Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-18
Time cannot teach forsetfu!ness,
VVhep Grirrs full heart is fed by idihe.

There are no further fields in Mexico III WIFI WHY;
we could add TO our military reputation oy eA"o
lions of skill and power. Moderation 10 sue e-o;c
ia asnecessary as yalor TO complete Inc heio'e
character. .,non
Bu, MIR. President, cannot dwell further upon :,
this subject. | have given my views pesnu US
was due TO candor 10 do so; but as salu 49,
shall not attempt 10 dictate plans Oh ca.nra he
to The President, whose duty II IS 10 conuu,. oxs-
war and who is responsible for lis efnc,e use LA
culion. II were disposed TO interfere o sn IS
sce no nraclical result 10 flow from reiusai oi
The Ten regiments, SO far as the plan oil campaisu
is concerned. The same plan would De pu!sufsu g,
bu, with forces proclaimed TO be lnaoequase W. W.
The purpose, by those who are responsioie ~ 20
execution. If extensive military opefanon: alI
10 be pushed from The heart 10 The exlreiniues y,
Mexico. an adequate force should be proviceu
for it, Considerations OF peace as well as INC IL
erests of war require il. s,;ors
Mr.. President have discussed the qucss:!'ons
before us in reference only 10 the proper Jul
of The war and The best means OF alarming .t
These are the practical consiteralioa pr, entered
press most forcibly upon US. have no! en'e, 10
into any discussion Of The origin or JusIce =. W.
war. The first belongs not 10 our foreign, W. -
domestic relations; and the last II IS 100 lac :"
consider. Our government and people ale euas
milied as TO the Justice OF the war; and lha' W.
ton is no longer open here. II il were, Wha' r.,
vents those who believe the war unIusl, ahu .n
The territory in dispute belongs TO the Me2icdns,
from acting upon the legitimate conclusions i.o,
such prcmisesl What prevents them from aurU
ealing The abandonment OF the country =. 49,
The Nucces, and the offer OF indemnity 10 MeAi.o
for The wrongs which they believe her 10 hase
sustained Such undoubtedly would be the con-
sequences OF those opinions; and yet there Is uo'
man here, | presume who would sustain SUN
PROPOSITIONS. II must be, because even nose WIZ
entertain these extreme opinions believe ma. 'ns
question is no longer open. Why then asi'd,e y,
and irrilale the public mind by illusions Whlcn
are offensive to t2 The sense Of nallonai honol
beats high in the American heart, and us every
pulse vibrates al the mare suspicion oil stain
upon its reputation. But that same heart IS
warmed by generous impulses and noble emo
TONS II you would moderate lis lust OF empire,
and its spirit OF acquisition, appeal TO us magma
nimly towards feeble and PROSTATE ioe-appeal
10 it in the name of the highest aspirations when
can animate the human heart The desire Tor mo-
raj excellence, The love of liberty, and The noble
ambition, 10 take the post of honor among nations
and lead The advance of civilization. II our peo-
pie are once awakened 10 true conception oil
the real nature and grandeur OF their destiny, Inc
first and greatest STEP in my opinion, is taken Tor
its accomplishment. If my imagination were
asked 10 select the highest blessing Tor my coun-
Irymen should say, nay they be true 10 Them
selves and faithful 10 their mission. ! can con-
ceive OF nothing which j, is possible for human
effort to attain, greater than the destiny which we
may reasonably hope 10 fulfil. II war has lis
| dreams, dazzling in splendid paseantfy, peace
| also has its visions Of a more enduring form, OF
higher and purer beatty. To solve by pracil'
cal demonstration The grand problem OF increas-
l o.,lv ttrtfh
dom; TO increase The efciency|of The human agent
| by charging individual iberly-to triumph over
not only The physical but more difficult still,
the moral difficulties which lie in the path OF
mans progress, and u adom that path with all
| that is rare and useful in art, and whatever IS
highest in civilization are in my opinion, the no.
best achievements OF which nation is ca
pablo These are ,,e ends 10 which our am
b.ion should be directed. II we revere the Old
! ideas OF the Deity who presides over boundaries
| lei us see, so tar as We are concerned mat MS
movements be consistent with the peace OF The
world The sword may be the occasional, but
il is not the familiar weapon OF our god Ierml-
| nus. The axe and roe are his more appropriate
embIems Let him llIn aside from the haolta
tons oil civilized maa, his path is towards The
wilderness, through whose silent solludes ior
more than Two centuries he has been rapidly and
,riumphantly advancing. Lit him plunge sill
1
deeper into the forest as The natural graviiailon
of the tide OF population impels him onward. His
progress in that direction is one oil unmi3ed PC
nefcence to The human race. The EARN Smiles
beneath his feet, and a new creation arises as II
by enchanmenl al his touch Household ilres IL
illuminate his line OF march, and newborn lights,
strange visianls 10 The night OF prlmcval solitude,
knde on domestic aliars erected 10 all The peace
fu virtues and kindly affections which consecTaie
a hearth and endear home. Victorious indus
try sacks the forest and mines, the quarry, LOT
materials for lis stately cities, or spans The
streams and saps the mountain 10 open the way
fol The advance ot civilization still deeper into inc
painless forest and the neglected wild. Inc lis NJ
Of human thought pours in winged s;rea ms rom
sea TO sea, and the lingering n9nand may nave
bu, moments pause mold mold The flying car
to savage life. These are the aspirations worthy
OF our name and race, and il is for The American
people to decide whether taste Tor peace or habits
OF war are most consistent with such hopes. !
trust that they may be guarded by wisdom in their
choice.