Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-05
THT RIGHT OF THE STRONG TO PLUMBER THE
WEAK, A PARTY DOCTRINE.

ballad was once written in praise of him, that
bold freebooter who, from the caves and wild fast
nesses Of the Scotch Highlands, levied "black
ma'-regular military contributions, such as our
President is now collecting by the cartrdge-box in
Mexico-oyer the peaceful Lowlands near him.
lie was strong and bold; they weak and timid.
What more needed to give him all " the con-
queror's" rights AS we are brayer than the Mex-
cans, so was Rob Roy braver than the peasants
upon whom his hills looked down as we are wiser
than the poor Aztecs, the astute Rob smarter
than the " lowland bodes." So magnanmous Rob
picked quarrel with them. The pretence, to be
sure, was rather poor, and rather savored of that
carelessness about arguing WELL and alleging truly,
which usually marks the logic of people who in
tend to rely for their most convincing reasons upon
their longer swords. Now, Rob carried huge one,
and welded it with an arm Of amazing longitude.
What does he then! He sets up claim to bor-
dering farm then sezes it then claims that it COM
prehends others; and then, as the weak and timid
are exceedingly like to have attacked the strong and
enterprising, Rob averred that he was invaded !;
poured down from his heights; spread carnage and
devastation where he'liked lifted all the cattle he
could drive and then, under threat of little more
broadsword whenever the plundered should put him
to the trouble and expense Of coming after them,
sent among them from time to time, certain armed
deputies, who collected every where toll of terror
which he had enacted, and harried for years the
defenceless, helpless inhabitants. Now, though
Rob taught, Of course, much outlaw doctrine, he
never accordingto any thing that we have seen, in
suited mankind al large, as well as the Saxons of
the wales below him, with any thing quite SO auda-
cious as certain party document, which is now
before US, in the shape of Report made 1--WE be
lieye on the 26th ultimo) to " Democratic State
Convention Of the Old Hunker' party, which
then assembled at Albany, Its author is Mr..
/" Surrogate McVean,'' who reasons as follows of
our rights in Mexico:
The title of the Mexican Government is title by con-
quest from those who held by conquest. Ifuce took and
held By the same tile, they ,couH not complain. Their
tile is legal and title would also be legal AS moral
question, if they have wronged US, they debt
which they morally bound pay, and brought upon them
selves the war, violating moral duty, then orai rg
TO retain The territory in the payment of the debt strong
as IS Me moral duty 10 pay uhere payment is due.
From the very nature of institutions, and from the
design Of our Government such territory, when acquired,
would not be held by conquest such known in
the international code. We would hold it, not for our own
use, but for the use Of man. be he there he whence
he II would be held only be surrendered the Co
venmen Of the occupants of the land Can territory be held
by conquest which is alike free to ALL and is governed,
like to be governed, by its occupantsby government of
the own We deny that such tenure is tenure by con
quest such tenure has been known in the world 1t is
than the restoration of moral rights by legal
We (e american eoph) hare decoed upon us The great
cork Of restoring TO his ionbst rights. The
by which accomplish this end oughtto be legally
well morally just The field is in part opened TO by the
conduct Of Mexico and such moral and legal offer
ed for our use. Shall we occupy ii Shall we now run
with manly vigor the that before US, shall we
yield to the suggestions Of scky faaatcism and sink into
enervatng sumber Labor the consecrated of
mans subsistence when he created. To repensh the
earth and subdue his ordained mission and destiny
We feel no emotion but pity Tor those whom philanthropy,
patriotism, religion hasled believe that they prescribe
better Of duty than that of the God who made all
They whose representatives are ready to perform that
for which they ordained They feel all the strength that
the consciousness of being right mpar and anxious
to press onward in the fuflment Of destiny"
In further elucidaton OF what this admirable
composition had not rendered altogether perspicu-
Gus, the Surrogate proceeded TO expound, in
speech, among other things the idea of subugating
Mexico, partly for the common benefit and pro-
prieforstp of mankind, and partly in obedience to
Gods command in the Bible, that we should
subdue the earth and replenish it." Note: This
Interpretation of the subdue' in the divine injunc
ton to our first parents is entirely new version
due altogether to the learning and piety of the Sur
rogate He merits for the discovery Biblical pro-
fessorship in the first Infdel University that his
friends shall endow in Mexico. The Scrptural
Surrogate thus comments and annotates by word of
mouth the obscurer parts of his own report. 1t was
needed; for the higher the inspiration, the more
does il usually require some ecclesiastical expos
ton TO bring il within the reach of mere human
comprehension.
And here suggest what me appears to be our duty
in reference to the existing difficulty with Mexico In this
sure the whole Democratic party will agree with me that
duty to turn this the best advantage, not for
ourselves ony but for mankind do not think the acquis
Of Texas Mexico, any portion Of either is to be de-
sired so much Tor the benefit Of ourselves for the benefit OF
mankind Our army how in possession OF the larger por
ton Of Mexico Wha, is duty 10 Mexico No man can
tell what day or week may bring forth. Va are bound 10
take and occupy sh adjacent portions Of Mer'eo as shall
best noadss, % odraiee the interests Of individually
A. a. A. in