Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1848-01-01
BAfon Rotan gplA Der. Iel
70 4nH EDfTBn Or THE
BAToN RoueE GAzhTfE.

June ami 18th August, have been review
ed. and II II nov asked on Ill sides, tfthefe
IL not on ingonsi sleney between ny vpin.
ions therein expressed, and my willingness
at this lime to become d candidate.
That / declined to be q candidate I0r q
seat In the 8Uth Congress from ! 6eitFt,
that the conquest Of a portion Of Mexican
territory was deemed essential TO main
tain our nations honot, d course consider
cd by me subvUfsiYe TO the principles OF
civil liberty, fepdgnant 10 the interests OF
the Union, and tending TO the destruction
Of our Republican existence; and therefore
| was uawilliBgt to be an actor in such q
scene IL the 5Dth Congress might bic CALI
ed upon TO c6nsummate.
I attn now asked, what change IN ahe po
Icy of the Administration, or III my own
views and feelings has taken places since
that period that induces ne 10 odflseht to
be ii candidate for d seat In the list Con
gfessi TO all Of which | beg leayeto say;
Ftoin all tho evidence before me- have
always thought and still believe. tlle war
with Mexico was conceived, aesigfled and
determined for conquest, under a pfetext
not justified ny the law Of nations--IhB
reason as~signe5--to vindiUate our Il %atioBal
honUrAh0t sustained lly truth.
Mr.. Polk has not informed 1s, svhat III
his opinion constitutes q %natiun'ss hoaori
neither has hi. informed as when, Sand BY
what net Of Mexico, The United States be
came go shoru Of her honor, thatInothipg
less than one half ofthe Republic.of Mex
co will suffice to atone for the lnd,anity.
For my part ! am unwilling y admit
that any thing which poor distracted
Mexico could do, or say, should be regard.
ed as an indignity. l~nsolent 5he may
have bpen, but true m~agndatMHh which
constitutes tho essence of q natiotls great.
ness, and a nations honor would say.
nIfatihg chastised On i%BSoFeni toek tale not
from him his pwse." Triumph not oyefa
yanquished enemy, IL d pfeeept, slalloWed
by national, as well as by the niorsl law.
lii Jane | assumed as an dtieBB, which is
as denonstfable In polity asa p4oblrm IN
mathematics, that, Denoefdey and lore of
country nd5, where the spirit Of, conquest
Thus believing the vista at that
period presented no hope for Republican
liberty.
Mr.. Polk aflirms, that this war was not in
as one Of conquest, but haslng been
brought ON by the acts D. Mekitf4 we must
prosecute 1t to 'eonquer an honorable
The measure OF which Il to be de.
termined by the extent of territorXwe want,
which Mexico must be forced II give up,
10 save her nationality.
While the sword and The olive branch Of
peace were vending heir way toahe Mexi.
can Capitol, | fully, and to my MIND, clear.
ly demonstrated, that the p}opos itions
for a peace which DIR. TIist WIS author
ised to tender to Mexico, II accepted BY
her could not be consutnmatedl and the
United States exist as d Repablf&.
BY the acquisition of Louisiana, and
Florida, the inhabitants thereof were freed
from colonial vassalage. II il true we
not tlrst obtain their consent, but we
transacted with their acknowledged soye.
who by the law Of natior3s and their
applied assent, possessedthe power and had
the right TO make the TRANSFERS
According to our theory Of Republican.
ism, nay, If you viii, according ID the prin.
ciples Of progressive D~enocrag" New
Mexico and the Califlnia's were soye.
reign states, and with the Inhabitants there's
of vested ill the attributes of sovereignty;
and without their voluntary consent freely
given, no change could be maJe Ii their
condition unless forced upon them by abso
lute conquest.
Texas became IN integral part Of our
Republic, because In the exercise of HER
sovereign win, she severed h~erselff ON the
Republic o Mexico, and was free TO give
her consent 10 annexation.
But New Mexico and the california;
without their consent are forced by US to
yield obedience to our will, although we
will not admit II 10 be by force OF con.
quest. and having deprived these sovereign
States and the people, ola voice in the ma.
tional Congress of Mexico, We seek to OBJ.
tain from that Congress and Santa Anna,
either by force or bribery a recognition of
our right 10 those heretofore sovereign
States and the people thereof No one
will dare to affirm that Santas Anna could
legally transfer TO Us those sovereign States
and the people without their consent, and
for the United States 10 accept Of such =
transfer, would be contrary 10 common
honesty, subversiye ofthe principles ofcivil
liberty, repugnant to rae integrity of our
Union, and tending ttl the destruction Of
our "Repubiican eristence.' For men.
who acknowledge that the powers of all
governments derive their just force fiom the
consent Of the governed to undertake by
force, 70 deprive upwards Of two millions Of