The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-02

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Office from the Executive The whole benefit derived by
dhy9ody from such an occupation of Mexico. would
De derived by those officials who would enjoy the
pphiS OF me Job OF governing the country, and these
would hold their places at the Executive pleasure How
long could we expect hun 10 be both his functions
as President OF the United States and Mexican impera-
Tor Is there no danger that he would his Mexican
royalty 10 acquire permanent tenure of office at
home For all moral and political purposes he would be
the sovereign OF both 1t idle to say that the elective
feature OF the Office would restrain him With such
powers and patronage he would regulate the conventions
and elections as he pleased or dispense with both if he
should prefer IT. When estimate the aia influences
OF hundreds OF millions OF funded debt, which the wars
necessary for the permanent occupancy OF Mexico upon
these terms would occasion, and add to all the effect of
the enormous additions to the Executive patronage, is
there any sangune enough hope that republic could
expect length of days under such state of thngs But
the hope, idle is to be entertained by some
that Mexico could be made pay the whole of these
penses, and maintain the army necessary for her subu
cation Suppose it were the case we, the representa-
nves OF selfgovernng people, far from being vigil
ant enough IN experimenting the expenses OF our
government Who would there be to watch with anything
IKE guardians care expenditures in Mexico, when
our own constituents contributed nothing to pay them
can tell you who would investigate them closely, and
he aionel mean SIR The President of the United States
y to the revenue, from which he sustained power ex-
terror to- and IN great measure independent Of the peo-
pie OF the United States 1t has been said by acute
which fatal TO liberty occurred when Scpio Africa
to relieve the Roman people from of the burdens
OF war; was allowed to raise the supplies necessary for
his African expedition IN the province which
signed to him, and the allied towns in which he pop
ular To great extent the supplies were thus raised.
and the Roman people relieved from immediate pressure
but the first of long line of precedents established
which made the military independent of the civil author
Iy and ended IN giving 1t the entire mastery OF the gov
eminent.
Ii entertain Roman ideas of conquest, we must
fer to Roman examples to how far they consist
ent with liberty. But it may be supposed that the nd
rect advantages derived from trade with Mexico, regu
lated with reference our interests, would compen
safe us for the expenses of subugaon and government
little reflection, think will dispel that illusion If
we obtain the wild country along the northern frontier
of Mexico, together with some of the ports the Pa
cc, we shall stand in such relation to her. that the
suit OF high tariff imposed by her would give nearly
the whole trade, it could not possibly be enforced
against such line If, the other hand, her
tariff be low we should enjoy nearly all the advantages van
crime of her permanent subugation Indeed, putting
aside the question of expense believe that the direct
pecuniary gains of commerce under low duties, with
people improving and increasing under government adj
minstered by themselves, would be far greater than
exclusive trade with such people they must
trade with Great Britain, with all the burdens imposed
it by tariffs, has been advantageous to the mother
colonial dependence had remained But Mr. President,
have only touched upon portion OF the consequences
that would inevitably result from such step. II we
the with the absorption Of Mexi
by conquest, and the experiment should result as ia
voraby those expect who incline to the measure, is It
probable that should would stop at that pont' Is
career, until forced to do by domestic msforunes or
superior force from without! The very class which
creates, and which it supplies by conquest, with the
means obtain the mastery at home, will continue
to push that career OF conquest long as the opportun-
ties Of puader abroad afford the temptation TO advance
The moment they are prevented from plundeFiug abroad
they commence the operation at home and it
fortunately happens that in empire gathered by con-
quest the only practicable limit ever found to their power
has been the exhaustion of the subjects of their
tons Sir, this class is creature of my magi-
nation; it is known to history. and has been well
described by of the masters of human thought and
of the English language, that shall beg leave to borrow
his words for the description:
The of civilized nations (says Dr. John,on) make
perceives scarcely alteration but increase Of debt
posed have the right these advantages If he
that shared the danger enjoyed the profit and after bleed
gains without envy But 1.-THE conclusion of years.
how recompensed for the death of multitudes,
o aa T and whose eaapase.
shine like meeors and whose palaces are like exhaa'ions9
growing rich their country is povershed they rejoice
When obsnacy ambition adds another year to slaughter
and devastation and laugh from their desks bravery and
science while they adding figure to figure and cipher
ment, and computing the profits of a siege tempest"
If this career of conquest should ever be favoraby
commenced BY US there IS no power IN this country to
tributive dspensation OF Providence. Sir, firmly be-
eve that before any foreign opposition could be found in
sufficient strength to stop it, we should fall to pieces by
own discussions, or our government would take the
organization suitable to the ends of conquest, and
assume a despotic form. The debts which these
must OCCASION would lead to heavy and unequal taxa
ton, and to bitter sectional disputes, under which
people would divide if they did not think it better to
take refuge under MASTER to escape the exactions
and tyranny of many. Of all the governments with
which am acquainted. federal government is most
endangered by heavy taxation upon the people, and there
is none so little capable of enduring large national debt
without organic arrangement of its machinery.
large class living upon the funded debt of this gov
eminent, would be more dangerous if not ter
ribe, to it, than army with banners 1t has been
well said, that the most important revolution in the
English government occurred when the funding sys-
tenn and the bank established in the reign of
William of Orange From that period fourth estate
arose in the realm, which gradually attained the
terry OF all So rapid its rise, that its tenden-
ces foreseen and denounced by Lord Boiling
broke at that early period OF its growth and Lord Chat
ham, fit of mpoten rage, said to have declared,
that ''when the funds falling, we may be the
country rising But. if possessed of some invisible
power grew in spite of the fear and hate of the British
people; and the ''cannbas of Change Alley" as Chat
ham called them became the arbters OF the fate OF
nations. They held mortgage upon the future labor
and productive power OF the country, and taxed 1t to an
extent which would have been deemed incredible had
witnessed the reality They worked the machinery
of currency and, holding the very sinews of motion
in government, their voice alike potent in
peace The clay feet of the colossal image of French
power crumbled in their grasp and the British shuttle
hours of the night, unconscious those who worked
them of the secret power at whose fiat they were
moving or of the invisible hand which was silently
dividing the loaf in every palace, in every howell in all
the habtaons OF the land. Colonies were added en-
pire WAS enlarged, the British name was emhazoned in