Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-02-16

self of all hard feeling towards her, ! cam
not divest myself of a holy devotion TO my
country, and her righteous canse;> and -
must spurn the man who would prove rec
reant to the sacred capse of bis country,
and espouse that of ar. alien. Three cheers
called for, and rapturously given. / can.
not regard rs feliow-citizens the men-who
array themselves against the cause Of their
country, who defame its armies and the
glory they have acquired for the nation;
who array themselves against the admins
tration of the country, andseek to strength.
en- tie hands of the enemy Such people
do not reflect, or they have forgotten ail {
wisdom of the mind. Impelled by faction,
they are the enemies of their country's
cause enemies Of that glorious enthusiasm
which animates the American patriot
while they reserve oil Of their feelings and
pity for ''poor Mexico," and care nothing
at al! about the United States and their
own country. say that you have got a
good bargain in getting Texasj and l,who
say this, tn nix | cad prove it and make you
believe it AS surely as to-morrow's sun
will rise and pursue its bright course along
the armament Of heaven, SO certain, it ap-
pears TO my mind, must the Anglo-Saxon 1
race pervade the whole southern extremity
Of this vast continent.and the people whom
COD has placed here in this land, spread,
prevail, and pervade throughout the whole
rich empire Of this great hemisphere. The
manner of the consummation Of this grand
result, cannot predict; but there is an in
stinct in the American people which inn
pe,s them onwarj,a ,aAd which will lead item
to pervade this continent, and develope its
resources, to civilize its people, and receive
the rich bounties Of the creating power of
Divine Providence. There is anot her con-
sideration in this respect, which is conclu-
sive to my mind. The Americans regard
this continent as their birth-righi. The seed
of all their settlements has been sown in
blood and watered by blood. The pioneers
who went forward into the wilderness pour
ed out their hearts blood to prepare tho
country for their posterity; their scalps
were taken by the Indians; they sacrificed
their life's blood to acquire the possessions
which we enjoy. Ifall these difficulties and
sacrifices did not terrify the bold pioneers,
the success of centuries only tends to con-
firm what they began, md nothing can
prevent our mighty march There is an
other consideration. You, here, fellow -citi.
zens, are living in cities, in the enjoyment
of oil the blessings and comforts Of ciyili-
zhtion here; bot if you undertake to 90
into the wilderness, into the domain Of tho
wild beast, and begin 10 pursue The game.
to plant plantations ns-when you see the
farm, the field, the garden, springine I'D
around you, your feelings will become nj
tached to the land; it will irnbue YOUR
hearts; you will catch the contagion off the
frontier settler; you will not be able to cs-
cape it. You may escape the smali-rox.
but you can never escape the contagion
OF land-lovlEg. AS sure as you live, il will
become part of your nature. There is
not an American upon earth but who loves
land. 1t is the fact, though say SO only
in my course and vul gar why. fGreat ap.
plause.) Your ancestors, when they land
ed at Plymouth upon that famous rock,
were not long contented with that barren
spot, but proceeded in their might,a went
on progressing at Jamestown, as we'll as Mt
Plymouth, till all,the country was possess
sed by them. From the first moment thew
landed, they went on trading with the In
dians, and cheating them out Of their land.
Now, the Mexicans are no better than In.
dians; and see no reason why we should
not 60 on in the same course now, and take
their land. But these countries will be benz,
e6ted by our occupation. Look at the Cal
ifornias, Sonora, Western Mexico, New
Mexico, &c. All these vast regions, where
only few hundred thousand souls are liy-
ing in such wide dominions-where the
wild Indian extends with impunity his raw.
ges, and, unchecked, Penetrates into ths
heart of Mexico, even us far Us Potosi.
spelling and destroying as he goes along;
seizing upon the women with malicious
mines, and Incorporating them into their
tribes as wives! Let the white man--let
the American interpose; let him say to the
Indian, ''Stay, savage; we will protect
these helpless people. We will do it,
| Loud applause We are the majority,
and it must be done. 1t must be done for
the sake of humanity. l am not one of those
who delight to riot in the spoils of the poor,
and keep the people in abiect poverty and
subsection. Such, however, is the condition
of the Mexican people, exposed to constant
succession of revolutions. In TWENTY-FIVE
years Mexico has undergone twenty-five
different revolutions. They are people in
capable of self-government We are now,
in this war, engaged in giving peace, secu-
rity, and happiness to this oppressed people.
May God save the man who strives for his
country, and wither the arm of him who
fights against it! [Applause.] I do not
think the war with Mexico is such calami-
ty as it has been deprecated and deplored to
be. think differently. The ways of Prov
idence are certainly inscrutable; but 1 think
1 we may see the finger of God in this war,
giving success to our arms, and crowning
our forces with victory. | do not deplore it !;
for, though blood has flowed, and valuable
lives have been lost, yet not one act of cruel
! ty has been committed in all the victories
which our armies have gained The hui
manity has been displayed to the astonish-
: ment and admiration Of the world, and as a
model and example for all future armies
Then, Isay, the Divine Being shas been evi-
| IDENTITY carrying out the destiny of the Amer
lean race. We give to the Mexicans liberal
,1 principles; we elevate them far above what
their tyrants have done; and the day will