Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-01-19

We should have but one conscience
and most happy would it be for manhlnt
were statesmen and politicians only a
honest in their management of the inter
nal or external national concerns as they
are i'm private life. The irreproachablt
private character of the President and O
all thc members of his Administration i:
known and respected There is not one
Of them who would not spurn with indig
nation the most remote hint that. on SINH
lar pretences to those alleged for dismcm
bering Mexico. he might be capable OF at
tempting 10 appropriate to himself his
ncighbor's farm.
La the total absence of any argument
that can Justify the war in which we are
now involved. resort has been had 10 q
most extraordinary assertion. 1t IS said
tina, the people Of the United States have
an hereditary superiority OF race over the
NeNicans. which gives them the right Il
subju9atc and keep in bondage the inierl-
or nation. This. it is also alleged, VIII
be the means fenlightening the degraded
Mexicans, Of improving their social state
and ultimately increasing the happiness
Is it compatible with the principle OF
Democracy, which rejects every hcredi-
tarv superiority ofraces! You very prop
erly deny that the son can, independent
OF his own merit, derive any right or
privilege whatever from the merit or
any other social superiority Of his faith
cr Can YOU for moment suppose that
a very doubtful descent from men who
lived one thousand years ago has trans
mittcd to you superiority over your tel-
low-men! But tho Anglo SaNons were in
ftror to the Goths, from whom the Span
ards claim TO be descended: and they
were in no respect superior to the Franks
and to the Burgundians.
1t is not to their Anglo Saxon descent,
but to variety of causes, among which
the subsequent mixture of Frenchiiied
Normans, Augevins, and Gascons must
not be forgotten, that the English are in
debtcd for their superior institutions. In
the progressive improvement OF mankind
much more has been due to religious and
polite al institutions than TO races. " hem
ever the European nations, which from their
language are presumed to belong to the
| ATTN or Sclavonian race. shall have con-
pucreI institutions similar to those of Eng
land. there will be no trace left Of the pre-
tended superiority Of one Of those races
above the other. At this time the claim is
but Il prctcNt for covering and Iustfving
unjust usurpation and unboundod anbi-
ton.
But admitting with respect to Mexico.
the superiority Of race. this conters no SUI
pcrioritv Of rights. Among ourselves. the
Il.
physical or mental faculties. is recon, is ID
as having equal rights. and he has an equal
vote wit! any ono however superior 70 him
The immutable principle that no one man
IS born with the right of governing anoth-
rr man. lie may, indeed, acquire a
moral influence over others, and no 9TH
IF is legitimate. The same principle viii
apply to nations. However superior the
Anglo american race may BE- to that of
Mexico, this gives the Americans no right
to infringe upon the rights of the inferior
race. The people of the United States
may rightfully, and will. if they use the
proper means, exercise most bcn"tlclal
moral influence over the McNicans. and
other less enlightened nations of America.
Beyond this they have no right to 90.
The allegation that the sublu~aton OF
Mexico would be the means of cnllghtcn-
ing the Mexicans. of improvcing their So
-ial state. and of increasing their happl-
ness, is but the shallow attempt to disguise
cupidity and ambition. Truth
never was OF can be propagated by fire and
sword, orbv any other than purely moral
means: by these. and by these alone. the
christian religion was propagatcd, and en-
abled. in less than three hundred years. TO
conquer idolatrv. During the whole of
that period. christianity was tainted by no
ether blood than that of its martyrs.
The duties of the people Of the United
States towards other nations are obvious.
Never losing sight Of the divine prcccpt.
do to others as YOU would be done bv.'
hey have only to consult their own con-
science: for our benevolent Creator has inn
planted in the hearts OF men the moral
sense Of right and wrong. and that sym
,athv for other men the evidences ofwhich
ire Of daily occurrence.
1t seems unnecessary to add any thing
that false glory which, from hab-
t and the general tenor Of our early cdu-
alton. we are taught to admire. The
ask has already been repeatedly perform
I'd III lar more able and impressive man.
ner than any thing could say on the sub
ect. 1t is sufficient TO say that at this time
neither the dieni,v nor honor of the nation
demand a further sacrifice of invaluable
ives. or even of money. The very re-
verse is the case. The true honor and
Lightly of the nation are inseperable from
lStice. Pride and vanity alone demand
he sacrifice. Though SO dearly purchas
I'd. the astonishing successes ofthe Ameri-
IAN arms have at least put it in the power
IF the United States to grant any terms of
peace without mourning the imputation of
being actuated by any but the mos, elcva-
ed motives Ii would seem thatthe most
proud and vain must be satated with glory.
and that the most reckless and bellicose
should be sufficiently glutted with human
gore.
4 more truly glorious termination ofthe
var. a more splendid spectacle. an exam
pie more highly useful TO mankind at large.