Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04

The matter Of itself thorny each one, according as
his temper suggesting sangunary measures or mild but
the discourse Of Privernate deputy mindful OF the
condition in which he born than Of the straits TO which
his country reduced plunged the whole issue in still
greater difficulty This man. when asked by some one Of
those who favored measures What punishment he
houghhs Prpenaes had deserped p answered, Thai due
10 men ,cho deem themselves 0orthy 10 be free The Con-
sui this percevng that the bold reply had only made
hostile those who before little disposed TO mercy, think
ing induce, by gener question, mder asked
him: Suppose should pass opr your e6ences ,chat
sort Of peace may then eapee Of you 2 " replied
the Prvernate, you shall hage granted as far peace
you may count on its being faithful and perpetuai bu, u
ii iSto be a hard one, do not look for IL 10 hasf'
Heeupon, there those who considered the Prve-
breathing threats far from ambiguous, and his lam
guage melting to rebellion such other States as had sub
mitted peace But the larger part pars meAor-which
may also intend but the better part of the senate began to
lean genler course, and say, That the Gs,cer cus
manly, and reeman's. Was 10 JeJekered that peo
pie, individual, ,oould remain under conditions
enforced upon him only By necessity any loager than
tohie that necessity lasted? Where The submission IS
wiHng, there only the peace be faithful nor ,chere
enslauement is meant fidelity be hoped for Towards
this opinion the Consul himself who had made the conquesD
endeavoed to bend the minds Of the Senate did also the
might be heard declaring That people ,oho took thought
but Of their freedom oorthy Of being Romans And
thus before the Senate ITSELF they their the Fa
theirs deceeing and recommending to the people that The free
dom Of the city should be conferred upon the Prrernaes"
Titus Lvius, edo Eveziri Tom l. pp 705, zoe, 7O7)
To conclude: Had this unfortunate war not
If DESIRED for FIVE millions Of dollars, the territory
now proposed to be ceded. But the largeness Of
the sum we are to pay for the territory can be no
objection, under the circumstances, to those whoset
high value upon our national character. We are
treating with PROSTATE adversary; with Re-
public humbled to the dust by our military power.
To close the bloody tragedy by magnanimous act
will be honorable to our country. 1t will raise us
in our own esteem and in that of the civilized world
In ratifying this Treaty We take nothing BY
CONQUEST. This fact alone is worth far more to
Christian Nation than the sum of money we shall
pay. The Lust of Conquest is as unjust and ruin
Gus in a Republic as in any other form of govern
ment 1t has made desolate the fairest portions of
the earh and has never failed to overthrow sooner
or later, every vestge Of liberty. Thank COP, we
shall be saved from the curse of this blghtng prin-
ciple We pay even more than its value for the
territory we take from Mexico. This fact will be
pointed to, by those who shall come after us, with
a. National PRIDE to show the Justice of their
country.
Deeply impressed by these considerations, we
look with no ordinary solicitude to the ratification of
the Treaty. We believe that PEACE will be hailed
with Joy through the wide extent of the Republic,
and that its blessings will be felt and acknowledged
in all our borders.