Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-18

we do moi see men pursuing il The less eagerly On
that account. II was mol thus that The fathers OF
the republic reasoned, and ! trust The day is far
distant when our people will consider the ques-
lions of patronage and lis effects upon The cisri-
button Of power in our system, as light and un.
important mallcrs Sir, this power and patron
age would enure 10 the President Of the United
States, who would appoint all the officers, and
direct the army that conducted the government.
There would be no department Of thai govern.
mem elected by oar people, bul every man con.
cerned in II would hold his office iron The Ex.
eculive. The whole benefit derived by any body
from such an occupation Of Mexico, would br
derived by those officials who would enjoy The pro.
fits OF The Job Of governing the country, and these
would holt their places al the Executive pleasure
Flow long could we expecl him 10 be rue 10 both
his functions as President OF the United States and
Mexican Imperaorl Is there no danger Ina, liz
would use his Mexican royalty 10 acquire a morc
permanent tenure oil office al homcl Fer nj no.
raj and political purposes he would be- the sove-
reign OF both II is idle 10 say that The elective
feature OF The Office would restrain him. w 18th
such powers and patronage he would regulate
the conventions ard elections as he pleased, or
dispense with both, il he should prefer il. When
we estimate the fatal influences Of hundreds OF
millions of lunded debt which lie wars neressa.
nv for the permanent occupancy OF Mexico upon
these terms would occasion and add To all The et.
teot OF the enormous additions 10 the Executive
patronage, is there any sangnine enough 10 hope
that our republic could expect length Of days I'M
der such state Things? But The hope idle as i
is. seems 10 be entertained By some that Mexico
could be made 10 pay the whole OF these expenses,
and maintain The army necessary for her snhjuea-
lion. Suppose il were The case We, the representa-
tives OF seli.governina people, arc lar from being
visilant enough in experimenting The expenses II
our government; who woult there be 10 watch with
any thing like suardials care over expenti-
lures in Mexico when ouI own constituents con-
trbued nothing 10 pay llem1 can tell you
who would investigate then closely, and he alone
Il mean, sir, the Presiden Of The United States,
who would derive all The btncfiis-he would look
closely 10 he revenue, iron when he sustained
a power exterior TO- an in great measure indie
PENDENT OF, the people OF ne United States. |,
has been said by an acute writer on Roman A.
fairs that The first change in their poltg which
was iata 10 liberty, Occurred when Soipio Ahi-
canus, 10 relieve he Roman people from s08c II
the buthens Of war, was allowed 10 raise The sup
plies necessary Tor his African expedition, in tn
province which was assigned 10 him AMI the al
lied towns in which he was popular. 70 great
exlen! the supplies were thus raise aud Tie i3O-
iran people relieved !foa Immediate pressure;
bul The first II long line Of p!ecedrn's was esta-
u,
the civil authority, and eIdd in giving il Tie en-
tire mastery Of the government.
II We entertain Roman ideas Of conquest, We
must refer 10 Roman examples 10 SEE how ia
they are consistent with Liberty. Bu, il MAY b.
supposed that The indirect advantages derived
from trade with Mexico regulated with refer.
cncc 10 our own interests would compensate u
for the expenses oil sutjugaiion and government.
a lit.le reflection hihk, will disPei that lin
sion. II we Chain the wild country along the
northern frontier OF Mexico together with some
10 the ports on he Pacific, We shall stand in such
relation IL her, that the resui. Of hgh tariff i'm
posed by her would give us nearly The whole
trade, as il could mol possibly be enforced agansi
rs on such line. II, On The other hand her aIii;
be low, we should enjoy nearly all he advantages
q an unrestricted trade, w.huu, IN" expense and
The crime Of her permanent suijuea'ion. lnieed,
putting aside the question u cxprnsr, | believe
that the dlIec! pscuGiasy gains al a commerce
under low duties, with people improving an:
increasing unG"f government administered ~
themselves, "oua :" iat greater than even an cx-
become uncer foreign woke. r ~ No. a1,,t
thai our trade win Great Britain win ali hc hnr.
lhenS imposed On il ~ tariffs, has been more ~
vantageous 70 the mother country han il woud
have been il The former state 81 colonial depcnd-
ence had remained. But Mr.. President, have
cnly touched upon portion oi The consequences |
that would inevitably result lrcm such step II
we once commence the career with the absorp- |
licn OF Mexico by conquest, ami the expefiGc";
should result as agurahlY as Hose expect VIE /
incline TO The measure, is il probable ina; we
should Or would stop a. that pnin,2 is here any !
instance .! nation that paused IL such career, |
until forced 10 do 50 b. domestic mi;ioftnIes Ur
superior force from Wilhelm? The very class /
which war creates, and which il supplies b. con
quest, with the means 10 obtain the mastery al
home, will ever continue 10 push that career OF |
conquest 50 long as the opportunities OF plunfcr
abroad afford The temptation 10 advance. The |
moment they are prevented from p!un"crinG
abroad, they commence Inc same operation Al
home; and il unfortunately 50 happens that in en-
pire gathered BY conquest The only practicable
limits ever found 10 their power has been in iiie
exhaustion Of The subjects al their exaclions.-
Sir, this class is no mcic creature Of my iaa2-
nation; il is one known 10 history, and has been
80 we'll described hy one Of lie masters .; human
though, and Of he English language, iha, shall
beg leave 10 borrow his words lur The Gescrip
lion "The wars 6 civilized Eaions, GAYS ~.
Johnson make very slow changes IN n .ys-
tenn Of empire. The PUBLIC pciceivrs scarcely
any alteration but an inclea-e of debl and lie
few individuals who arc hcGefucd, are not sup
posed 10 have The Cleaesl ri.hl 10 these advances.
II he thai shared the danger enjoyed the profit,
and after bleeding IN The baHlc grew rich b the
victory nc might show his gains without envy But
a, The conclusion of ten years war, how arc wc
recompensed for The death Of mu!iilu'!es bal BY
contemplating The sudden 2ofies u PaymastcIs
and agents contractors and commiSsaics wh, g
,quipages shine like me!eo!s and whose palaces
are like cxha!alions!
"These a,e The men who, without labor or ha-
card, are growing rich as their country is impo-
nod, ~ Union ahSiInacV 3mbi-
lion adds another year 10 slaughter and deyas,a-
lion; and laugh from their desks al bravery and
science, while they are adding figure 10 hcure
and cipher 10 cipher, hoping for new contract
from a new armament, and computing the pro-
fits Of s;rec or A tempest.
II this career Of conquest should ever be ia
yofaby commenced by US, there is no power IN
This country 10 stay j., until j, * stopped by the
hand Of God and The re,:ibniive dspcnsaiions Of
providence Sir firmly believe that, before any
foreign opposition could be found in sufficient
strength 10 stop il, VIC should fall 10 pieces by our
own tsscnsions, or our government wonlf take
The organization most suitable 10 the ends OF con-
ouesl, and assume despoic form. The oeo's
which these wars must occasion womb ea'' 10
heavy and unequal taxation, and 10 bitter sec.
tiunal disputes under which our people would
divide, il they did not think il better TO take re-
fuec under one master, 10 escape The eSachons
and tyranny oil many. vi all me COVE h,ie G u'
with which am acquainted our Fedora! Go
yernment is most endangered By heavy taxation
upon The people; and there /, more 50 little capable
oienduring large national debi without an orga-
mic dera cement oil its machinery. q large CLASS
living upon The funded deb. q! this government,
woud be more dangerous, if moi more terrible 10
il. Than an army with banners !! has been wei
said lhal The most important revolution III Inc
English Government occurred when The iunding
sysIem and the bank were established in the reign
Of William OF Orange. From that period iouIih
estate arose in the realm which gradually allain.
ed the mastery OF all. So rapid was lis rise. lhat
lis tendencies were loreseen ard denounced oy
Lord Boincbroke al that early reruc Of lis CROWN,
and Lord Chatham, in II. of imfoie mi rage, y
said TO have declared thai, "whrn me lanGs a'e
talI;no we NAV be sure The country is rising.
hnt as if possessed oil some invisible power. u
Ou.i os - - - l.... II The RriLish