. as the seizure of The whole.
! am opposed 10 The conquest nj Mexiro.
or any part Of Mexieo. am opposed 10
wrestling from her one inch Of her dol,ialn
nv The exerli0n Of physiral force whica
shall control her will and compel an APP
parent surrender. while in realty, the soul
Of the country tenarinusly adheres 10 that
with which il Is I0rred to part. am
opposed 10 the commission BY this coun-
Try of such an act Of injustice, for the al
iainmenl Of any object be II great or small.
believing. as ! fully do believe, that
pure, unsullied reputation amongst the
nations OF The earth. is Of more importance
10 Us than any acquisition that The wide
world can furnish.
II has been said-it was said on this
floor at the time when the resolution of
The honorable Senator from South Caro-
lima were before the Senate, that the pro-
position contained in them, which con-
demns The conquest Of Mexico and the
destruction Of her nationality, was a pro-
position the assertion of which would be
idle and lIuilless. because the destruction
Of the nationality Of Mexico is contempla-
ted by no one. Al the time when heard
the statement made. entertained the same
opinion. But. an attentive consideration
Of The report of the Secretary Of War, and
the means demanded by the Presidents
consideration of the important fact disclose
ed This day, that the President has refused
upon this subject 10 communicate his
views and plans in the further prosecution
of the Wharf.-The fact that he has proceeded
from disayowal of all intended conquest,
to simple inlima.ion tina. he has never
desired 10 conquer Mexico or destroy her
na,ionalily;-lhese things. sir, have con-
WINGED me that the probability is, that the
government. is now thinking. if no, desir-
ing at some no distant day, actually 10
make the movement. which The resolutions
OF the Senator from South Carolina de-
nounces. | was struck, sir. with the ac-
count Of recent celebration IN this city
oil The anniversary Of the battle of New
Orleans. Ii wa. held here on the Ilth
instant, and | noticed that an honorable
and distinguished member OF this body
made an address on The occasion 10 The
company then assembled. concluding with
sentiment which goes FAR ahead Of The
annexiion OF the whole Of Mexico. He
gave as ioasi--"A more perfect Union.
embracing the whole Of the North Amer.
can Continent" | did not observe that
The sentiment was received with disap.
probation. ] saw no. mention of any
qualification Of the sentiment; BIZ, there il
stands as the declared opinion ola repre-
sentative Of the great " empire State" up-
on this Aoor--a State which, of all others.
is able To succeed BY physical force. in the
accomplishment OF such adesxn-a design
locking TO more "perfsci anion," not in
The clfser association of the members Of
tins republic--not ina strengthening of
our social relaiiOns--n0t in am increase of
mutual attachment-but a more perfect
union, which consists in bringing into this
Union the whole Of The North American
continent, including Mexico on the South.
and the entire British Provinces on The
north. When see propositions of that
sort coming from gentlemen Of such high
character, known intelligence, and dis,in.
guished position before The country, | can.
not resist the conclusion, tina, such sem
iimenis may have an echo in the hear, of
thousands. -
But there are other difficulties in nv
mind. consider, the further prosecution
OF this war upon the plan proposed by the
President OF the United States as danger
Gus TO The libsraties of the country. | was
struck by the remark made BY the honor
able Senator from South Carolina, ,ha, no
one now hears, as in the early days of the
republic, how will this measure affect
our liberty!" Now we 81, down and cali
culate calmly what amour. of military
force or means it is necessary to put into
the hands Of the President 70 accomplisb
certain object. We ask whether we
shall send him further into Mexico at the
head Of an hundred thousand men, with
all the means Of this country a, his com.
mand, by our voluntary vote, and all the
means of Mexico by military and violen.
seizure, and yet. us the honorable Senator
said, there is no inquiry as to the effect of
all this upon our liberties. That remark
excited in mind train Of thought, which
led me to the conclusion that there is grea,
and just ground of apprehension, if this
measure is adopted, tina, The liberties oil
the country will be seriously endangered,
Recollect what the President claims in his
message on this subject. All Sla, has
i, been done heretofore in Mexico, in the
prosecution Of this war, the Presiden,
claims the righ. Of doing because we are
. the conqueror in this war. But where.