Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-03-17
SPEECH OF JUDGE PHELPS.
In SENATE.-Jan. 81, 1913.

SPEECH OF JUDGE PHELPS.
In SENATE.-Jan. 81, 1913.
THE WAR AND THE PUBLIC FINANCES.
tcoNCLuDED
Sir, what is the object of this war? Not con-
quest, it has been said although sir, this sub.
iect has assumed great many phases since we
entered upon the war. But the object is said to
be indemnity For what? Indemnity for the
sum of some four or five millions of dollars for
claims against the Government of Mexico in ia
vor of our citizens Well, sir, the collection of
this paItry debt has already cost us some fifty
odd millions, and, if we are to regard this matter
in pecuniary point of view, it will yet cost us
much more We had much better abandon the
project of recovering our debt in this way. But
the President, has told us, (what is undoubtedly
true.) that the Mexican Government has no
means of indemnifying us for our expenses
They have no money. What, then, are we to
have by way of indemnity? He tells us that we
must have land. But am informed they have
no public domain. You will, therefore, get no
title to the land. You may get cession of ter.
ritory; and what does it amount to? Why, it
amounts to the acquisition of jurisdiction over
horde Of people, which will prove nothing but a
burden and a curse to you as long as they are
on your hands. Sir, it will be worse, infinitely
worse, than the Indian population, which has
cost this Government SO much trouble and SO
much money. What will you do with them p
Will you assume the same relations to them that
you do to the Indian tribes That cannot be
done. If you leave them form of Government,
as you leave to the Indian tribes, your relation
to them must be one of perpetual war. No man
can expect that quiet possession can be held of
that country so long as they have their own gov.
eminent, and especially if we recognize it.
There is another project, which is, to hold it as
province. This has been already demonstra-
t.u ny >euaums I" w i""poss'o'e. ~,
in the condition Of province, ana they WIN
knock at your doors until they place their rep
resenta,iyes in these seats. This will be the un-
ayoidable result. There is an end. therefore, to
the idea of governing these people as province
The result will be, as a matter OF course annex
alton. They must be taken into our Un'on.-
They must be brought in upon the footing oil A
merican citizens. =, =.
Sir. for one, want no partnership with this
| people. do not desire to see them brought IN
to our political family. know, sir, that what
was once considered as problem Is now regard
ed as settled--tlat extent OF territory Is no scri'
Gus obstacle to free and representative govern
ment but, sir, whether your territory De grea'
or small il is indispensable to the maintenance
If n representative government that its popula.
ton should be homogeneous people. Sir,
have had under my eve for years an experiment
which shows the utter impossbity of bringing
people of a different origin and OF different
habits to hsrmonize under representative form
of government. A few years since it was the
pocy of the English Government to establish
Parliament and "A system Of representative gov
iernment in Canada. What was the result p
We all know that the French population of the
Canadas are as distinct now from the English as
they were when the English supremacy was es'
tablished there. They are as distinct from the
English as il the two classes had resided IN d'i'
ferent hemispI,eres. The result was, that when
they came to the polls they were arrayed on the
side of their respective races, ana tneIr dlssef,
sions, instead Of being diminished by lapse OF
time, were only increased. The interpostion OF
the Crown became necessary, in order to coun-
teract the superiority in numbers OF the French
population of the lower province, and this led to
the patry rebellion of which we have heard SC
much. Il became necessary at last for the Bri'
fish Parliament to unite the two provinces, IN
order, BY the introduction of the English, Irish
and Scotch population of the upper province, t
counterbalance the political weight OF the French
population in the lower. Now, ! undertake t.
saw that if the people Of Canada were left
this moment with an independent and represen
ta,ve form of government, five years would no
pass over their heads without presenting TO us
as the result OF the experiment, civll war II
that country. The population OF Mexico is
distinct from the Anglo-Saxon race as any tw
races are distinct upon earth. SIR, do you eS
D pect the descendants of the Purtans to harmG
nize with this anomalous population Can 20
reconcile the love of ORDER the submission I
law. and the attachment to peace, which ha
cha racterized the descendants OF the Puritans fC
centuries past, with the lawless and turbuler
= nroDensties of a people whose element from tn
= nariod of their first national existence to III
i presept day, has been anarchy and revolution
need only say to you, sir, that if such an ever
IA the incarceration of that country into thi
Linton should occur, we could not make its poi
ulation harmonic with our own. Sir, am nc
disnosed TO intimate authOritAtively, nor in mar
- ner which will admit of that construction, III;
The consequence will be a dissolution of the u
ion but may be permitted to say, in referenC
,o INV own constituency and the kindred pop,
i.,;o1 of the North, that IN my humble judgmell
IL :. thirty new stars" are to be added to the Vi
ion from this conquered country, il will be b
vond our mower if we would to hold that Unio
: ingetber. Sir, my opinions are decided in r
gard 10 This matter. ! want no persons adm
!, led into this political family who are not OF Il
Anglo Saxon race, unless it be race that ca
amsIgimate with us, and be lost in one HON
geneous mass.
. Sir. ] think the ground taken by the honor
Bile Senator from Maryland, who is not now pr
sent, exhibiteda much more rational view of Il
subject lie told US that our indemnity consis
ed in military glory, in the brilliancy OF OF
achievements, in the exhibition Of our power,
the results of our splendid military career.
agree, sir with the honorable Senator that III
is all the indemnity which we can get; and