The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-02


hese institutions of ours may not be adapted
o every people. Our civil institutions are
rood for us because made by ourselves and
" ourselves, and we have grown up under,
nd are adapted to them. But we should re-
.icct that our institutions, like our garments,
aannot suit the taste and condition of all mon,
md capnot consistently be coerced upon
Others Liberty or religion forced upon t
scope, ceases to be either liberty or religion.
IT'S said the people Of Mexico are Ignorant,
superstitious, and degraded, and incapable
Of self.government, and in a constant state of
internal revolution and anarchy. We have
not caused that condition; then let them
alone, and do not introduce seven or eight
millions of such people, nor any part them,
10 participate in, and bring anarchy and con-
fusion into, our own affairs. Let them alone,
aud they will, necessarily, soon settle down
nto as good a government as they are fit for,
and amend it when they improve. This
principle of nation extending the blessings
ii It's own institutions by force ard c0aguc5t
has always, and in all ages, been the banc Of
nations. 1t has been the fruitful origin and
apology for nearly all thc wars that have
scourged the world. The Greeks and Ro-
mans always regarded all other nations as
barharous and therefore conquered them to
civilizc them. The swarms from the north Of
Europe and Asia, spread south on the same
principle. Ethan Allen was called Tie
Sc0mye Of GOd," doing the holy duty of VS.
iting the wrath Of God on the degenerate
nations Such was the excuse for the extern
sion of MahommedNnism by the sword such
the cause Of prosecutions. And the same cx-
-cuses or reasons were given for the invasion
and conquos! Of Mexico by Cortez, to the
eternal disgrace of the Christian name.
It is notuaeommon, in the history of p0pu-
lar governments, that an unmeanng phrase
is taken up as Il cateh-word, and becomes, for
time, more potent than argument. Some
instances of that kind might be remembered
in our own history. Much industry is now
put forth to promulgatc another such-our
destiny. | well rocoect when the phrase
was first advanced in this Hall. It was in
the discussion on Oregon. A gentleman
from Illinois, in insisting on holding up to
81 40, among other matters, claimed that we
should so hold, because it was the manifest
destiny Of this Republic to include this whole
continent. This was laughed at, and the
claim was abandoned, and all were satisfied.
1t is now often repeated, and there is fear the
people will be de.u3ed with its captivating
pretensions.
No man, whatever be his hopes and wish
es can arrogate to himself to declare our
destiny. 1t is PROCLAMATION. But, even ifany
man were endowed with the supernatural and
miraculous power to see that our destiny is
to include this hemisphere, or the whole
world, within this Government, that could
in no way justify our own proceeding to take
torciblc possession oft. Destiny must work
out its own end by its own destined means.
Even if knew was destined finally 70 own
my neighbours horse it would constitute no
reason why should steal Lin, Is it true,
that, because we are destined to own this
continent, we are also destined to disgrace
ourselves by acquiring it by violence and
blood? This plea Of destiny has, among all
bad men, in all past time, been only the veal,
and dsgraceful apology for crime It is the
convicted felon only who apologies for crime
by insisting that it was his destiny; and he
is rightly destined to disgrace.
Entertaining these views, sir. think this
wretched and ruinou5 war should be termin-
ated Immediately and entirely. The project
Of conquest Of Mexico in whole or in part,
should be abandoned, and peace be made
on that principle, which may now be done on
any day, and Our army should come home in
its glory, before that glory is furnished and
compromised by doo!s Of plumber and OPP
preston.
Let this Government retnrn once more to
the legitimate business for which it was ere
ated by the Constitution. 1t was made, not
for conquest by foreign war, bus, as the Con-
stitution declares, "to establish justice, to
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general well
fare, and to secure the blessings Of liberty to
ourselves and Our posterity"
Mr. Speaker, how much might have been
done for this country and this people, had
our action been confined to the purposes de-
clarcd in the Constitution, and had all the
money and effort expended in this war been
devoted to our own affairs Time is not
allowed me to enter upon this great subject
l can merely say, we could indeed, by Such
a course, have been made happy, cnlight-
cnel, and glorious nation.