Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-03-17

duueu W ouT CdTceT Vi conquest, any new UT au-
ditional reputation to be acqured-is it neces-
public, that we should proceed to tranple under
foot to denationalize and reduce to perpetual
subsection, foe who has lost the power of re-
sistance? Sir, ! am SO unfortunate that have
not looked upon the glory and spendor of mill
tary achievements with the same sentiment of
unrningled admiration as others may have done.
am constrained TO say that have turned dis
gusted from the revolving details of human
slaughter which the history of this war presents.
Sir, I have been disposed to ask, in the name of
the country-in the name of Christian people
i'm the name of humanity-yes, sir, in the
name of humanity's God, for what rational pur-
poses are these scenes ofhuman butchery enact
ed? Sir, when | am told that the object is the
glory OF military achievements, confess that
my feelings revolt at it, No, sir, if this be the
purpose, in Heavens name let us be satisfied
with what we have done. Let us pursue this
object no further. What opinions must be en-
tertained in other quarters of the world in rela-
ton to this Mexican war? 1t must be regarded
as war for national pundcr--I was about to
say, Of national piracy And, instead of adding
to the honor of the nation, it will call down upon
us, persisted in, the execrations of the civilized
world. But, sir, leave this part of the subject.
Mr.. President, it is somewhat amusing to
witness the various phases which this subject
has assumed. In May, 1876, we were told that
American blood had been shed upon American
soil. We were told that the honor of the nation
was involved, and we were called upon to vote
for declaration of war, because the indignity
which had been inflicted upon us by the she'd
ding of American blood upon American soil call
ed loudly for relrbution. But, sir, soon this be-
came war of indemnity. We were pursuing
this war for the purpose of indemnifyng our
selves for claims which our citizens had against
Mexico; and while we were pursuing it for this
purpose, and iustitying it upon this ground, we
were told that Mexico herself began it as if
the process of collecting this debt had begun,
not on the part of the creditor, but of the debtor
But we were soon told that no indemnity could
be had except by the acquisition of territory !;
that Mexico had no other means for indemnify
ing us. We were next further informed that
we must occupy all Mexico, in order to distress
her and bring her to terms yet this was no
war of conquest. 1t was a war for Territory,
which was to be acquired by force, and kept by
force, but not war for conquest. Yes, sir,
year ago we were told that it was not war of
conquest, but war for indemnity. Now, after
the successes of the last campaign, we are told
that it is still war for indemnity-not for con-
quest; but that we must hold on to what we
have got, and when we get possession of the rest
of Mexico, we can then determine for ourselves
whether we will keep it Here is subtle dis
tincton. 1t is acquiring the territory of neigh
boring nation by force, and keeping it by force,
but il is not conquest. 1t is II distinction be-
tween robbing your neighbor, and sezing him
and taking from him by force the contents Of his
p"SEetar NOW told that the obiec, Is tine con-
quest of Mexico, and the whole of Mexico. The
wise distinction to which ! have adverted has
han ola tot M
quest without any declaration of purpose,
under any circumstances, or at any time, to re-
linauish our acquisitions. The honorable chair
man of the Committee on Military Affairs, if
understood him, said that the purpose is the con-
quest of the country, and that whether we shall
retain it or not, when conquered, is question to
be settled hereafter.
Mr.. CAss. 1.-THE honorable Senator will al
low me : said that the object was conquest,
with view of conquering peace.
Mr.. PHELPS. All F.! it is conquest of the
country for the purpose Of conquering peace.
Will the honorable Senator tell me how the con-
quest of the country is to result in the conquest
of peace You propose the occupation of the
whole country, to displace its Government, to
seize its revenues, to take its people under your
protection. You leave no Government to make
peace with. You deal with the people and not
with their Government. You have taken pos
session of portion of their territory, and we are
advised by the President not to surrender it, but
to extend our laws over it. Sir, il peace is to be
attained in this way, il must be by the utter ex-
tinction of Mexican power. A peace To he ac-
quired in this way is a peace To be obtained by
annihating the power which is opposed to you.
We are to place them in a condition in which
they cannot resist, and we shall be at rest be-
cause their power of resistance is extinct. lean
come TO no other conclusion.
But, sir, the object is now stated in some quar-
ters to be the conquest of the county not for the
sake of indemnity has become an obsolete
idea but it is to be conquest for the benefit of
Mexico. Yes, sir, we must conquer the coun.
try for the purpose of putting that nation to
school. We must assume guardianship over
them, and thus put an end to their discussions.
When we have reformed their habits, and sulli-
cently indoctrinated them at the pointot the bay
onei into our customs, habits, and political creed,
and qualified them for self-government ny The
saIutary influence Of military suyugati0n, we are
then to declare them of age, and emancpate
them, if we please. Now, this last object, this
newly-discovered purpose for which this Mex
lean war is prosecuted, has this one quality to
redeem tit is phllanthroplc. 1t is not obnoX-
ous to the objections which ! have urged against
the pursuit of military glory-the wholesale
deed for war. however glorious and dazzling
may be some OF its appendages, is little else thar
mere human butchery- ustliable, it may BE-, IL
some cases; but If unjustitiable, it is nothing
short of wholesale murder.
How long are these Mexican people to bt
kept at school How many generations, are tc
pass before the habits, views, and character o.
this people are be changed? VIII gentlemen
tell US how many generations are required L
eXtinguish the Castlian blood which even Al
this day exhibits itself in bold relief in the char
acteristic obstinacy of this Mexican people
Sir, it will endure for centuries. These people
as a conquered people will be distinct race
and the longer you keep them in subsection, the
> longer will be the necessity for continuing YOU
) SUPERVISION II they have proved incompetent
OF self-government, they will not improve unde
military supervision il unworthy OF admission
into the American family, you will hardly ele
: vate them in the scale of human respectable,
by course ofabiect servitude to a people WHOM
they hate. They will never be reconcied I,
your Government, and your laws and instltu
tons can be sustained among them only at TN
point of the bayonet. But, sir, if this be the oil
ject, prefer that this people, instead of bein,
schooed by us, be left to the management q
, their own affairs. prefer altogether the doc
trine which permits every nation 10 regulate il
7 own internal affairs, and which forbds iureg
J interference.
Permit me, in this view of the subject, to ex
; press my deep regret that the purpose Of con
quest-if it were the original object of the wa