Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-03-02


rood of all parties will demand that all political
bonds between them and us should be forever
severed. Why, then, porseyere in this unprofit-
able struggle, to acquire what cannot long be
ours to enjoy?
What evidence is there that the possession of
New Mexico or California however permanent,
can be attended with any solid advantages TO the
people ofthis country? They are separated from
us by sterile and arid deserts. or Chains of lofty
and almost impossible mountains They yield
no natural products of commercial value which
our own soil does not abundantly supply They
are described by the best Informed explorers a S
being, in the main, unsuited to agriculture, una
BILE TO sustain dense population, adapted only
to the lowest form of semi-civilized life-the pas
toral state. And above all, they are inhabited
by mixed population, of habits, opinions and
characters incapable Of sympathy or assimilation
with our own; race, whom the experience of
an entire generation has proved to be untitled
forself government, and unpreplred to appreci
ate, sustain, or enjoy free institutions.
But how is the war to be carried on! Every
financial scheme hitherto proposed is based on
the assumption that the North will be generous
enough, or stupid enough, to bear the recundry
burden Oft war, commenced and prosecuted
with single eye to the interests of, | shall not
say the people, but of certain political aspirants
OF The South. The annexation OF Texas, strict
wards THIS war, by giving the Anita If party
majority IN The Senate, enabled those aspirants
TO deprive inc industry OF the North OF the pro
tectloh TO which II was justly entitled and which
II had enjoyed from the organization OF the gov
crhment to That evil hour when the tariff OF 1876
was adopted and these same asPirants, and
tl'e'r 'oso"Grs; no" propose 10 YAK our pockets
10 pay TOT al the consequences OF mat disastrous
act lho SECRETARY OF The treasury recommends
ocrots nave ADVISED the imposition OF duties on
the iree iIst embracing many articles chiefly
consumed at we North; ana others, again, stern
republican naterS, no doubt, OF accumulated
"valt', anu luxury, ana superiority, dlslhterest-
Guy propose TAX on bank Stock and all articles
OF gold ana silver Disguise 1t as you will, 1t
Is pam mat these schenles arc both calculated
ana uesiSueu 10 shIlt inc whoIe pccunlary our'
zen OF the war upon Northern shoulders. How
much tea ana coffee are consumed by the three
or four millions OF Southern slaves What Is
the value OF the Jcwelry that decks their persons,
and the forks, and spoons, and goblets Of plate
that adorn their tables &? How many of them
consult gold and silver watches, TO know their
hours OF labor refreshment and rupose The
last Democratic House Of Representatives re-
solved, on motion OF Southern gentleman, that
"the people OF the United States are too patriot.
ic to refuse any necessary tax, in time of war;"
nancler has ever been "patriolc" enough to
move tax Tor the support ollEe war, embracing
certain description OF property possessed only
by the South-"perSonS," namely, "held in
slavery, or involuntary serviude?" And when
that prosecuted philanthropist, who has "achiev-
ed greatness" by coupling his name with the far
famed proviso moved tax, apportioned accord
ing to the Constitution, on the same basis as
congressional representation, with what trans
Of ,rio 4 "a al,
South" hail the suggestion! Sir. the Govern.
ment organ very plainly intimated to him. that
his " patriotism" was of the sort SO theoretically
mathematical by DR.. Johnson.
Mr.. Charman | warn gentlemen that none Of
these shallow devices to tax one portion of this
Confederacy for the benefit of another will sue
coed and those who desire to protract the war
must, in the end, be content to bear their share,
at least, Of its burdens. 1t has been affirmed
that no resort to direct taxation will be nccessa-
ry. am not OF that opinion. We shall not
Know the cost OF war so long as this Admnstra-
tloh mas II In It's power to conceal it from the
people but we know enough oft to be certain
that 1t cannot be carried on without an expendi-
ture vastly greater than any previous conflict
has occosloned. Mexico has thrice the popula-
ton OF this Coniederacy at the outbreak OF the
American Revolullon--a population, though m
ferlor 10 that of the colonies in the qualities of
nv "OiuiSiS CT Hot III
the justice OF their cause, nor half parayzeG by
superstllions doubts upon the lawtuness OF re-
belon, but united as one man in defending their
soil against the lncurslons OF foe alien IN blood
and strangers IN language and religion. II Great
-Brtaln after eight years OF warfare, the eXpon-
dure OF hundreds oil millions OF money, ind the
loss OF many thousands OF lives, was willing to
"ihdra" from the struggle with her former col :
ohIes' at Inc sacrlhce OF every point Tor which
she conlended, at what cost OF money, with what
loss OF lie, ana after how long war; may we
nope 10 eXtorl from Mexico peace which shall
yield to us all that we choose TO ask, and all she
has to give?
have given my reasons for thinking that no
increase OF our present territory is desirable, and
ooiieVc II Is now possible, by union OF the
good men OF all parties to arrest the evils which
must ensue from any further successful attempts
at sectional aggrandizement Let us unite in a
solemn Legislative declaration that this war shall
not be prosecuted with view TO the dismcmber-
ment OF Mexico. Let lis refuse all supplies to
armies equipped for conquest, and proclaim TO
our sister Republic that we are now ready to
accept precisely the terms we ought to have Of
fered before we commenced this unhappy war.
| think myself entirely safe in saying, that if the
honest convictions of a majority of both Houses
do not compel them to sanction, by their votes,
propositions like these, the world will be justfi-