Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-03-03

contest would prove ample space for the
spread and the Confirmed establishment of
slavery, and e1ectually dissipato the delu-
sive hope with which Mr. Walkers letters
had cheated the Democracy of the North /;
while at the same time the North was en-
couraged by the hope that the Wilmot pro-
yiso would be grated on some of the war
bills, and would thereby practically prevent
the further extension OF slavery. Those
who had clothed two nations in scarlet and
dipped their hands in the blood Of each
other, hoped to blind the eyes Of the people
of this country by dazzling them with the
prospect Of admitting the East India trade
into the ports OF California.
Mr. NJ. said he was not the apologist Of
Mexico: he entertained no admiration for
her character, nor was he disposed to deny
that che had done us great wrong and none
could hope less than he did from country
under the double burden Of the despotism OF
soldiery and the despoiism OF priests. The
Mcxicans were, technically, the enemies OF
his country, and he wished for them no
trophies erected at our expense but, On the
other hand, he had no sympathy with men
who would visit the sins Of aspiring aud
cruel leaders on the poor degraded beings
who were but the passive instruments of
their tyranny aud hell-born ambition; who
scorned the civic victories Of peace, aud had
chaplets TO bestow only on the bold and
reckless soldier. Mr. NJ. had no wish to
see Mexican women converted into widows,
and their cities given to the fame. lie had
rather his country would sit down in honest
shame than enjoy the guilty glory of having.
by lawless violence. spread her dominion
over this entire country. One murder
made villain, a thousand made hero I;
but the statesman who sat coolly down in
the seclusion OF his closet. and planned
war of party ambition, and the hot-headed
ruler whose orders bathed land ia blood,
were but wholesale man-sayers, whom no
amount Of carnage and destruction could
ever convert into heroes. Bonaparte, the
creates, captain the world had seen, turned
pale. and wept, and trembled on discovering
that by an order rashly given TO crafty
woman with the sight Of battlefield, he
had shortened, though but for few days,
the lives Of many Of his faithful soldiers !;
but what compunctious visitings, what gra-
cious drops Of generous repentance, had
this Administration ever exhibited at the
sweeping slaughter in the streets Of Monte
rey, the crushing Of women and children in
the bombardment Of Vera Cruz. at the pes
thence of the camp, sweeping thousands
into an inglorious grave, or even at the
tears and mourning that were to be wit
messed in the highways Of this metropolis 7
But. while discussing the question OF
morals involved in the prosecution OF this
war, il would be well to inquire into the
origin, the eausa edusdum which was TO
be found in the annexation Of Texas.
Perhaps the bare act Of annexation itself,
apart from the motives which led to il, and
the means by which it was effected, might
not warrant a declaration Of war on the part
of Mexico. To determine this point, it was
requisite that we should know more than
would, in nll probability, be ever known by
the present generation touching the rela.
lions of Mexico TO her revoted province
Il might be urged that Texas was at the
time actually independent and il was pos
sible, though the fact had never yet been
proved, that her revolt from under the Mex,
lean authority was justified by her misrule
and oppression; but our ground Of judg.
ment must have respect TO the motives and
the means which produced her annexation
to this Uuion. The motive, the avowed
motive, was to prevent the abolition o
slavery in Texas, and to get more space fol
extending and strengthening tina, ins,itu
ton. The annexation was held TO be nee
essary to the security Of the stakeholder: i
was indispensable in order to the securing
Of his rights as guaranteed by the constitu
ton and the inference drawn from thes,
premises was, that therefore the Genera
Government was bound to aid in the pro
ject. II was true that timid suggestion
had been added as to the probable loss Of
great marke, for Northern manufactures
and humbug was gotten up about Texa
being necessary TO the Union as a means o
strengthening the defence Of an expose,
frontier; aud, as make-weight, there ha,
been thrown in an apprehension Of the pow
, Ell of British influence which would be ex
erted there should annexation not be effect
ed but he passed all these considerations
/ because, though they might possibly be sue
cesslul in quilting such persons as had beef
simple enough TO give credence to the Kan
: letter, assuring them that Mr. Polk was
| great friend protecting domestic industry
} yet il was perfectly notorious that they ne'
J er had availed to influence a single vote i
| Congress Congress had had before it III
: naked question as Southern questions
. the question Of slavery. The question be
: fore them had been whether this Generi
a Government was or was not called upon
support aud strengthen that institution, b
: giving il space for greater extension 2
, Up 10 that time il had always been contend
ed by the South, and generally admitted b
+ the North, that the General GovernmeI
had no Jurisdiction as to slavery; but, I
+ had been well said by another, in their owe
e heated zeal, the friends of annexation COZ
y ceded principle which the abolilionisis ha
not been slow to take advantage OF, vi;
= that Congress had the right of legislation O
i a subject which had hitherto been con6ne
e exclusively to the legislative power Of II
II States.
IS Mr. NJ. said he should not now undertal
/ to discuss the subject of slavery. either as
o christian or an unchrislian institution. Il
d had formed an opinion on that subjec
d which remained unchanged, in spite Of Il
/ theological argument which had been ma,
: | A. r