Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-02-25

New Mexico and California. did indeed strong.
" suspect that conquest was in hand. But as we
had the repeated asseveratons the President,
disclaminy all purpose Of conquest by the war,
[ could not show, from official papers, this was
so. But how is it now
When man avows what he intends to do, il
is of no use to disavow the consequences which
must necessarily result 1t is of little use for a
man. who applies to me for matches with which
he avows that he intends to build fire under
a neighbors house. to say, at the same time
that he does not mean to burn that house -
and if furnish him the matches, I shall
be accessory to the arson. 1t is true the
President again repeats to MS that there is no
design of conquest, now. But what is asked,
and what is avowed! We are asked to grant
large supplies of men and money, that our army
may spread over all Mexico, carry the war into
her vital parts. take po7es.ion Ct all her cities,
divert all her national revenue, and keep her
Congress or government in constant state of
alarm and removal. allowing it no resting place.
Her army is already destroyed, and her capital
taken. Now. sir, | ask is not this conquest ?
Is not this the utter humiliation of that Govern
ment, so as to leave none with which treaty OF
peace or any other treaty, can be formed !? AS
well might you tell me you have no intention to
kill man, but only desire to fire five balls and
run few bayonets through his vital parts, to in
duce him to enter upon terms of peace and
friendship with you. as good neighbor
But il has been fully ascertained by the party
sustaining the Executive, that it is really no
longer either practicable or desirable to disguise
the true intent and purpose of all this proceeding.
They consider that such progress has been made,
and the interest Of SO many has been enlisted,
and so much reliance may be placed on the bad
passions that may be addressed, and the delu-
sions which may be successfully practised upon
the people, that the political masquerade need
be sustained no longer. When we consider all
the elements which enter into the causes to con-
tlnue this war, and to prosecute and continue the
career of unlimited conquest it is indeed alarm
ing. 1t is said to the community it is easier to
90 on than to 90 back. Before the military off.
GERS. or those who hope TO be such, dance vice.
royalties for them in Mexico, in the governor
ship and territorial officers there, by us, to be
established, or in civil promotion, at home; to
the Executive, the unlimited extension of its pat
ronage, power, and future renown; to the spec.
u'ator rich government contracts to the mo-
ney-man and stockiobber the unlimited cxten.
sion, sale, and shaving of public stocks and pub
lie securities; TO the ship owners. wealth and
employment in the transportation of troops and
munitions of war, by which they have already
fattencd; to the restless, adventure and to the
malicious and contemplate, the constant graf
ihcation oftheir insoence by abusing men and
calling them scoundrels and traitors to their
country :-meanwhile the qniet honest citizen
is to be kept satisfied and gratiied with the de-.
fusion of indemnity, clated with the splendor of
military victories, and intoxicated with the gilt
ter, eclat. and shout of military glory. Gentle
men holding positions in that august body in the
other end of this capital, address large popular
assemblies in spirit.strrng eloquence, goading
them on to the career of unlimited acquisition.
BY military conquest. Indeed the masque OF
disguise has become too transparent to be retain
ed and the chairman ofthe Committee of For
eign Relations in the Senate, holding that posi-
ton OF intimacy and confidence with the Exec
utlve has. in the most unqualified terms, avowed
it in his place in the Senate, as the wellsettled
principle of American Repubcanisn, to take by
force of arms whatever territory they desire.
which they cannot obtain by negotiation. This
declaration, startling it is is but dropping the
mask, and openly avowing the principle which
has, in fact, directed this whole affair with Mex
leo.
1t can hardly be expected that should enter
into deliberate argument to rctute doctrine
so monstrous, and unworthy even of the most
blrbarous age and yet have heard no reproba-
ton of it. | call on all who have any respect
for the character of our fathers, who in their
Declaration of Independence paid prospect TO
the opinions humankind " in the declaration of
their purposes, and called on God to prosper the
right call upon the Executive, and those who
have thus far sustained it, (who have thus far
shown some respect to the opinion of mankind
by Disgusting so long the purpose of conqnesD
to utterly disavow such sentiment, and to
abandon their project of conquest, so ruinous
and dsgraceful. call on all honest men, ofall
sects, and who have within them any respect
for truth and Justice, or the love or fear OF God,
of such sentiment from the character Of this
country, ard save us from pollution.
would speak with GOODNESS on every topic of
discussion in this House but, when Ihave seen
train ofevents, all tending to one result, long
pursued, and have seen, step by step, the public
mind led on and prepared for it, and then at last
have witnessed the announcement OF so shock
ing and monstrous principle, cannot disguise
my adherence and Indignation.
Here Mr.. Mckay proposed to explain, and
said the member of the Senate. alluded to- had
since explained himself, and held only that for
chile possession could be taken of the territory
, to do which was a claim of right.
! have not seen that explanation; ! speak of
what appeared in the official Senate report; but
| do not now perceive that, if the explanation
is what the gentleman states, it amounts to
much as we have but to pretend some claim to
any country, and proceed to conquerit it. But
really, what claim have we to Mexico, or any
part of it, which we are proceeding to conquer
will now proceed to state, in as summary
and distinct manner as the remainder of my
hour will allow, my views and objections to ac-
QUESTION by conquest. Let me be here under
stood, that in the remarks now make am in
no way speaking Of, or Directing to, the extern
sion of territories by just fair and honorable
means. When the opportunity of a peaccable
purchase presents, it then becomes mere ques-
ton of eNpediency. When from an admiration
of our character and institutions, and an honest
desire to participate in their blessings a neigh
boring country, ofits own accord, should solicit
a union with our national family, it might pre-
sent strong claim ON our m tgnanimity to adj
nit it. My present purpose is to state my OBJ
iectlons to extension OF our country by force OF
arms, by conquest.
NV first objection is that il is gross violation
of the fundamental principle OF our government
We have declared to the world that every people
have right to the government of their own
choice and we have erected our Government
on that principle. When we proceed by force
to take any Inhabited country, and hold it in
possession, we compel those people to submit to
a government which is not of their choice and
we take into our country and Government peo-
pie unacauainied with, and unfrendly TO our
! institutions, and show to the world that our con-
duct is utterly inconsistent with our profess
! ions.
Nv next objection is, that, by conquerng