The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-01-21
The Mexican War and the Wings,


papers see long and labored articles, char
Slng upon our government gross wicked
ness because they do not withdraw our
troops from Mexico without indemnify
cohtending that to dismember Mexico of
any OF her territory would be an act of in
Justice and wickedness without parallel.
That the authorities of Mexico have robbed.
imprisoned, and murdered our citizens
through long series of years, is nothing /;
that they have ii'sulted and rejected our
ministers, is nothing; that they commenced
hos,llitleS upon our armies, is nothing; that
they have violated all their treaties and
phghted faith in every way and form with
us, is nothing; that we have expended all
immense amount Of treasure in the war
forced upon us by Mexico, is nothing: that
thousands of the sons Of liberty--patriots
who loved their country better than life,
spirits who worshipped at the shrine of Lib
ty-highminded souls who would have
scorned the very name Of ali American who
| could so bemean himself as to take part
with the enemies OF our beloved country in
tline OF war-have sacrificed their lives.
and Tor whose loss the nation mourns and
the heart OF every patriot bleeds--all is no.
thing. Mexico has nothing TO pay with.
they say, and to take away her territory
would be so wicked and unjust--to annex
any of that happy people TO our wicked CO.
vernment-why, iii wouldbe really horrible I,
! But let us seriously, spassionately. and
Invested OF all political prejudice examine
this matter In the commencement of this
war, congress, with unanimiry almost un :
paralelled IN the history of legislation. de-
! rlN rsH bo
acts OF Mexico. Almost every wing paper
IL the Union took strong grounds against
Mexico and in favor of prosecuting the war.
Not solitary paper in the Union, at that
time, so far as know and believe. dared 10
say one word in justification of Mexico. All
or nearly all the leaders of the wing party
spoke and wrote in favor of prosecuting the
war, and Henry Clay, who now says the
war is wicked, unjust, nncalled for, and
brought on by the acts of President Polk
then said the war was brought on by Mex
lc9, and III speech at New Orleans. said,
f'Alter condemang the Mcxcans and sustain
ing the justice of the war on our part, that
I he ielf, II he was few years younger. as If
| ne could ask some corner in the army that
he might help TO avenge his couutry's
wronSs-lhat he might ut least kill one
| Mexican. a mighty change has come over
the spirit of his dream. II is hardly posi-
! bic to believe that Henry Clay has made
| two speeches on the same subject so dia
( meiIically opposite, and that all the wing
leaders and papers, with few honorable
! exceptions, have been equally inconsistent.
But such is the fact, and why? Why this
/ change! Why this attack upon the govern
] g Il, 4
acts Of Mexico. Here comes the only an
s"er that can be given. A presidential G.
lection is coming en-, and unprincpled men.
who are willing TO barter the property. well
| being. and honor Of their country for power,
think they can ride into power upon this
! an'i-war cry. What reason do they give
for this mighty change that has come over
them: Not one-not an attempt at one.
| 1t is charged upon our government that
| tEey intend TO annex the whole of Mexico.
and kind of holy horror is manifested 10.
wards all ac, Of such awful wickcdness. !
tateit, if this is such an awful act of wick
/ ednoSs, that injustice aud wrong mus be
! done to the people somewhere. But no al.
! tempt is made TO show who are to be the
/ sufferers. or where or how any body is TO he
| injured, except that Mr.. Clay SAYS this
! Mexican country would be great trouble
10 us because they are different people
and speak different language, and we
would therefore have to keep n standing
army. Now if this is all the Injustice
wrong, and wickcdness of the nct. ] think
It should be committed. il might he atoncd
for. Let us oanddly and carefully look at
this matter The government of Mexico
! Of the rule and ruin of robbers can I've call
ed government is the most oppressive, m
Just, and ari>tocra'ic, and partial in lis ad
minstra'on. of any government on earth
that pretends to civilization. Aud this is
the boastcd republic of Mexico The scrfs
OF Russia have more independence and lib.
CITY than the common people in this Wanted
republic Of Mexico. These are facts, no, fc
ton. | speak from absolute knowledge
| have been there when they were at peace
with all nations, and tell you the common
people are the most oppressed that eyis,
under any government claiming TO be civil.
lied. ] know the inhabitants of this conn.
try, who have not particularly examined
Mexican affairs, living under republican
government themselves, take il for granted
that the inhabitants Of republic must be
free and independent. But ! tell YOU the
inhabitants of Mexico are far from it, The
common people are infinitely worse Off thar
the slaves ia our southern sta,es--worse
fed, worse clothed. and worse cared for il
every respect. They are sldrcs-b bought
and sold like our cattle. The land is own.
ed by rich lordS-Somc of them owning
tracts two or three times rs big rs La Sail,
county. aud il is stocked with these slave,
Ms man here stocks his farm with cattle
These slaves have no, only to work for. bu
10 fight for this lor! Of the land, whenever
some other gentleman robbcr Genes will
his slaves in arms TO make him pay tribute
The difference between the condition of the
negro slave Mt the south and the common
atty of Mexico is this. There the slave /,
allowed small pi,,ance, and this he mus,
live upon. starvc. or steal as best he ran
Here IT negro slave runs away, the owner
must lose or look him up; there the au
thori,ies are bound to look him up aud return
him to the owner at the public expense
They do not call this slavery, but SLAYER,
It is, and of the most 0bsoln,c aud abiec
kind. II is arranged in this way. Tn,
laws Of Mexico authorize the sale OF person.
for their debts. The common people ar,
extremely ignorant, and this law has beer
praciiscd upon until this class are nearly nj
. ,lnycS Jhny aro bniJ ,h,nI,,,t,. L.. H..