Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-07-27

From it, il from any part OF Gus system, the
people may expect to be preyed upon by the
brood OF ambitiou-usurpetiOn at home and
conquests abroad. IL gathers aroaud itself the
standing army OF sycophanis who "crook the
pregnant hinges OF the knee hat thrift may fol-
low awning 1t hopes toatiract to itself
the renown OF military annals. and is sure to
WELD the inhibited authority OF military
! force.
Yet now, when this ranch Of government
has so far developed its sfupendous faculty
for mischief, that The two latest aud weakest
Presidents OF them all have made Congress
the mere puppet Of their caprice, it Is propo-
posed BY some who call ,hemselvts democrats
TO select d man tor Pest who has advocated
or acquesced in whatever prerogatiye has been
exercised, in the pride aud plentitude Of pres
idenIial power, whether legitimate or usur-
ped.
But the other evil ofthe times, which needs
redress,is not less grave than this. We have
taken the FIRST step ina career OF conquest
Turbulent spirits are making ready Tor anoth
er foray. The doctine OF conquest. openly
or uudsr hin DISCUSSES, hiss received counte-
nance IN the highest places. One of the last
events of the official lie Of Gen. C1s7 (Which
recently ended) was his advocacy of the
military occupation OF Yucatsn. He strongly
pressed the war with the Mexican Republic,
and minated his readiness to Swallow" the
whole Of NJ xteo. little earlier be had
been among the FRS foremost. and last OF
those who, upon the Oregon QUESTION, cried
upon the house tops I'D 40 or fight In re-
lation 10 war and conqus 81, although he has
not taken the field, his thoughts for some years
have been prone To- evil and that oontinually.
Among those who taught that "the heats
OF the people should be prepared for war;, he
has been The prime oracle the principal
chief IN their war dance. lie has been, at
secure distance hloin battle, the Cory haeus
of senatorial warriors. Ii we mike hi Pres
dent, We sanction the ELDEST lust of war and
conquest.
The spread of our territory by force of arms
has been impousy styled our manifest DIES
tiny" II it be SO. it is equally true that the
destiny 10 commit crime is a destiny to incur
punishment-the destiny to rush upon ma
tional iolly,i also destiny to end in national
ruin. The sycophants who cali the voice of
the people the voice OF God, believe that a
majority of cur people are resolved o conquer,
and this resolution they call destiny. But it
remains to b. seen whether majority oil this
nation are given over to an inevitable" lust
Of domii N.
We are told. that to sublue oar neighbors
is to "extend tie area OF freedom" and ;his
is the fashionable veil of the new and hideous
doctrine OF conquest But freedom marches
under no banner but that of peace. The
sword is tyrant, 1t may subiugate: it can
not entranchise. Its iron despotlsm is some
times necessary in "a struggle with tyrant,
but it must be sheathed as soon the stern
necessity is past or lis next victim will be
liberty. 1t can never be the instrument of
republic to propagate freedom among men.
Under the peaceful, just and wise policy OF
| Washington and most OF his successors, our
country had emancipatel the whole CONT
nenl OF South America and Mexico herself,
had demolished the old lyrannies of Europe
and made ii impossib. for new ones 10 en-
/ dure, had elevated millions from bondage and
had in truth made the principles of liberty for
mida bic throughout the earth, triumphant for
.Il, 4: 4 q
of freedom and this was achieved by the sub
lime example of people the most free aud
yet the most happy, government the most
popular aud yet the most benefeent, nation
the most powerful and yet the least agsres-
sive.
We have tried one war Tor conquest. Whal
have we gained? Glory, deb, taxation,
widows, orphans, invaijs and wilderness OF
savsges. Mexico has given US the wilderness
upon our agreeing to pay her $4,000, 900 as
indemnity Tor the past and to save her from
the savases security Tor the future" We
would have been still kinder 10 that misera
Bile nation if we hal conquered il altogether.
but our own people could i'll afford 10 take the |
conquest.
In this war we have indeed gained spen-
did military renown. But our country could /
better have spared the gIories Of Buena Wis
ia and Churubusco, than the sons whose lives
have purchased them. Sac had already Bun
ker Hill and Yorktown, Niagara and New Or
leans, all fresh in the worlds memory. Till