Democratic banner., 1848-04-24
THE WAR wFrH MExICO.
OF HON. o. B. FICKLIN, OF
ILLINOIS.

THE WAR WITH MEXECOs
SPEECH OF HON. o. B. FICKLIN, OF
ILLINOIS,
In the House Of Representatives., March2 9,
l84s, In Committee Of he WAoLe On The
state Of the Union, on the BIZ further
to. supply dsfcieneies in the ~appfogy1a-
Hums for the fiscal gear ending June,3J,
lS4S. H
Mr.. FICKLfN said:
Mr.. CHAIRM&N, We are aagaged in a
war with Mexico, which has been solemn.
ly declared by a portion of one of the great
political parties In this country to be an un-
just war. l say, by a portion of that party,
because there are a very great number Of
them in the West, in my district, and in the
very town where l reside, who are as true
and as thorough friends of the war as can
be found IN the Democratic ranks. They
are for a vigorous prosecutions of the war,
for ample indemnity in land, if nothing else
can be had, for past wrongs, and for ample
security against future injuries. Many Of
them have been TO the war, have shared its
pprils, both in and out of battle ; some of
them are buried in Mexico; nut those who
have retured to their homes are out and cut
war men. Iwouid like to name some Of
them, but in doing so, would exclude 9th:
ers equally meritorious. These Wings &C.
lcupy the position of the Wings Of the Rev.
~olution; they are on the side Of their coun-
try, and are fighting its battles, and we'll de-
serve the proud name which their party ha,
assumed. They have my thanks and my
E~sympathies.
The M~exicansare a peculiar people, a
strange compounded color, language, hab-
its and religion. With a population Of eight
millions, but one million is of the pure white
blood, two millions of the mixed blood, and
the reminder Use millions) are Indians
There, as here, the white skin is the pat.
ent Of nobility; but the mixed races there
are not Is they are with us-excluded from
social and political intercourse. The mike
ed races are dividetinto castes-Mestizost
Mulattses, and Z~anboes. Politically, they
dyssded INTO MEQsr chists, Ce1ES lists
sd yaefsi RspsssEss :;ssdsT@ =
4hS ciergy hold the purse and wieldthe
Einohey power. and own % far from one
haf 8 Tuke whole knded property Of the
couHtrf. The soldiery is more or less de-
ipenHens upon them; and those two classes
the priestin his robes, and the officer with
This sword and epukts-constitute 4 Brivis
order, and have immunities pndtex-
efnptions Secured 70 them by law The
tiaergy and the army cannot be tried for
Urine, or be madesto pay a debt, SJ the
,epmmon courts of tie country;b but the form-
er are tried by the ecclesiastical ard the
Halter by q militsrycourt. a.
The masses are merit, idle, ignorant, de-
fgra1ed, and supersttious, and have for cen-
turies been the dupis and timid slaves Of
an army Of cunninspriests; and, no matter
which party or faction may be nj the as
cendant, the massesef breathing butworth.
less people are feeeed and imfosedsoD
The power Of. thkpriesthosdisss sbso-
lutte in politics is II religion, and IN this
way they have established q despciismovet
the souls and bodietof their church menu
bers. The Ignorance and superstition of
the masses have enaBed their rulers to dupe
them in a war with be United States.
Some Of them are Efiesedtosbe descehds
ants Of the CeltiberiIns, who are said ney-
cr to have sighed In Heath; jet bur troops
haye found them as csswsrdIy when facing
an armed warrior as hey wsrssnrslshting
lover a fallen foe; and he Ckssiisn blood,
so much .suiegizedb ysu1 ppponentss hss
fled as soon d charged5fthe 6Fisni1gA
onets Of Americas soldtsfss lie Bat,
ttAe-uf Ssn JaEsYto to tildse at Hi ais5 d
Mexicc, they have been toussd sAadefeek
led, Avs and spm.6pesss zone tx.
AAns aud byscufstfoops. itFSSfsfsafeshd n.
.fared years since Corte1 nfkds ait.ipsnpIl.
sns marchyfro ON the Gulf 10 tie Hs
found the masses ignorant, Aspefstttieu4 apd
teGssninats thsn,tand they akess6Se 3Es
nines and sgricnitafsf P5uch TIE
HSountry reddsr 4 iaTslu1Sl hatiof
.aposssasing snsrsys nt G U.
ltMsxicaasj tia I'M li1spids tdHica