Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-01-18

ment, allowing them to legislate for themselves,
whilst you defray the cost. So far as law goes
the thing is done. There is no analogy be-
tween this and our territorial governments.-
Our territories are only an offset of our own
people, or foreigners from the same regions from
which we came. They are small in number
They are incapable of forming government
1t would be inconvenient for them to sustain
a government, if it were formed; and they are
very much obliged TO the United States for un-
dertaking the trouble, knowing that on the at
tainment OF their majority-when they come
to manhood--at twenty one-they will be in
troduced to an equality with all the other mem
bers of the Union. 1t is entirely different with
Mexico. You have no need OF armies TO keep
your territories in subsection. But when you
incorporate Mexico, you must have powerful
armies to keep them in subsection. You may
call l. annexation, but it is forced annexation,
which is a contradiction in terms, according TO
my conception. You will be involved, in one
word, in all the evils which attribute to hol-
ding Mexico as province. In fact, it will be
but provincial government, under the name
of a territorial government. How long will
that last? How long will it be before Mexico
will be capable of incorporation into our I'm
ion? Why, if we Judge from the examples be-
fore US, 1t will be very long time. Ireland
has been held in subsection BY England for sew
en- or eight hundred years. and yet still remains
hostile, although her people are of kindred race
with the conquerors. A few French Canada
on this continent yet maintain the attitude of
hostile people; and never will the time come,
in my opinion, Mr.. President, that these Mex
leans will be heartily reconciled to your au-
thority. They have Castillian blood in their
veins-the old Gothic, quite equal to the Anglo
Saxon in many respects-in some respects SUI
Il oil IF he
the most pertinacious-hav the highest sense
of nationality-hold out longest, and often even
with the least prospect of effecting their object
On this subject also have conversed with Of
ficers of the army, and they all entertained the
same opinion; that these people are now hos
tile, and will continue so.
But, Mr. President suppose all these difficulties re-
moved Suppose these people attached to our Union,
and DESTROYS OF incorporating with us, ought TO
bring them nl Are they fit 10 be connected with usl
Are they TIT for self-government and tor governing
youl Are you, any OF you, willing that your States
should be governed by these twenty odd Mexican
States, with population Of about only million
OF your blood, and two or three millions of mixed
blood, better informed, all the pure Indians,
mixed blood equally ignorant and unfit for liberty,
impure races not as good as the CherOkees or Chock
| taws!
We make a great mistake. sir when we suppose
that all people are capable of self-government We
are anxious to force free government on ALL and see
that IL has been urged in very respectable quarter,
that il is the mission of this country TO spread civil
and religious liberty all the world, and especially
over this continent. Ii is great mistake. None
but people advanced to very high state OF moral and
intellectual improvement and incapable, in a civil
lied state, of maintaining free government; and
among those who so purified very few, indeed,
have had the good fortune of forming a Constitution
capable of endurance. 1t is remarkable fact in the
history OF man. that scarcely ever have free popular
Illustrations been formed by wisdom alone that have
endured
1t has been the work of fortunate circumstances or
combination Of circumstances succession of for
tunae incidents of some kind which give any peo-
pie a free government. Ii is very difficult task 10
make n constitution to last thought NAV be suppos-
ed by some that they can be made to and fur
nshed at the shortest notice Sir this admirable Con-
stituton OF our own, was the result OF fortunate
combination Of circumstances. IL superior To
the wisdom of the who madeit. 1t was the force
OF circumstances which induced them 10 adopt most
of its wise PROVISIONS Well, sir, OF the few nations
who have the good fortune to adopt sefgovernment,
few have had the good fortune long preserve that
government for il is harder preserve than to form
the tenure by which their liberty is held; and fear
Senator's, that is own condition. fear that we
shall continue to involve ourselves until our own
system becomes ruin. Sir, there is no solicitude
for liberty. Who talks of liberty when any great
question comes upl Here is question of the first
magnitude as to the conduct OF this war; do you
hear any body talk about its effect upon liberties
and our free institutional No sir. That was not
eminent the great anxiety was how TO preserve lib
erty. The great anxiety now, is for the attainment
OF mere military glory In the one we are forget
ting the other. The maxim OF former times was, that
power is always stealing from the many to the few;
the price of liberty perpetual vigilance. They
were constantly looking out and watching for dan
ger. Then, when any great question came up, the
first inquiry was, how could affect free institu
. tons-how it could affect our liberty. Not now
Is it because there has be any decly Of the spirit
of liberty among the peoplel Not at ALL l believe
the love of liberty more ardent, but they
have forgotten the tenure ofliberty by which alone
, it is preserved.
! We think we may now indulge in every thing with
mpunity as if held charter liberty by "righ
r divine"-from heaven itself. Under these impress
sions we plunge into war, contract heavy debts
increase the patronage of the Executive, and we
even talk of crusade TO force Institutions,
liberty upon all people There no species of extra
vagance which our people imagine will endanger the
liberty in any degree But ii is q great and fata
mistake. The day of retribution will come. 1t vii
come certainly as | am addressing the Sen
ate, and when it does come, awful will be the reck
J oning; heavy the responsibility somewherel
Mr.. President; with these impressions cannot ap
prove of the policy recommended by the Executive
nor can l, with my present views, support it. Tn,
and difficult question, and it is daily becoming NOR
! and more difficult What is 10 be donel Sir, tina
question ought not to be for to l. who hav
used every effort in my power to prevent this war
and after its commencement have done every thing
in my power diminish the evil 10 the smallest pos
sible amount. But will not shrink from any res
possibility whether it properly belongs to me or not
After saying that cannot support the course recon-
mended by the Executive, will proceed to state tina