Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-02-04
" NatioHal Honor"- --Expense Of
the War.

and the Expenses OF the WARFARE handled
in a mastery manner by Mr. P. His re-.
marks on the question of boundary, show
ing that Texas had not a Just claim to the
Rio Grande, are no less able aud conclu.
siye, but we cannot spare the room they
would occupy. Mr. Pearce was replying to
the dooble-facod speech Of his colleague,
Mr. Johnson; and after tearing to shivers
the Presidential falsehood that "War begun
by the act of Mexico" he continues:
Sir, shall we make war on the weak, and
not upon the strongl fear we have for.
gotten that maxim in our course towards
Mexico, and trample upon her who is least
able to resist us. ! do not doubt that il is
the duty Of the President Of the United
States 10 Tepel invasion when made within
our acknowledged limits. But deny that
this is war. deny thai there can he state
Of war, properly so called, unless the Con-
gress ofthe United States have exerled their
powers, and declared war. 1t is not for the
President to put the country in a state OF
war, certainly not to invade territory
claimed by us without right, aud then TO
vindicale himself by the declaration, that
the territory of the United States was in
vaded-,hat American blood had been shed
upon American soil. Sir, blushed for the
President when he made that monstrous
assertion. Now, as 10 the farther prosecu.
ton Of the war, the President tells US very
distinctly in his message. that we are to
have no peace with his consent, until com.
plete indemnity shall be obtained from Mex.
ico-"indemnity for the past and security
for the future"--weli characterized yester-
day by the Senator from Delaware, as one
half Of Mexico for indemnify and the other
half as security Iagree with my colleague
in his declaration, that in the triumphs Of
our arms we have obtained ample indemni-
~. do not like TO boast OF the proves
OF my coun,rymen, but certainly have
been as much struck by their achievements
in Mexico, as by The story OF any battles
that have ever read. know nothing to
compare with them. unless it be the defeat
Of the Russians al Narva, by Charles XII
Of Sweden. As to indemnity for the ex-
penses OF the war, when, let me ask, have
we ever sought compensation from other
nations with whom we have been at war p
We have had but three wars the war OF
the revolution--a Just one, i take twas
the first one in which we were engaged, and
] do not see why we shonId not as well de.
mand indemnity for its expenses rs for the
one in which we are now involved. But
nobody dreams OF demanding indemnity for
that war. The war of 1912 was Just war.
as belieye-eminently just war-provok-
ed by British aggression, by the Impress
ment Of our seanen, by injuries in violation
OF our commercial rights. We urged that
war for three years, and settled it, as | sup
pose every body agreed, without any loss
Of national honor, but without receiving or
demanding any indemnify. We spent from
one TO two hundred millions in that war.
and did not get a penny back. never
heard that Mr. Madison and his cabinet
aud the wise men who were in this chamber
then, and who ratified the treaty Of peace
were reproached for sacrificing the hono'
Of the country in not obtaining pecuniary
indemnity. Sir, ] despise, scorn this de
|, mand of pecnniary indemnity for violated
faith, whether made by an individual or
nation. l never heard of such thinl
amongst gentlemen. l have had the curl
osity 10 examine Jonah Barringtons accoun
of the celebrated Kilkenny Club, renowned
7 for being composed OF the most chivalrou
gentlemen that ever pulled trigger. b.
their rules the reparaiion Of personal insult
T and wrongs is reduced TO regular system
Every offence was strictly defined, aud tn
e appropriate degree Of punishment prescrih
: ed. If the offence were slight, the part
: aggrieved might be- satisfied with an eS
l change OF shots. If little more aggraval
, ed, il was requisite that one party should b
: blooded. When the offence was Of yer
' grave nature, somebody was TO be we
D blooded and there was scarcely any oilenc
I which required, according TO those rules
e chivalrous honor. that the combat shoul
be mortal. Certainly, in no instance, is
: recorded in the annals Of the Kilkenny Gu
II that pecuniary compensation was TO be d.
; manded by the party offended. Sir, Ba
s. rinqton records no instance in which III
4, offender was called upon to pay for d
4 powder and ball consumed, the pistols use'
!. and Transportation 10 the field OF honor
- :. that is to say, the hack hire Now, a
ar unwilling TO place a nation in lower sea
than private individual neither have
ID one rule for Mexico and another for q
of gland.
g. What is the condition Of Mexicol B
5, fore reply to that inquiry, let me say. III
n am perfectly disposed to demand Of Me
lie leo compensation 10 damages. not for d
y, violation Of national honor, but for the i
~ iurics done to our citizens in their cot
nN nierce. We are their guardians-guardia
n Of their pecuniary rights, which we a
it hound to maintain as against Mexico al
by all the world, and TO see repaired by pee
~ mary indemnifcation. hold it to be pr
'h fecily right TO demand indemnity Of Me
co on that ground. If she cannot give
M demniiy in money, let us take it in land
,se But do no. let US make that preiext
NO robbinR Mexico. She is PROSTATE a
Ct bleeding a, your feet Your armies ha
by irinmphed in every combat, from that
at Palo Alto 10 the last battle at ChaPultep'
s ae She has been completely vanquished-f
- - towns stormed and bombaried-her 81
he ports 10 your possession, or beleaguered
no your neeis--her government fugitive, a
= armies, in The fashionable phrase Of the d.
her "reyelling in the Halls Of the Montezuma,