Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-07

p s,ing this bill, which | have shown 10 b,
a useless bravado, unbecoming a great ant
magnanimous people.
But | not only object TO the passage o
the bill at this time aud under existing cir
cumstances, but | take higher ground.
an opposed to the bill under all circum
stances. | would have voted against ii if
treaty had not been made, and for reason'
that, to myself are conclusive, and which
will now proceed to state.
Sir, We all know the origin Of this bill
it was reported early in the session, aud ori
ginated in the message of the President re
commencing a vigorous prosecution Of the
war aud its leading aud main object wa.
to carry that recommendation into effect
If, then, we pass this bill, we give, accord
ing to my humble conception, a pledge ia
the Executive and tn the country, that i
the treaty fails, We will resort 10 a vigorous
prosecution of the war. |, cor one, am un
willing TO give this pledge unwilling be
cause think it ought not TO be given. and
unwilling because. %ifgiven, ! am of impress
sion il never will be redeemed.
1t ought not to be given, for reasons
which | have assigned fully on a former oc.
casion, and which ] shall only briefly re.
peat on this. A vigorous prosecution OF
the wat would be the annihilaiion Of the
Mexican government, leaving no govern.
ment with whom TO treat. The effect OF
that would be the entire s%ubjugation Of the
country, throwing upon us one Of two al.
ternatlves, either TO create a government
by our W authority with which to treat
I and fhra frucf M nan .,l. ILL $500.
ciates the true principles OF our system Of
government will ever adopt-or To hold il
under our subjugalion as a conquered coun-
try, 10 be governed as provinces, or TO be
incorporated into the Union.
Now, as ] am utterly opposed to this, for
reasons which | stated at large on the oc-
casion referred TO, and which il is not ne.
cessary here to repeat, | for one canno,
give this pledge. Nor con | give il, be-
cause | have not the least expectation that
it will ever be redeemed. The sentiment
Of the whole country is remarkably chang
ed in reference to the war. There was al
shat time a large party in the country who
were IN favor OF taking the whole Of Mexi.
CO. | have but to appeal to the proceed.
ings of public meetings. and to declarations
u TeDedtenlV made IN The nnhlr InuTnalg In
prove his. But thai, sen,imen, IL cban,ed
and wby is il changed Because The 1eo.
p,e were not aware At tha, time of VIVA,
would be the consequence of a yiporous
prosecution of the war. II was an appeal
10 their manly pride. But as soon as they
saw The conseousnces-,ha, the resni,
would be as I have stated-lbe, drew back
and nut the seal of their renroLa,ion unon
il. not ONLY for the presen, bu, I ,rus, for.
ever. With this strong Observation-Disclosures n,
the war ON The part of The peonle !, Womb
be an idle dream 10 sunnos. tba, in ,be
event of a failure of the treaty. This war
would ever be enewed TO he carried on
vigorously.
But il NAV be asked. whs, shall be done,
Nv answer IS plain and simple. Only one
thing can be done. To fall back and take
the line of the treaty. to tell the Mexican
people tina, we intend TO hold il. that va
are satisfied if they are. Nor can il be OBJ
lected that il costs more. for il would take
fully us large an army and at as great a cos
to protect Mexico under the treaty agains,
the Indians falling on our side of the linz
under the treaty, as to protect ourselye.