Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-03-03

there were vacancies III the Congressional uc-
legation from Maine TO be tiled, and it was
thought not safe to shock the people of those
States hy too sudden dcreliciion from prin-
cpc which had lust been proclaimed with such
Il fanlnronnada of Democratic tin irumpets. The
Administration preferred the risk of the moral
effect in strengthening the abolition cause TO the
probable loss of those three States, and there
fore issued dispensdiion TO the faithful of the
North. gracouslv permitting them, forthis once.
to adhere to the abhorrcd Proviso.
| | shall not characterize this relaxation of
party discipline as u crime ; but, considering
the end designed to be effected, it was what the
great French intriguer said was worse-t was
II bundcr. The people of the North, even the
Democracy, have taken their leaders at their
word, pledged themselves irrevocablv to the
/ great Characteristic feature Of the ordinance of
1887, and though deserted by their hithess
guides will firmly maintain the new position
! they have assumed.
| Mr.. Chairman. | do not know the present
state of public opinion at the South on this mat
| ter of Texan annexation but. now that Texas
has proved to be not quite the FL Dorado it was
labled that it has been the means of involving
us in an unjust predatory war, exciting a lust
| for territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT which threatens
to become the fatal spring of every crime and
every curse that have disgraced the most rapa-
cious States of the old world, of kndng anew
the flames of civil discord, and alternating from
each other the members ofthis fair coniederacy.
am much mistaken if, after all this, some OF
the clcar-hcaded and patriotic sons OF the South
do not begin to entertain doubts of the wisdom
the eXpcdency, the justice OF that measure, II
there are not even some who would be content
to spare the bacful ciluIgence of that So lone
star" if we could thereby secure quiet within
our own borders and an honorable peace with
the republic of Mexico.
The only remaining lawful motive for the FUR
/ ther prosecution OF this war is to obtain Just
and honorable peace; for revenge. II SO base Il
passion could be an adequate inducement for
great nation to engage in war with puny and
imbecile people, has long since been satisfied
But what terms of peace would be honorable and
Just? No peace can be honorable to Ms, which
is not at the same time honorable to Mexico.
1t can never be honorable to the stronger to cX
tort by force that which it is dishonorabe to the
weaker TO yield. What, then, are the obliga-
tons of Mexico to us Does she owe any
thing for exciting an Instruction in her most
important colony. and giving 6 aid and comfort
to her revolted subjects Any thing for appro-
priating to ourselves territory once lndIsputaoly
hers and to which she had never sold Or surren-
dered her claim Any thing for invading and
ravaging with fire and sword, upon baseless
pretence of title, a disputed region, OF winch she
was. and from the first hour OF her national eX-
istepce had been, in quiet and undisturbed pos
session ? ANY thing for the slaughter of thou
sands of her people, the storming of Monterey,
the inrlorious rout of Duena Vista. the reduc-
ton of her strongest fortress, the military occu.
: patton of her iarest provinces. the conquest OF
| her uroud capital, and the destruction of the We
nerabc memorials of her ancient civilization
the humiliation, disgrace, and dissolution OF hcl
: government What claim have we but the re-
, cogntion and payment of her acknowledged LA
: btics to private American citizens ; and who
G doubts that she is now ready agnin to recognise
4 them. and to pay them whenever she has tn,
means But. on the other hand, has it moi
5 been over and over again admitted by this Gov
: eminent that Mexico ought TO receive an lndem
nifty for the loss of Texas Have not distinct
. limitations been given that the United states
@ would make her reasonable pecunary allow
4 ance in any arrangement by which she should
: ccde to us her rights TO her revotcd province
: Who shall estimate the amount OF this compcn-
}. sation Are we to be Judges in our own cause
# and to determine that upon the WHOLE the ba
: lance is upon our side ! Gentlemen who repu
g diate ACQUISITION of territory by conquest, ant
!. who have heretofore admitted that We oweC
>. Mexico compensation for the relinqu-hmen
V OF her rights to Texas, still insist that we mus
d coerce the cession of California and other pro
y yinces by way of indemnity for the claims of on
;. a balance NAV be due Us which Mexico can pay
Il in no other way. The claims of our citizens
Il are supposed to amount to from three TO sever
II millions If Mexico was entitled to an lndcin
h nty for the loss of Texas, would any man est
= mate the value Of her claim at less than sever
1t millions ? And had she 10 such claim, can IT b.
l. pretended that California, and all the vast terri
IL tory between that province and Texas, it wort
anv thing, are worth no more than tins liner
Of is then. no Just no honorable ground Tor prose
id cutting this war as a means OF coercng an Ill
al demuty to our citizens, or OF the acquisition o
ir territory and any compulsory treaty, by whic
ID Mexico shall yield us that which she does nc
nj owe. will be humiliatng 10 her and doubI
N shameful to US.
ID But such peace as the Administration hope
C. now TO conquer, and now to buy, will be attend
at ed with as lule of profit as of honor. What ha
Is this nation to gain by further extension of teri
IN tory! The prosperity of people consists !
il the arrre gate individual prosperity OF its cit
p zens. and is not measured by the number OF 1t
re armies or its fleets, the extent OF It's terr'tor;
m jurisdiction, on the spendor ot ITS government
I'm We are ant to forget that a splendid governnel
he is not one of the objects of our institutions, al
nj. to conlound the power Of rulers with the pro
no perity OF their subjects but who doubts that Il
Die citizens of the little republic of san Marno NJ
no of the duchV of Tuscany, are as happy and I
he prosperous as it they were anneNcdt to the KIN
it'll dom of Sardinia or even enjoyed the pltcrn
me discipline of the gentle MeterniclL? Who h;
ith forgotten that Norway, though one of the ie
led best powers, is yet the reest state OF continent
I'm Europe?
i'm The increase OF the power of governme
by by territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT is not attend'
'as with Il corresponding increase OF the power
re- the people to resist its entertainments upon Z
Ier liberties of the citizen. With enlargement
IAN territory comes increase OF standing armies,
in navies, and especially, of that which Is mo
ted dangerous TO liberty than either, OF t.Nccull
i've patronage All these instruments OF power a
the concentrated the means OF resistance scatter
not and dispersed. What, in small republics, Is I
to safeguard of their berties-the distribution
er- mower through multitude of Jurisdictions a
TIA departments, becomes in greater comlhoh"o''.
ion an engine for their overthrow whenever
ma creased and widely dlluscd patronage enabl
the the Executive to control those Jurisdictions.
A The States have neither fleets nor arnhcs, al
sily though the ordinary militia OF single one
ary Them miuht set at defiance the whole militia
zen G,rce which it has hitherty been our policy
So. maintain vet it does not follow that the increas
armies and nayies which our contemplated c
mansion will oblige us to keep on foot may |
enable an ambitious President to establish I
the litary despotism; and, as in ancient Rome
the sodiery raised to protect the frontier may sup
raJ sede vour electoral colleges, aud impose NJ
hor Won n Dictator, who shall supersede your u
~ ',;,,,;o, aud your laws. Even now tokens