Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-02-24

Mexico, he nigh, be capable Of an attempt 10
appropriate to himself his neghbor's farm.
In the total absence of any argument that
can Justify the war in which we are now in-
volyed resort has been had to most extraor-
dinary assertion. 1t is said, that the people oil
the United Stares have an hereditary superlorI-
~ of race over The Mexcaus. which gives them
the righ, TO subuga'e and keep in bondage the
Inferior na,ioI. This it is also alleged. will
be the means of enlrgh'ening the degraded
Mexicans, of improving their social state, and
of ultimately increasing the happiness OF the
masses. .fs -
Is ii compatible with the spirit of Democracy,
which rejects every hereditary claim Of lndl-
viduals, 10 admit an hereditary superiority OF
races Al this time the claim is but preiexi
for covering and juslilying unius. usurpa'ion
and unbounded ambition.
Blu, admitting with respect TO Mexico. the
superiority of race, this confers no superiority
Of rights. Among ourselves. the most ignorant,
'he mos, inferior. either in physical or mental
faculties, is recognized having equal rights
and he has an equal vote with any one, how
ever superior TO him in all those respects. This
is founded on The mmuabe principle iha,
one man is born with The right OF governing an
other man. He may indeed, acquire moral
influence over others, and no other Is legitimate
The same principle will apply to naons.-
However superior the Anglo American race
may be to that of Mexico, this gives the Amer
leans no right to infringe upon ,he rights of an
inferior race The people of the Uniied States
may rghfully, aud will, # they nse The proper
means, exercise most beneficial moral influ-
ence over The Mexicans and other less enlight-
ened nations of America. Beyond this they
have no righ. to 60.
! The allegation ,ha, the subjugation Of Mexi-
co would be the means of enlighlening the Mex
/ leans, Of improving their social slate and OF ia
creasing their happiness is but the shallow at
temp, TO disguise cupdi'y and ambition. Truth
never was, Or can be propogated by fire and
sword, or by any other than purely moral means
By these, and by these alone, the Christian re-
llgion was propaga;ed, and enabled. in less ihan
three hundred years 10 conquer idola'ry. Dur
ing The whole of thai period, Christianity was
tainted by no o:her blood than that of It's mar.
iyrs.
The duties OF The people Of The United States
toward other nations are obvious. Never los
ing sight OF The Divine precept, "Do 10 others
as yon would be done by" they have only to
consult their own conscience. For our benev
olent Creator has implanted in The hearts o
men the moral sense Of right and wrong, ant
that sympathy for Other men, the evidences o
which are of daily occurrence.
! Il seems unnecessary TO add anything re
specliug that false glory which, from habit ant
the general tenor of our early education we art
taught TO admire. The task has already beer
, repeatedly performed, in far more able ant
impressive manner, than anything could sa!
; on The subject. Ii is sufficient TO say that, a
this time, neither the dignity or honor of th
nation demand farther sacrifice of Invaluable
5 lives, or even of money The very reverse 1
7 the case The true honor and dignity of lh
S nation are inseparable from justice. Pride ant
, vanity alone demand The sacrifice Though 81
, dearly purchased, the astonishing success q
! The American arms have al least put ii In lh
power of The United Sales 10 grant any term
] of peace, without incurring The impula'lon o
, being ac,uaed by any but the most elevated
D motives. |, would seem tina, the most prou'
!, and vain must be satla,ed with glory, and tha
the mos, reckless and beIlicose should be sui
\ ficienlly glul,ed with human gore.
n A more truly glorious termination Of III
i war, more splendid spectacle, an exampl
moro hi ghy useful To mankind al large, canno
r well be conceived, than that of the victorIou
: forces of The United States voluntarily aban
S doning all their conquesis, without reqnirln
$ any.hlng else than that which was strictly du
: ~ oug cllizens.