Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-12


ogade step in the onward progress Of civilization and hui
manity. II misuse, total peryerson Of rich re-
sources instruction of aims The cultivation OF the
of peace, of reproductions OF multiplication, Of CREATION
were now recognised all hands best suited the genius
and enterprsing pint of people, To cultivate war; in
preference inversion of craftsmanship unworthy Of
the nineteenth century, and against the preceps of Christi
any. 1t called great civilized and Christian nation to turn
the poughshare into the sword The policy of this people
by natural growth and by accreon, not to
spread by acquisition and conquest The very publicity mat
necessarily attended the operations of republican govern
utterly opposed to the policy Of acqulsitve war;
which must have been planned in darkness. But was not
thing to be wondered at that Administration which was
direct hostility TO the encouragement of the useful arts ana
the protection Of domestic industry should seek to divert pub
lie attention from It's selfish and ambitious policy by holding
up the nse Of military glory and waving before the gaze Of
the people the false and mere,cous spendor of foreign con-
quest and thus finding out and guilty employment io
hands which lis had taken from the industrial oc
equations and pursuits private @ An effort had been made
hide the turpude OF this Of aggression by exaggatng
the wrongs had experienced from the Mexcans and the
glory to be acquired by victory them. The South
told that the Of the contest would provide ample
space for the spread and the confirmed establishment slavery
and eectualy dissipate the deusive hope with which
Mr. Walkers letter had cheated the Democracy OF the
North while at the time the North encouraged by
the hope that the Wmo poviso would be grated some
of the bills and would thereby practically prevent the
further extension of slavery Those who had clothed two
nations in scarlet and dipped their hands in the blood each
other hoped to blind the Of the people Of this country
by dazzling them with the prospect Of admitting the East In
dia trade into the ports of California.
Mr.. M. said he the apoogs Of Mexico he enter
tanned admiration for her character he disposed to
deny that she had done great wrong and could hope
less than he did from country under the double burden oil
the despotsm of soery and the desposm of priests The
Mexicans were technically the enemies OF his country and
he wished for them trophies erected at expense but
the other hand he had sympathy with men VINO would
visit the sins of aspiring and cruel leaders on The poor de-
graded beings who but the passive instruments oil their
tyranny and hellbon ambition who scorned the CIVIC vco-
OF md had To-
and reckless soldier. Mr.. NJ had wish to see Mexican
converted into widows, and their cities given to the
fame He had rather his country would ST down IN nom
est shame than enjoy the guilty glory OF having by awess
violence spread her dominion this entire continent One
murder made villain, athousand made herr but the states
who sat cooy down in the secuson Of his closet and
planned of party ambition, and the hoheaded ruler
whose orders bathed land in blood bu wholesale man
sayers whom Of carnage and obstruction could
convert into heroes Bonapare, the greatest captain
the world had seem turned pale, and wept and embed on
discovering that by order rashy given to crafty woman
with the sight of battlefield he had shortened though but
for few days. the lives Of many of his faithful soldiers but
what compuncous vng what gracious drops OF generous
repentance had this Administration ever exhibited at the
sweeping slaughter in the Of Monterey the crushing OF
and children the bombardment OF Vera Cruz at the
pestence of the camp, sweeping thousands into an ngor-
grave the tears and mourning that were 70 De
witnessed in the highways Of this metropolis
But while discussing the question OF morals involved In
the prosecution Of this would be well to inquire INTO
the origin, the which was to be found In the
| annexation Of Texas.
Perhaps the hare act Of annexation ITSELF apart from the
motives which led it, and the by which twas effect
ed, might not warrant declaration of the part OF
Mexico. To determine this point 1t was requisite that we
should know than would, in all probability be ever
known by the present generation touching the relations Of
Mexico her revolted province. II might he urged that
Texas the time actually independent and 1t was pos
sbe though the fact had been prove that her
volt from under the Mexican authority justified by her
msrule and oppression but ground Of Judgment must
have respect the motives and the means which produced
her annexation 10 this Union The motive the avowed mo-
tive to prevent the abolition of slavery IN Texas and to
get space for extending and Strengthening that nsttu
ton. The annexation held to be Necessary the
ry Of the stakeholder Indispensable in order to the
securing Of his rights guaranteed by the constitution and
the inference drawn from these premises was that therefore
the General Government bound aid in the project II
that tmd suggestion had been added to the
probable loss Of great market for Northern manufacturers
and humbug gotten up about Texas being TO
the Union OF Strengthening the defence oil an ex-
posed frontier and make weight there had been thrown
in apprehension of the power of British influence which
would he exered there should annexation not be effected but
he passed all these considerations, because though h might
possibly be successful in quilting such persons hal been
simple enough 10 give credence 10 the Kane letter. assuring
them that Mr. Polk great friend to protecting domestic
industry yet it perfectly notorious that they had
awaited confluence a single in Congress. Congrs had
had before it the naked question a Southern questnas
the question Of slavery. The question before them had been
whether this General Government not called upon
to support and strengthen that institution by giving space
for greater extension Up TO that time had always been
contended by the South, and generally admitted by the Noh
that the General Government had jurisdiction as to slavery;
but had been well said by another, in their overeated
ZEAL the friends Of annexation conceded principle which the
aboonss had not been slow to take advantage Of that
Congress had the right Of legislation subject which had
hitherto been confined exclusively the legislative power Of
| the States
Mr. W. said he should undertake to discuss the
subject Of slavery, either christian uncbnstian
institution He had formed opinion on that subject,
which remained unchanged in spite of the theological gu
men which had been made this floor, and the proofs in
its favor which had then been adduced from holy and
which, If certain indications and limitations worthy of
confidence 10 be repeated again in that House
but Of the highest importance to remember, and the fact
ought to be forgotten, that the leading motive Of
those in authority in getting up this with Mexico the
perPctuaion of slavery.
However wrong the motive Of the might have been
there yet Of crime in the used in bringing
pass Whoever wished TO read the blacklist page in Amer
lean history should ferret the secret ntrgues the hidden
unacknowedged plans and nsidous deceptive efforts TO excite
the nation and get the pitch, in order 10 use that
powerful feeling effect certain predetermined party Objects
He ought dive into the Of that Machavean policy
which held different bats different portions of the coun
try that by combining the action Of many dscordant ee
and applying il in direction, annexation might I've
accomplished in spite of the North. He should watch
and how that contemplate faction long continued TO
swing backward and forward between the OF
conscience and party interest," till they at last fixed by
which proved irresistible. He should take pains TO
learn what had been dictated by fear and what
by damnable corruption.
But the conduct of those who had been the unscru-
puous in plotting to effect annexation less in