Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04

Why not then, ask meet the high responsibilities Of the o
cason and IN the spirit Of justice and humanity make peace
io' ourselves Mexico Is at your mercy you may kill her
or let her live you may take part all her territory as your
interest your honor may dictate The enemy has felt you
power now let him feel your clemency and if the latte :,
sna 90 as great as the former the glory Of will be
oh py the more enduring glory Of justice and
mercy Make peace upon any terms you please Won need
not lear loss OF national honor for he who has power 10
dictate peace TO sanquished foe be dsgraced BY the
uerany OF us Terms Let them bring this war to close
The country demands 1t our hands our fII
graied submits to it honor vindicacd In ten eloons
victories without single defeat calls for PROSTATE foe
labor cries for il; the safety Of our free institutions
It. And what ask, forbds it Nothing but the false
shame OF party inconsistency the cowardce Of politicians the
lust q dominion, and the Turk-cry, manifest destiny
Mr. President, in consulting the history Of nations Il win
be found that there epoch in the existence Of each when
temptation presents itself which, resisted or Welded to- marks
the future character Of the nation for good for evil That
temptation is now presented to this republic is Mexico n
is broad and rich landa land Of silver and Of golda land
without Government to protect il, and without people ca
Pabe Of defending and It lies before easy tempting
prey There is to stay hand to resist the rra
cation Of our ambition The mystery Of her origin the story
OF her former conquest play upon fancy and excite orr
heroic passions Already has the enper carried us to the
pinnacle Of temple and pointed out the rich treasures Of the
city beneath We now stand upon the high mountain at
our feet lie twenty States with their cities and towns their
temples OF religion and palaces Of State The empter whis
pers in CAN these shall be yours you will fall down
and worship the god Conquest" History stands ready with
her pen of steel record determination Shall we bow
down to the evil spirit and fall other nations have fallen
or shall we maintain virtue aud rise godke courage
and say, Get thee behind me, Satan " The temptation
is mighty the power to resist only divine
know Of no nation in ancient in modern times that
would resist easy yet rich acquisition its dominion
TO say nothing Of the heather world, one the Powers
OF modern Europe would withstand the temptation England
would not she has shown by her conquest the east
France would not she is proving her attempts upon
Algeria As to Russia, Prussia and Austria let the partition
Of Poland There too old SPAIN once the proud
hash herte
1t was this same Mexico which fascnates Anred
by its miaes Of silver and gold, which ence usexced
by the spirit Of propagandism which inspires us she
yielded TO the empter and for while went from
queng conquer until in her she made to lick the
dust beneath the chariot wheels of that false deity she had
worshpped, when that chariot rolled in triumph the fair
fields Of Arragon and CASTLE No. sir find no example
Of this high standard OF national virtue and forbeaance If
resist this temptation snail example the world
Ours the wisdom, the virtue ours the glory Of obearng
to seize upon the territory of weak and denceess neighbour
when had the opportunity and the Of doing
We have already in short history great example
the nations OF the earth We have laid the foundation of
mighty empire deep and strong, upon principle new and
startling to the old world We have established seifgovern.
men and bound in strong and happy union twenty millions
OF eemen who acknowledge government but that Of their
choice. Let establish another principle of ma
tonal action equally new and startling Let declare that
while admit the oppressed Of every land to free parci-
patton of the blessings of selgovernmen of
war, no excuse no temptation will induce conquer
nation by for the purpose Of subugatng territory and
people to dominion
IL in respect to such high principle this victorious
army should return from the field Of its gy in Mexico with
out bringing with it Of god territory
for indemnity and security, would not ask be glorious
termination Of this war our part
We haveput upon national record that exists by
the act of Mexico Whether this record be true or false
whether this act of blood and pepeaed by Mexico
or by Executive, will stop inquire Let US
now in the flush Of victory and in the might of power
record upon national history another act-an the
glory of which will obterae forever the obnoxious preamble
Let declare the world that if Mexico weak enough
and wicked enough TO exist peace now exists
by the sovereign act of the United States.