The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-25
WHAT OF THE NIGHT.

Every day we meet men Of all political parties
who enquire with eager solicitude when and how
shall the nation DO able to e1trcate itself from
the ruinous war in which We are engaged. Even
those who rank themselves as democrats seldom
fail to express their opposition to it as cruel IN
just and unnecessary, and unhesitatngly denouuce
it in the strongest terms of indignant censure-
They regard its further continuance as franght
with the direst evils to the country, and desire o.
bove all things its speedy termination. Hitherto
the enquiry Of thdf of the night in relation to tho
ultimate objects Of the authors Of the war could
be answered with difficulty by the unenitiated.-
But time has been gradually removing the veil
which but partially concealed them. This war Is
darling project with this administration, and its
dependents. Visions OF conquest Of country
like Mexico fill their imaginations with Tho most
magnificent hopes Of pesonal aggrandizcmcnt,snd
the continuance of powerin the hands Of the party
who now hold the reins Of government Every
new step taken in the advancement Of this srupen-
dous iniquity demonstrates that the conquest of
Mexico and its annexation to the union has from
the beginning been the settled purpose of Mr.. Polk
and his coadjutors. The extravagant demsnis
of Mr.. Trist in his attempt to negotiate treaty
furnished the first clue TO tho enormous lust Of
conquest which had taken possession of the pres-
idential bosom. Mexico offered US all the state
/ of Santa Fee one half Of New Mexico and two
thirds Of upper California. Here was submission,
security and indemnity sufficient to satisfy any
appetite for conquest which was not designedly
Unsuitable. These territories amounted to 100000
square miles space enough for seventy states as
large rs Massachusetts, But Mr.. Trist demanded
the whole of these provinces, or 100000 square
miles as the price Of devastating Mexico and spill
! ing the blood Of her citizens. And these demands
| Mr. Trist was ordered under no circumstances in
the least degree to yield or qualify. They were
10 be considered as the ultimatun Of thcAmerican
Cabinet, and, as was doubtless expected by Mr.
Polk resulted in the failure Of the negotiation
| At the present moment Mr.. Polk finds no ne
cessity of maintaining the least disguise. The de-
termination to subjugate all Mexico, and its uln-
mate annexation to the Union is openly aTO~ed
throughout the rank and file of the present admin
istration, 1t is indeed to be made the ralyinS
cry of the campaign of ls4s. The last message
recommends the prosecution Of the war by inc
adoption Of still more sansuinary and robbcr Ike
measures, and to attack tho country in ITS moro
vital parts In one Of the last orders Of Genera
Scott he declares that thearmy Is about osPreaN
itself and occupy the WhOlF republic Of Mexico
SenatorDickinson who ssuzpposed to prOmulga'0
the views of Mr. Polk in q recent speech in 'n0
Senate took ground in favor Of ''lis aoqH'"''~
Merico to form one Of the community Of states. a.
still more evincive Of the subjugasing Ioiic! ="
Mr., Polk in relation to Mexico, within bTiei p
Rod Mr.. Hannegan, another confident OF me Ii''
ident introduced among others resolution w
claring that at Is mol IN riOlatiOn Of 1tPS''S'p
form Of Gousrnment to hold the .rhoIs Of Mario a'
gOrern ii as q conquered proriHce." And TO 'H1
end the friends of the administration in consre''
are advocating vast enlargement of the s'anui"S
army Even force Iual to ZOO so THOUSAND TIC.
is contemplated to be called forth and employer
in overruning all Mexico, occupying the caPi'AD
of all the states, and seizing the whole revenue
the country, otherwise to annhiate Mexico anu
her government. For such were the queSno"'
proposed to General Scott as the amount OF foTe''
necessary to accomplish the purposes thus '0H'
templated.
Such are the gigantic schemes OF grasPing Ain
bition in which Mr. Polk and his dependents az
now indulging. A mighty despotism under -"
auspicies of this free republic is to be eree'so
the determination of Mexican nationality i
country is to be kept on its marrow bones Oy W
power of 100000 thousand bayonets. GoVernO'r'
magistrates, viceroys and PretOrian eoh0r'' -
the mere vassaIs of the executive will are 10 -
sent to govern the conquered provinces "n0''