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

this Confcdcracy for the benefit of another will
succeed; and those who desire to protraCt the
war must, in the end, be content TO bear their
share, at least of its burdens. 1t has been ai-
iirmed that no resort 10 direct taxation will bo
necessary. | am not OF that opinion. We
shall not know the cost Of the war SO long as
this Administration has it in lis power to conceal
ii from the people, but we know enough OF tito
be certain that it cannot be carried on without
an expenditure vastly greater than any previous
conflict has occasioncd. Mexico has thrice the
population of this Confedcracy at the outbreak
of the American Revolutions population, tho
inferior TO that of the colonies in the qualities OF
the soldier, yet not divided in opinion respect
ing the Justice Of their cause, nor half paral'
yzcd by superstious doubts upon the lawfulness
of the rebellion, but united one man in de-
Tending their coil against the incursion of a foe
alien in blood, and strangers in language and re-
ligion. If Great Britain, after eight years OF
warfare, the expenditure OF hundreds Of millions
of money, and the lo-s of many thousand, OF
lives, was willing to Withdraw from the struggle
with her former colonies, at the sacrifice of eve
ny point for which she commended, at what cost
OF money! with what loss of life and after how
long war, may we hope to exiort from Mexico
peace which shall Weld to us all that we choose
to ask and all she has to give
have given my reasons for thinking that no
increase of our present territory is desirable, and
believe it is now possible, by a union OF the
good mel ofall parties, to arrest the evils which
must cnsuc from any further successful attempts
at sectional ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Let us unite in
solemn legislative declaration that this war shall
not be prosecuted with view to the dismem-
bcrmcnt of Mexico. Let us refuse all supplies
to armies equipped for conquest, and proclaim
to our sister Republic that we are now ready to
accept precisely the terms we ought to have Of
tered before we commenced this unhappy war.
think myself entirely safe in saying, that If the
honest convictions of a majority of both Houses
do not compel them to sanction, by their votes,
propositions like these, tic world will be justi-
fled in believing that, with American lcgisla-
tors the voice of patriotism is less needed than
the dictates of party.
There is another consideration, which ought
to have weight with honest men of all par
ties. with the people of every section of the A
merican Union: it is the certainty that any ex'
tention of our territory in a enthusiastically
direction involves the renewed agitation, and in
Il far more fearful shape. of the Missouri con-
troycrsy. Whenever treaty shall be present
ed to the Senate, embracing the cesson of Mex
lean territory, the question will be directly pre-
scntcd Southern gentlemen affirm that no trea'
ty. attended, directly, or indirectly. with prohl-
btion of slavery south of $50 80 can be ratl.
fed. We of the North demand that none shall
be- and are firmly persuaded that none can he,
provinces which will be but apple of discord,
to be quarrelled over, but not enjoyed
admired the irmness which some Southern geri-
tlemcn OF both parties, displayed during the pcndency
OF the Oregon question: in spite of popular cInmor and
6 the dcnuncations OF vcnal press. They saved this
country from a war, which the folly of the Ad mnstrn-
lion seemed 10 have rendered inevitable, and c"ml@il'
ed the settlement of difficult and long pending con
trovcrsy upon terms of equitable adjustment, which
the good sense OF the nation has fully approved "
remains for them To prove what have hitherto be-
sion was dictated by no jealousy Northern aGgnn-
dsemeht to exercise now the magnanilny they ne"
poitsscd and to reuc the charge that they have con
strained the Administration omupotent Britain, and
aided it to trample on impoicnt Mexico;
There is so far as know, no particular anxiety at
the North to extend our boundaries in n northwardy
direction, but such feeling will inevitably be excited
by further acquisitions in the opposite quarter, and il
is well to understand that conederacy OF States, IA
Government independent OF Great Britain, and even
anne aon to the United States, have all TO be
debatrable questions in Canada itself. do not refer
to any contemplated instruction violent revoutlon
but it is certain that entire though peaceful change
in the administration of those colonies, by which their
government shall become, i'll great measure a-slnl-
ated to our OWN, AMI nj no distant day allied with, 1t
not merged in it, is both desired and expected by
nrgc proportion OF those British subjects in the provn-
ccs, who, very few years since, detested nothing
more thoroughly than American institutions
The on the supply bill OF May, 1916, by which
the existence OF the war with Mexico recognised,
D has been much Insisted on commal OF those who
voted for the bill TO the support OF all the measures look
ing the prosecution OF the war. do esteem this
-, ,,,,,,,;,r, on, 80, Tho ,,os.
, VII n,yorca II II IL nntorous that The hill MS orig.
6 innllv renorcJ con,,;nnJ no declaration al war or
= RECOGNITION nf Tho v,,r as exs,iur thot the ,as, and
f.,siyn nra,,la ,h,t .rn ration was of.
tr.d n. mn amendment n,irr thc time for debate had
been limited 10 t,yo hours durinr which no Wing was
allowed IN nhtoiu I'm. door thot The amendment was
uu,os,I hv almost every Wbi, n,c,h,r OF the House
that srycri amendments simuy proyidinn the neces-
s1rv sunncs Nrr, rs,r.d ;nl That after the atotj-
ZION of ihc urrauibl, In, hii was Immediately PASSED
n under the nraviois ou,.tion Al that time nothing
. was known of Tnynr's victories The army was
thnuelt hy military mon in Wnshnqton to be in an
/ rIninrntly crrnl n,stnn and II WAS believed tina,
= hnnnh il mi rim s,stoin sct for few weeks vet nm
los rirvrJ II mus ineyolIv soon he cut off by the
Il Nrxicau forces The nsiienc,s of defeat wonl,
>. hive Lsrn. in n HON dcrre, disastrous We should
d Nrricous ,vou have stimulated them to desperate
i lil,r. TO follow M the advantages they had gained
d Enrem sylnua,b,s would have been enlisted in the
"a favor and foreign Adventures b, sea and land would
- have Hooked to their standard These evils, it wa.
! hoped might be ayerted hy sending immediate succo,
= To our gallant troops whom the tcinerity OF the Adj
IT innistraton had exposed to inminen, hazard and
those opposed 10 the were apparently left Choost
A, between the sacrifice Of three thousand brave men and
the -upport OF a bill intended TO save them, though
pyclrcl bv a preamble as false as the provocaou o
" The war wa, uuiStiablc The fact thai war existed
nj was indeed unrc Stunahl,, and the defence of on
ii country and lis troops was clearly duty Should ",
be deferred from the performance of this duty becars
majority OF TIL, House chose assert, spite of GU
IL prulc,ons the contrary, that the had beer
n begun by the g act OF MeXicoN We thought not
" J, was plain that snare laid for us The author