Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-06-01

acquire, and after fully commenting upon it, thus
closes his speech:l
But have not done with the responsibilities
of the Executive in this regard. He has wan
tonly brought this war on the country, and has
prosecuted it during bis good pleasure, and then
has thrown before the Senate treaty TO which
there are objections almost nnumera0le, ana mas
involved that honorable body in the dilemma oi
choosing between a bad war and bad treaty
How can the Senate possibly act on the intrln-
sic merits of the treaty? II it be the case OF a
bad treaty but a worse war; then the treaty VIII
be ratified. On the other hand, il 1t be the case
of a bad war but worse treaty, then u VIII be
rejected Is it to be endured, that President
of the United States should involve his country
| in disastrous war, and make mischevous
treaty to close it, and then say to the Senate here
is my war! and here my treaty. with the mani
fold evils of both, choose ye! insist that the
ratification of the treaty will prove nothing as to
its real merits. lie has forced treaty from Me
leo, and he may force (by species OF moral du
ress) a ratification from the Senate. So that we
have here c new process of annexation" Any
President can "annex" all christendom in this
way, and yet the Senate entertain the utmost
repugnance TO every part of the process. And
this can be done, nay, is attempted in this in
stance, without taking the sense OF the immed
ate representatives of the people. Why was the
President, by and with the advice aud consent
Of the Senate, two.thrds concurrng,) invested
with the power Of making, in the form Of trea-
ty, "snpreme law Of the land? ~ 1t was be-
cause we had in the two.thirds vote sufficient
guarantee that the treaty would be in all re.
spects proper and rights but in the case of the
treaty pending before the Senate, he, by the.
force Of ntoerabe evils which he has created,
ard which ATE wholly collateral to the treaty and
It's merits, so far as acquisition is concerned. may
] ,E,ntt .,,tll do
the guaranty referred to- We may, in this
manner have annexation when every body de
tests it, merely to get rid Of u war which we de-
: test still more.
If, then, we bring into view all the facts
which have OCen developed in regard TO the
character and resources OF the countries con-
prised in The treaty, and connect with them the
important considerations which so obviously a.
I rise out of the ect, the question arises what
have we gained by this war? Have we obtain
ed any real indemnity for the vast sacrifices we
have made in prosecuting it: Have we got
even an equivalent for the claims OF orr citizens
existing prior 10 the war? Why should we
now, alter invading many parts Of Mexico, after
seizlng all her sea ports and capturing her only
fortress and her principal cities, including her
metropolis, TO say nothing of seven or eight Of
her States, back out of the contest Oh the terms
Of this treaty, unless the administration is pre-
pared 10 admit tina: the war is vain aud useless ?
But, even them why should we pay twenty or
twenty-one millions of dollars for New-Nlexico
and Upper California, when all Louisiana cost
us only fifteen millions, out of which we have
carved four large States, and have territory left
for several more? Why do this when we gave
five millions for Florida? insist that the whole
policy Of the Executive in this regard has been
utterly unsounl-hghly msclievous lie has
been seeking indemnity where none was to be
obtained in making reprlsals on Mexico he
has sliced what feai will prove to us nest Of
viperS!
Nevertheless strenuous efforts will be made to
delude the American people the moment the
treaty is ratified.
The Administration and is friends will be or
the alert New Mexico and California will be
represented as of neslimable value. shall moi
be surprised if the desert of the Colorado and the
, showing desolatlon'' of the Great Basin should
all at once become vast domain of luxuriance
filled with extensive forests ana ever smiling
! prarles, ana teeming with nunibcrless buffalo
deer and other forms of animal life.
The importance Of the harbor of San Francis
CO will be greatly exaggerated. The commerce
OF all the Indies will in Imagination, be concen-
trated at that point and disseminated through
: various chanues all over the Republic. rail
r road will ascend the sleeps Of the Sierra Nerva
dl, or the iron horse will take It's course dowr
= the beautifully ella, and across the deserts o
e the Colorado. But the people will soon wake ~
\ to The stern realities of the case, and will be-
S come convinced that the lives ofuny half a dozer
] such men as Ringgold, b own, Cross, MKee
Clay, and Hardin, are worth more than all the
benefits we can derive from the acquisitions i
r is apparent that we have eXtored Il bargain from
Mexico at the point Of the bayonet, and cheated
ourselves.