Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-02-05

much an invasion of the eternal principles of
right, as much as sacrifice of the claims of JUS
tice and the obligations which we owe our fell
lowmen, as the seizure of the whole. | am
opposed to the conquest of Mexico or any part
of Mexico. am opposed TO wrestling from her
one inch of her domain by the exertion of
physical force which shall control her will and
compel an apparent surrender, while in real
ity, the soul of the country tenaciously adheres
to that with which it is forced to part. | am
opposed to the commission by this country of
such an act of injustice, for the attainment of
any object be 1t great or small, believing, as
fully do believe, that pure, unsullied reputa-
ton amongst the nations of the earth, is of
more importance to us than any acquisition
that the wild world can furnish.
| 1t has been said-it was said on this floor at
the time when the resolutions of the honorable
Senator from South Carolina were before the
Senate-that the proposition contained in them
which condemns the conquest of Mexico and
the destruction Of her nationality, was prop
osition the assertion of which would be idle
and fruitless, because the destruction of the ma
tionality of Mexico is contemplated by no one.
At the time when heard the statement made,
| entered the same opinion. But an attentive
consideration of the report of the Secretary of
War, and the means demanded by the Pres
! ident-a consideration of the important fact
disclosed this day, that the President has refus-
ed upon this subject to communicate his views
and plans in the further prosecution of the war
the fact that he has proceeded from disa-
vowal of all intended conquest, to simple in
| timation that he has never desired to conquer
Mexico or destroy her nationality;-these things,
sir, have convinced me that the probability is
that the government isnow thinking, if not de-
string at some no distant day, actually TO make
the movement which the resolution of the Sen
ator from North Carolina denounces.
l was struck, sir, with the account Of recent
celebration in this city of the anniversary of the
battle of New Orleans. Ii was held here OH the
llth instant, and noticed that an honorable
and distinguished member of this body made an
address on the occasion to the company then
assembled, concluding with a sentiment which
goes far ahead of the annexation of the whole of
Mexico. He gave as a toast-"A more perfect
Union, embracing the whole of the North A
merican Continent" i did not observe that
the sentiment was received with isapproba-
ton. | saw no mention of any qualification
of the sentiment; but there il stands, as the de-
cared opinion ola representative OF the great
empire State upon this hoor-a state which,
of all others, is able TO succeed by physical force
in the accomplishment of such design-a des-
ign looking TO a more "pertect union not in
the closer association of the members of this
republc-not in a stTengthning OF our social
rclations-not in an increase of mutual attach
ment-but more perfect union which con-
siss in bringing into this Union the whole OF
the North American continent, including Mex
leo on the South, and the entire British Provin-
ces on the north. When see propositions OF
that sort coming from gentlemen Of such high
character, known intelligence, and distinguish
ed position before the country, | cannot resist
the conclusion, that such sentiments may have
an echo in the hearts of thousands.
But there are other difficulties in my mind.
| consider the further prosecution OF this war
upon the plan proposed by the President as dan
gerous TO the liberties Of the country. ! was
struck by the remark made by the honorable
Senator from s. Carolina, that no one now
hears, in the early days of the republic, chow
) will this measure affect our ibery2 Now we
| sit down and calculate calmly what amount OF
; military force or means ii is necessary TO put
/ into the hands of the President to accomplish
a certain object. We ask whether we shall
send him further into Mexico at the head of an
! hundred thousand men with all the means OF
| this country at his command, by our voluntary
vote, and all the means of Mexico by military
and yiolant seizure, and yet, as the honorable
Senator said there is no inquiry to the effect
: of all this upon our liberties That remarkex-
cited in my mind train OF thought, which led
me TO the conclusion that there IS great and
just ground of apprehension if this measure is
5 adopted that the liberties of the country will
be seriously endangered. Recollect what the
President claims in his message on this sub
ject. All that has been done heretofore in
! Mexico, in the prosecution of this war, the
: President claims the right of doing, because
we are the conqueror in this war.
But where. ask does he find any authority for
ercisng the rights OF conqueror irrespective and in
dependent of the constitution OF the United Satesl-
The conqueror has certain rights, and the Presden
claims that these rights belong 10 him.-For one dc
not admit that proposition. Ii is the Government o
the United States and tine people OF the United States
represented that Government, who are TO conquer
c ors in every war in which successful. There
FORE the rights which belong 10 the conqueror, &C
cording to the law of nations belong no more to thu
President than they do 10 the lowestof who lead
a band OF men against the enemy. These belong L
the country-to those who represent the full power
of the nation-to the Congress oil the United States
The President sustalns other relation TO them thai
he is, by the conustiton, the chief military lead
err, whose duty il is to carry on the operations o
n war. But then the President claims that he has
. right TO take possession and that having taken pos
session, he has right require from persons with
= in the territory the oath OF allegiance; submission
: to the regulations OF his military officers suspen
{ sion OF all resistance TO his military authority unde
pain of being treated traitors, and made liable
S punishment in their persons in the confscatiOn
their goods and to seize all the public property ant
n revenue of the country All this he claims,
conqueror and wholly irrespective OF his responsible
IN