The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-04-11

opinion IN IdNOT Oi euCu Il ItSull but. Oh the
cont rary, it is a thing to be feared and avoid
ed.
Mr.. UPHAM. The position, then, that the
Senator has assumed is, that such might be
the condition of things, such might be the oh
stinacy of Mexico in refusing to yield to our
demands, that we might be compelled 10 pros
ecute the war to such an extremity rs would
lead to the destruction of her nationality, and
the absorption of her whole territory by the
United States And, sir. Notwithstanding this
result is deprecated, and, | have no doubt,
sincerely, still, in my humble Judgment, the
tendency OF the measures recommended by
the President, if carried out to the full ex-
tent. must inevitably result in the absorption
of the whole country; and l think | can see
in the si9ns of the times enough TO alarm the
country in reference to this subject. Such a
policy has been more than dimly Swallowed
forth in the resolutions introduced by the
honorable Senators from New York and lndi-
ana. The former suggested TO the country
the propriety and expediency of strengthen
ng our commercial relations by the annexa-
ton OF contiguous territory. The latter a.
vowed the constitutional power and authority
of our Government to hold and govern Mex
leo as a dependent province. Sir, l have
seen it avowed in the proceedings OF public
meetings, in the speeches of our military of
ficers who have won glory and renown upon
the battle-felds of Mexico, and who have
returned because there are no more laurelS to
be gained, and have undertaken to IndOctrin-
ate the people of this nation that it Is our du-
ty or destiny TO carry into Mexico our free in
situations, and that this war ought to be pros
ecuted until her government IS overthrow,
and a more liberal government established, to
be sustained by the power Of our arms.
What Are we, then, to become nation OF
propagandists Why, sir, some gentlemen
have gone so far as to denounce every man
who raises his voice against the prosecution
of war, for the purpose of forcing upon
Mexico . government Of which she does not
approve, as traitors to their country. Such
is the sentiment expressed in the speech Of
Colonel Morgan which have before me.
"As Christians" saws he, eve are bound
to protect the Mexicans from the bad inten-
tons of their rulers" And" he adds, "all
who will advocate the Withholding Of supplies,
or Withdrawing our armies, disguise their SEN
timents however they may, under whatever
artful plea they choose, are traitors at heart"
Yes, sir. every man, every citizen, every
member Of Congress who believes It TO be his
duty to raise his voice against the further pros
ecuiion Of the war, for the purpose nor a.
vowed bv the Administration. Is denounced
bv this orator as TRAITOR at heart" and I'M
worthy of the confidence OF the people. | al
SO have in my possession a speech OF Captain
Stockton. advocating the same principle, that
the army shall not be Withdrawn untilthc over
throw of the Mexican Government, and the
establishment of 4 government there upon lib
eral principles, be accomplished. lie holds
the following language:
IL would insist. if the war were TO be pro-
!onged fifty years and cost money enough TO
demand from each Of YOU half of all that you
possess, would insist that the blessings ofciy-
il and religious liberty should be guaranteed
to Mexico
| believe that the sentiments advanced by
Col. Morgan and Captain Stockton, 50 far
from meeting with disapprobation on the occa-
sions on which they were expressed, elected
the most unequivocal marks Of favor. Those
gentlemen, indeed, seem to have been prepar
ing the minds of the people for the unquali-
fed admission of the doctrine, that it Is the
duty of the Government to extend itself over
tie whole American continent. At the sup
per given to Colonel Morgan, the following
toasts were received with the greatest enthusi-
asm:
"TTe Destiny Of tie Uniicd States Gorern-
A,ent-To overshadow the whole of North A.
merica; therefore We may as well begin with
Mexiro.'
"Tae -1meyicon Con'inent-An Almighty
hand has rolled the barrier of the seas around
it, to mark it as one republic.
NO pcnt-up Utica contracts our powers,
Il IL.
"The EtImuS If PQnGma--The next rest
ing-place in the extension of freedoms area"
Now, sir, these significant indications strong
ly impress upon my mind the conviction, how
ever much the result may be deprecated, that
great efforts are making to convince the peo-
pie, that it Is the destiny of our Government
TO extend its jurisdiction over the entire con-
tinent. An ocean-bound republic is spoken
Of with apparent seriousness. Let it not be
said that these indications are TO be lightly
regarded. They proclaim, in language not be
mistaken. the Interpretation which masses of
the people have put upon the policy which the
Government seems to have adopted. And,
sir, If this perilous career of conquest on which
we have entered, Is not to be arrested till our
arms shall have subjugated the whole Ameri-
can continent, tits surely time that the coun-
try understood it. 1t is time that the voice of
warning should arouse the people to a full
sense Of the impending danger.
Our Government was not constructed with
view to wars of aggression and conquest.
The armies contemplated by the Constitution
are armies of defence, and not of aggression
armies to defend our own territory, not to
invade the territories of other nations. The
unlimited power to raise and support armies,
conferred upon Congress by the Constitution,
was looked upon with great jealousy by the
people. 1t was assailed in the State conven-
tons, and elsewhere, with great zeal and per
tinacity, as dangerous to liberty, and subver-
sive of the State governments. 1t was said,
that the power being unlimited, Congress
might keep large armies constantly on foot,
and thus exhaust the resources of the country
and that We might be compelled to live under
a government of nilitary force. To these sug-
gestions it was replied, that the power was
necessary, and that to be of any value, it
must be unlimited; that the power was ex-
clusively confined to the legislative body. to