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

absorbing tie whole expenditures, will be
all averse TO retiring, and will swell the .
cry 10 favor Of continuing and extending
conquest. The President talks, SIR, Of Ia. /
king indemnity into our hands, then but,
why not take indemnify now? We are
much nearer indemnity now, than we will
be at the end Of the next campaign. when
we shall have sixty millions added 10 the
expenditure OF the last forty. What will
you then have TO indemnify you'll Nothing
bot Mexican population, on whom you are
to impose taxation in all forms and shapes
and amongst which you will have TO main.
tain an army Of at least forty thousand men;
according TO lie Senator from Mississippi.
Mr. DAVIS, for he says, that the army
now there exceeding that number, are IN dan.
ger. That there is no indemnity a, all. You
will never get enough 10 that way to meet
your expenditures. II will all have to
come on, OF the pockets Of the people Of the
United States; and after all, the talk OF in.
demniiy, OF pushing on this war vigorously
TO success, at the end Of the next campaign,
instead OF indemnity, you will have heavy
pecuniary burden imposed upon The present
and succeeding generation.
Well, Mr.. President, we have now come
Z. to the solemn question proposed by these
resolutions. have shown where this line
Of policy will, in all probability, lead you,
II may say, will inevitably lead you, un.
less some unexpected contingency should
prevent. II will lead to the bloi,ing GU, Of
the nationality of Mexico, and the throw.
ing of eight or nine millions OF people
!, wi,hou, governmest on your hands. L,
will compel you, in ell probability, 10 as
/ sumo the government, for, think, there
, will be very little prospec, OF your retiring.
You mus, either hold the country as a pro.
. vince or incorporate j, into your Union
] Shall we do e;,herl That's the question
: Far from Us be such an act, and for The rea
}. sons contained in the resolutions.
The first Of these reasons is this: i
i. would be Inconsistent with the avowed OBJ
), lec, for which the war has been prosecu
IS ted. That needs no argument after VIVA
!. has been said. Since the commencement
g Of the war till this moment, every maj
Il has disavowcd the intention Of conquest
/. Of ex,inguishing the existence of Mexico
Q as q people. Il has been constantly pro
!. claimed that the only oblec, was indemni
D, iy. And yet, sir, as events ore moving or
It VIVA, we disavow may be accomplished
o and what We have avowed may be defeated
% Sir, this resul, will be dark and las,iH
W imputa,ion on either The sincerity or III
! intelligence of,he government; on its since
e ty because SO opposite to your own avow
II ais; on your intelligence, for the want of
!. clear foresight in SO plain a case as not |.
discern the consequences.
n Sir, we have heard how much glory GU
e country has acquired in the war. &C
knowledge it 10 the full amount, Mr.. Pres
i. ideut so far as military glory Is concern
ed. The army has done noby-chival
rously -lhey have conferred honor on tn
e country, for which sincerely thank them
3. Mr. President, believe all our tbank
3. will be confined TO our army. So far as
know in the civilized world, there is no ap
] probation Of the conduct OF the civil por
] ,ion of our power. Ga the contrary, eve
: ~ where the declaration 10 made, that We
, are an ambitious, unjust, hard people, more
given TO war than ally people Of modern
times. " neither this be true or not, it il
not for me to inquire. | am speaking now
merely Of the reputation which We bear a.
broad. Every where, believe, for as
much as we have gained in military reputa.
ton abroad, ] regret 10 perceive, we have
lost in our political and civil reputation.
Now sir, much as regard military glory
much as rejoice to behold our people
in possession of the indomitabe energy and
courage which surmount oil difficulties, and
which class them amonss, the first military
people of the age, would be very sorry
indeed that our government should lose any
reputation for wisdom, moderation, discre.
ton, justice, and those other high qualities
which have distinguished Us in the early
stages OF our history.
The next reason which nv resolutions
assign, is, that i, is without example or pre-.
cedcnt, either TO hold Mexico as province
or to incorporate her Into our Union. No
example of such a line OF policy can be
found. We have conquered many OF the
neishboring tribes Of Indians, but We uev
er though: of holding them in subjection--
never of incorporating them into our Union.
They have either been left as an iudepsn.
dent people amongs. US, or been driven in.
TO the forests.
know farther, sir, that we have never
dreamp, Of Incorporating into our Union
any but the Caucasian race-ihe free
white race. To incorporate Mexico, would
be the very first instance Of the kind of
Incorporating an Indian race, for more than
half of the Mexicans are Indians, aud the
other is composed chiefly of mixed tribes.
| protes. against such union as that
Ours, sir, is the governmen, Of the white
man. The greatest misfor,unes Of Spanish
America are TO be traced to the fatal error
of placing these colored races on an equal.
i,y with the white race. That error de.
stroyed the social arrangement which for.
med the basis o! society. The Portuguese
and ourselves have escaped--ihe Poriu.
pese at least TO some extent-and we are