Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-22

tu0 .iiic1tcaii PdlItOt -WHtlc tiiSy reserve
all their feelings and pity for "poor Mex
leo, and care no'hing a. al about the Uni
ted States and their own country. ! say
that ynn have got good bargain IN get
ting Texas, aud /, who say this, think !
can prove il and make you believe i. As
surely AZ Ia. morrow's sun will rise and
pursue its bright course along the firma-
ment IL heaven. SO certain, il appears to
nv mind, must the Anglo Saxon race per.
wade M. whole southern extremity ofthis
vat continent, and the people whom God
ha, placed here in this land, spread and
nrevaii throuhout the whole rich en-
pire sef this great hemisplre. The map.
ner Of the eonsummation Of this grand
s.salt, cannot predict; but there il az in
stinrt in the American people which
inpels them onward, which win lead them
10 preva.le this continent,to develop its re-
sources, to clvilize its people. and receive
the rich bounties oftLe creating power Of
Divine Providence. There is another
confederation in this respect, which is
conclusive to my mind. The Americans
regard this continent as their birth-Tight.
The seed Of their settlements was town
IL blood and wa.ered BY blood. The pi-
uneers who went forward into the wilder
ness poured out their hearts blood to
prepare the country for their poster,ty;
their scalps were taken by the Indians;
they sacrificed their life's blood 10 acquire
the poss. ssion which we enjoy. If all
these difficulties and sacrifices did not
terrify the bold pioneers, tho success Of
centuries only tends to confirm what they
began, and noting can prevent our nigh
" march. There is another considera-
ton. You, here, frllow.ciiizens, are liv-
ing in cities, in the enjoyment Of all the
blessings and comforts Of civilizations;
but if you undertake to 60 into the wilder
.ness, into the domain Of the wild beast,
and begin to pursue the game, to plant
plantations - when you see the farm, the
field, the arden,springing up around you,
YOUR feelings will become attached 10 the
land; il will Undue your hearts; you will
catch the contsgion Of the frontier settler;
YOU will not be able to escape it. You
may escape the smallpox, but you can
never escape the contagion ofland-loving.
AS sure as you live, it will become part
Of your nature. There is not All Ameri.
can upon earth but who loves land. tits
the fact, though lsay SO only inmy coarse
and vulgar way. Great applause Your
ancestors. when they landed at Plymouth,
upon that famous rock, were no longer
cou.ented with tina; barren spot, but pro.
decided in their might, and went on pro-
crossing at Jamestown, as well as at Ply
mouth, till the country was possessed by
them. From the first moment they land
ed, they wen, OH trading with the Indians,
and cheating them out Of their land. Now,
the Mexicans are no better than Indians;
aud see no reason why we should not
90 on in the same course now; and take
their land. But these countries will be
benefited by our occupation. Look at
the CALIFORNIA;, Sonora, Western Mexico,
New Mexico, Sc. All these vast regions,
where only few hundred thousand souls
are living in such wide dominions--where
the wild Indian extends with Impunity
his ravsgee, and. unchecked, pene,rates
into the heart of Mexico, even as far as
PotOsi, spelling and destroying as he goes
along; seizing upon the women with ma
licious minds, and incorporating them in
to their tribes as wives! Let the white
man-let the American interpose; let him
say to the Indian, "StAy, savage; we will
protect these helpless people. We will do
it.''-- Loud applause. We are the ma
iori,y, and it must be done. 1t must be
done for the sake Of humanity. am not
one Of those who delight to riot IN the
spoils Of the poor, and keep the people in
atjeet poverty and subsection. Such,
however, is the condition of the Mexican
people, exposed to constant succession
of revolutions. In twenty five years
Mexico has undergone twenty five differ
cnt revolutions.-They are people inca
pable Of self government. We are now in
this war, engaged in giving peace, secu
ri,y, and happlnessto this oppressed PEG
pie. May God save the man who strives
for his country, ana wi,her the arm OF him
who fights against il! [Applause.] do
not think the war with Mexico is such
calamity as it has been deprecated and de.
plored 10 be. think differently. The
ways Of Providence are certainly inscru-
tible; but think we may see the finger
Of God in this war, giving success to our
arms, and browning our forces with vic
tory. ! do not deplore it, for, though
blood has flown and valuable lives have
been lost, yet not one act Of cruelty has
been committed in all the victories which
cur armies have gained. Their humanity
has been displayed to the astonishment
and admiration OF the world and as mod.
Ell and example for all future armies.
Then, l say, the Divine Being has been
evidently carrying out The destiny Of the
American race. We give 10 the Mexi.
cans liberal principles; we elevate them
far above what their tyrants have done,
and the day will come when they will
bless the Americans as their friends and
libesstors until time shall cease. The
President must not be left alone in this
great work. We must hold up his arm,
give solace to his heart, support him in
Ills course, to give continued triumph to
,ur armies, and success 10 our institH-
lions.
Though I am not pious. vet as sinner |