Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-06-09

"lhe pu!ut OF your ultimate destination
is the western frontier Of Texas, where YOU
will select and occupy, on or near the Rio
Grande Del Norie, such site as will consist
with the health Of the troops, will be best
adapted 10 repel INVASION, and to protect
what, in the event Of annexation, will be
our western border"
Here, sir, is the declaration Of the Presi-
dent, by his Secretary Of War, that, in the
event OF annexation, the Rio Grande will
be our western border. | was, therefore.
correct in the assertion that the Admins,ra.
ton had determined, long before annexa.
ion was contaminated, TO force upon Mexi.
CO the boundary Of the Rio Grsnde. And.
Mr. President, il time would permit, could
show by the correspondence of the War
Department with our military and naval.
officers in Mexico that the Executive, after
he had yielded TO Great Britain deg. 40
min. Of territory in Oregon, to which he
had declared our title "clear and unques-
tionable," turned his attention TO Mexico,
with fixed determination 10 wrest from
her, by the sword, New Mexico and Upper
California. On the Sd Of June, 1916, the
Secretary OF War, in his despatch to Gene.
raj kearney, says:
at has been decided by the President 10
be Of the greatest importance in the pend
ing war with Mexico, TO take the earliest
possession nf Upper California. An expe-
diiion with that view is hereby ordered,
and you are designated to command it,"
In despatch TO Col. Stevenson, under
d te OF September lib, ls46, The Secre-
tary says, 'ihe military occupation Of Cali
iornia is the main object in view" In an
other despatch, TO Commodore Sloai, COM
handing our naval forces in the Pacific
Ocean, under date of July 18th, 1876, he
saws:
THE object Of the United States is, I'M
possess itself entirely Of Upper California"
Commodore Soat. in his general order
of July 9TH, 1916, says, sit is NOT only our
duty 10 take California. but to preserve it af-
forwards, as part Of the u States, at all
hazards" In regard to New Mexico, Gen.
eral Kearney. in his letter to the Depart
meni of War, under date OF August 9th,
1916, SAYS:
"On the 22d, issued proclamation,
claiming the whole Of New Mexico, with
its then boundaries. as territory of the
United States Of America. aud taking il I'M
der our protection" at is the wish and
intention Of the United States" (says Gem
era Kearney in his proclamation ito pro-
vide for New Mexico free government,
with the least possible delay, similar to
those in the United States aud the peo-
pie OF New Mexico will then be called on
10 exercise the rights of lreemcn in elec,ing
their own representatives 10 the Territorial
! Legislatures
have not time, Mr. President, to pursue
this branch Of the subject further. The ex.
tracts have read show, beyond all doubt,
that the war was wsged for the acquisition
of Mexican territory. By conquest, and not
to compel just and equitable settlement
Of the boundary between The two countries.
Mr. President, have already trespassed
, too long upon the patience of the Senate,
aud will bring my remarks to a close.
The career Of conquest upon which we
have entered, is full Of danger and peril to
the country. Ii may bring under our do
minion foreign states aud provinces, but i:
will bring with them an ignorant, degraded,
population. wholly unprepared for the en-
loyment OF our free aud liberal institutions.
With the extension of our territorial limits,
will come an increase of armies aud nayies,
and the building up Of great military pow
er, never contemplated by the trainers Of
the Constitution. An increase of Execu-
tive patronage will follow, and an ambitious
President, selected from the successful COM
manders of the army, may trample the Con-
stitution under foot, and subject the people
to the despolsm Of military rule. Ii they
appeal 10 the Constitution and laws for pro-
lection, they will be answered in the Ian
guage of Cesar To Meiellus, that arms and
laws never flourish at the same time" Mr.
President, call on the student of history,
and we have many in this chamber, to
point me TO a nation, either ancient or
modern. that has by lis wars Of conquest.
acquired any enduring glory. or conferred
any lasting benefits upon its people.
Did Greece gain any enduring fame by
the wars OF conquest in which she engaged
No, sir, Grecian liberties persisted at Cha
roma, more than two thousand years ago.
Rome carried her victorious arms into
neghboring provinces, and subjected them
TO her dominion, but she could not save her
republic Roman liberties were cloyen1
down by Roman armies on the battlefield
of Philippi, more than thirty years before
the Christian era.
What has France gained by the wars Of
invasion aud conquest in which she has
been engaged She dethroned kings and
established her power in The countries
around her. She drenched the continent
of Europe in blood, in her wars Of con-
quest, And what is her condition now p
She is confined TO her ancient limits
What has Russia gained by her conquest OF
the Caucasian country. Nothing sir she
received the submission Of the people in
1906 and from that day 10 this, she has
been compelled TO keep in the field an army
of twenty thousand men 10 defend and pro.
iect IT, Mr. President, aggressive war is no
part OF our mission--we can gain no en-
during glory by the conquest of foreign
states and provinces. The victories that
rebound most to our honor are achieved IN
the workshops and counting houses oil the
country. We have broad domain win
every variety of soil and climate, aud by ln-
dustry, enterprise, and energy, we can COM