The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-02-22
NUMBER 43.

i
| by the President in his message, after he COM
| menced the war, as excuses and causes fof the
war, even if they were founded in truth as
| they were not was but an attempt TO rouse the
angry passions Of this people against Mexico,
and divert attention from his own unauthorized
conduct. What paradox they involve.
list of causes to justify our declaring war a.
gainst Mexico, when at the same time il Is in
sisted that the war was never commenced h,,
us, either FOR those causes or any other. but he
gun By Uerico.
The army having been thus ordered pro1 ]
eeeued TO take possession of the east bank Of
the mo Grande. The Mexican VILLAGES and
settlers are alarmed. Their town At Point Isa-
Del IS abandoned and burnt, and the cannon of
our army are planted opposite the city of Mat.
auioraS, anu witnln point blank range of its pub
he square; and all this is called psoceo1.
This .tOrcibte possession Mexico nroreeded -,
repel ardh force, and our army becomes in az,
treme peril, and is soon environed with a en-.
peror force, and its detached parties res;<taJ
and blood Is shed. On the 18th of Nav IsaS.
( TINS perllouS condition of our army is comm.
nlcated by the President to Congress. ana tb;s
was the first official information CONGRESS eyer.
had IN regard to this proceeding. II was not
my fortune TO be here on that eventfrl day,
sickness detained me from the CITY. and ali I
know Of its proceedings is what appears on the
records. Ii Is, however, quite obvious. that all
were DESTROYS to afford all necessary relief 10
our gallant little army in peril A bill was en-
tertalned for that purpose but as thePresident
asserted that war existed by the act f Next
co. that was inserted in its preamble; and
though exertion was made, and vote given
oya great MAJORITY Of the Wing aty, to
strike out such preamble, the GREAT maior;tv N
Democratic. rtt-
echo tins allegation of the President ana II
was done Then most of the whiq party. r,fb.
or than be charged with abandoning, the army
IN peril, voted for the bill, against the nrcan,.
ole oil winch they had voted and still protested.
l nave little to say of this procccdinc. bot II
seems to me that when the President, NL,
knew all the circumstances, in his late mcsssre.
claimed that war was declared bv 20 Jarae q
majority, he was almost 4isingeaion4.
The fuil career was now attained The ar.
my having been thus pressed forward and snn-
i Plies demanded and voted for its relief. when
reviewed. and the enemy driven over the Rio
urahde' we do not stop, but the arssy is push
Gu FORWARD over the river, and Naiamoras il
taken fiacf after place is occupied. andMon-
'ery Is uAcn oy storFa and capitulation, when
ano'ner session OF Congress occdrs. Again
supplies OF money and men are demanAed 70
sustain the army; bat all desiun of coro,,cS, i
. expressly disclaimed by the President. They
are voted. The army is now to 10 nusbcd
forward TO the capture of Vera CfRz and the
D city OF Mexico, and SO to conquer n Dt1ee . and
supplies are demanded for this, and they are
: voted, the Executive repeating, constantly, that
. no designs OF conquest are entertained. The
' army proceeds with The expeditions success
1 fully, and calamity docs It's duty, rs an Amer
c can army always will. Another session of Con-
: greSs comes, and no peace is conquered but
b the Executive calls for more supplies. How
d stands the purpose of conquest now? 1t seems
u TO me that that 1t has now assumed new as
> pect, and cOnqrest is. not distinctly ayowed.
What / understand by conquest is not the
mere taking military possession Of the cities or
forts OF an enemy in time OF war That NAV
l be done by us rs II mere mode of prosecuting
/ a detenSire war, by weakning the enemy for
the existing conflict. Conquest is the taking
military, forcibe possession Of the enenly's
country, to retain Il permanently 10 ourselves
NO'c, such a purpose regard as one ,rhich can
: not sajelg be entertained By MS, and as uf-e,Iy
Inconsistent ~ih oar prosperity, and putting il,
> isopcriy our national character and erissence.
1t is true, sir, did indeed declare here.
when the Texas annexation was uuder con-
sderation, that, if adopted, we should he enter
ing on career Of conquest, which had been
the vice and ruin Of nations. And when saw
a war brought as it was, and forces sent 10
, California to take possession of country which
in no way weakened the enemy, for this war.
and understood that, in the orders, this was
directed to be done, and governments ordered
to be formed there; with view of It's being ul-
timately holden; and when ] heard the Pres
, ident congratulating Congress on the 1yfension
Of our territories in New Mexico and Calitor-
| nj afr Al.
was in hand. But as we had the rel Gated Ms
sertiOns of the President disclaK.ing all mr.
pose Of conquest. by Tie war, ! could rot show,
from official papers, this was 90 But bow is
it now?
When man avows what he intends 10 DO.
1t IS OF no Use TO dISdrOr the consequences which
must necessarily result 1t is of little nse for
man, who applies to ME for ma ches with which
he avows lie intends to build a fire under a
neighbors house, to say, at the same time that
he does not mean to burn that house; and If
furnish him the matches, shall be accessory
to the arson. 1t Is true the President again
repeats to us that there is no design of con-
quest, now. But what is asked, and what Is
avowed? We are asked to grant large sup
plies OF men and money, that our amy NAV
spread over all Mexico, carry the war into her
rfdI parts take possession of all her cities, d.
: vert all her national revenue, and keep her
, Congress or Government in a constant state
Of alarm and removal, allowing it no resting
place. Her army is already destroyed, and
her capital taken Now, sir, / ask, is not this
conquest? Is not this the utter humiliation
Of that Government, so as to leave none with
which treaty Of peace, or any other treaty,
can be formed? As well might you tell Q
you have no intention to Kill man, but only
desire to fire five balls and run few bayonets
through his n al parts, to induce him to enter
, upon terms of peace and friendship with you,
as good neighbor.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.