The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-03-28

T.
drmnity consisted in military glory, IN the br1l-
1 liancv of our achievements, III the exmDition
q: orr power. in the results OF our splendid
military career. | agree, sir, with the hon
orable Senator, that this is all the indemnity
which we can get; and | believe If the hon
or.,ble Senator were Eow present lie "ouiu
arrce with me that, if this Is to be our III
demn;tv. in Gods name, we have had enough
gift. Sir Is there any new llStre 10 DE au-
del TO our career of conquest, any new or az
,I;tional reputation 10 be acqured-is IT neces-
sary in order to yiIdicate the honor OF tins he
subtle, that we should proceed to tr;iinple I'M
der foot. TO denationalizc and reduce TO per-
petual subsection, a foe who has lost the pow
cr of resistance? Sir, | am 50 unioriuha'e
that | have not looked upon the glory ana
s,;endor of military achievements with the
Same sentiment Of unmin.lcd admiration rs
others NAV have done. | am constrained to
saw that have turned disguised from the re-
voting tales of human Slaughter which the
history of this war presents. SIR, have been
DISPOSED to ask, in the name Of the conntry-
in the name of Christian pcopic-n the
name of humanity-ycs, sir IN the name OF
humanitv's Cod, for what rational purposes
are those scenes of human bulchery cnarted
Sir. when am tod that the Object Is the glo-
nv of military achievements, | confess that my
feelings revolt at it. No, sir, ii tins be the
purpose, in Heavens name lie; as he satisfied
wi h what we have done. Let IL pursue this
object no further What opinions must be
entertained in other quarters Of the world III
relation to this Mexican war: 1T must he re-
carried As war for national p!undcr-l was
about to say, oinafional piracy. AMI. instead
o. aiding to the honor of 4 nation, 1t Will call
down upon Us, if persisted in, the excavations
of the civilized world. But, sir, | leave tins
part Of the subject.
Mr.. President it is somewhat amusing to
witness tic various phases which tins subject
has assumed In Nav. 1876, VIC were told
American blood had been shed upon Amei1-
can soil. We were told that the honor OF the
nation was involved. and we were called upon
!. TO VOC for declaration of war, because the
indemnity viii II had been inflicted upon us by
III. shedding of American biool upon Anlerl-
can soil called loudly for retri5aton- But.
sir. soon this Lccamc 4 war Of Indemnity
W. were pursuing This war for the purpose Of
inleninifyin~ ourselves for claims which cur
citizens had arslinst Mexico; and while we
were pursuing it for Ibis purrosc, and Justify
inn II upnn this ground, We were told that
Mrxiro herself began it; As if the process Of
Collecting this debt had began, not on TIC part
or tn. creditor. but Of the debtor. Blu we
were ,oon tod that To i'll lcninity could be had
c7ce i hy the acquisition Of territory; TIA;
Nexro had m other means Tor in'cniniifih@
IL. We were next further informed that We
mast ocruI,r al Mexico in order to distress
her and bring her totcrnS; vet tii:S Was no
"a. .or conquest. Yes, sir, 4 year ago we
were told HAT It vas not var Of conquest
but war for indemnity. Now, after the
ss.cesyes of the last campaign, &c are told that
II Is etiil a war for indcuritv-not for con
auc.t: but that we must hold On 10 what we
have cot and when sc get possession OF the
rest of Mexico. we can thcn determine for
ourselves whether we viii kept. Here Is
subtle distinction. Il IS acquiring the terrific
rv of nc;ghLoring nation by force, and Ike p
inrit bv force. but i; i; not conquest. 1t Is
a distinction Lctwcen robLing your nclglbor, |
and seizinp him and taxing from him by force
the contents o, his porkct. What next?
We arr. nov told that the object is the con
o-ia,t Of MEXICO, AMI the wioie Of Mexico
The wise distinction 70 which have adycr:ed
has become Obsolete lis Eow conquest
and conquest w,lhou. II: declaration of 4 pur-
pose. under any circumstances, or at any
time. to r.linqui,h orr acquisitions. Tie
honor .blc Chairman o. the Committee on
Military .Alla;rs. if understood him, SAID that
.ie purpose is the conquest ofthc country and
that wlcfhcr We shall retain il or not, When
conquered, IS i question to be settled hereai-
ter.
NJ. CAsS. If:ae honorable Senator vii!
nllo-. me: said TINT the object was conquest,
with a view ofconqucring peace.
Mr.. PHELPS. All IL is a conquest of the
conntr, for the purpose OF cOnquering peace
VIII the honorable Senator tell ne how the
conquest of he country is TO result in the con-
quest of peace? You propose the occupation
OF the whole country, 70 displace its govern
ment to seize lis revenues, to take ITS people
under vnur protection. You leave no Gov
eminent 70 make peace with. lou deal with
the people. and not with their Government
Yoa have taken possession of portion Of
their territory, and we are advised by the Pres
idlcnt hot TO surrender it, hut TO extend our
laws over it. Sir. if peace is 20 be attained in
-l,is way, it must by the utter extinction Of
Mexican ROVER. \ peace 10 be acquired IN
this wav is a peace to be obtained by annihi-
fa!inr the power which IS opposed TO YOU
We are 10 Place them in condition in which
they cannot resist. ard VIC shall be 1t rest be-
c2rsc their power Of resistance IS extinct.
can come 20 70 0;hcr conclusion.
Bat Sir the object i now stated in some
quarters iobc the conquest of The country, not
for the sake of indemniy-,l;t has become an
Nub;p!etc idea Lu. It is to be a conquest for the
baaect of Mexico. Yes. sir, we must conquer
the country for the purpose of putting that ma
ton to school. We must assume a guardian
snip over .hem.dnd thus put an end to their dis
sen; sons When we have reformed their hab-
its. and sufficiently in-locirina:c;l them at the
,.2ia, o he bqyonet into our customs and habits
an political creed, and qualified them for self
government by the saluiary influence ofmillta-
~ sa,iueation, we are then to declare them of
age, and eniancipate them. five please Now.
this last object, this newly-lisroverrd pHrrose
for which this Mexican war is prosecuted, has
this one quality TO recommend tit is phan-
/ thro1c. 1t is not obnoxicus TO the objections
( which have urged against the pursuit Of mill
I tary g!ory-the wholesale slaughter of hunan
I beings for the honor of the deed; ior war, how
I ever glorious and dazzling NAV he scmc of It's