The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-04-13

but as the Senator from Mississippi has cor
rectiy said, added, that if forced upon us
we must make the most of it. At the time
when the honorable Senator from South
Carolina (Mr. Calhoun introduced his reso.
lutions, | stated distinctly, that if Mexico
t protracted this war, the public opinion of the
country might manifest a desire for the an.
, nexation of the whole of that country. But
: never expressed any opinion in favor of such
a result but, on the contrary, deprecated ii
as thing to be feared and avoided.
Mr.. UPuAM. The position, then, that the
Senator has assumed is, that such might be
the condition of things, such might be the
obstinacy of Mexico in refusing to yield to
our demands, that we might be compelled to
prosecute the war to such an extremity as
would lead to the destruction Of her nation
atty, and the absorption of her whole terri
tory by the United States. And, sir, not
withstanding this result is deprecated, and, |
have no doubt, sincerely, still, in my humble
Judgment, the tendency of the measures re-
commended by the President, if carried out
to the full extent, must inevitably result in
the absorption of the whole country and
think l can see in the signs Of the times
enough to alarm the country III reference to
this subject. Such policy has been more
than dimly Swallowed forth in the resolutions
introduced by the honorable Senators from
New York and Indiana. The former sug-
gested to the country the propricty and ex-
pedency of strengthening our commercial
relations by the annexation Of contiguous
territory. The latter avowed the constitu-
tiona power and authority of our government
to hold and govern Mexico as dependent
province. Sir, have seen it avowed in the
proceedings of public meetings, in the
speeches Of our military officers who have won
glory and renown upon the battle-felds Of
Mexico, and who have returned because there
are no more laurels to be gained, and have
undertaken to indoctrinate the people of this
nation that it is our duty or destiny to carry
into Mexico our free institutions, and that
this war ought to be prosecuted until her
government is overthrown, and more libe
raj government established, to be sustained
by the power of our arms. What Are we,
then, to become a nation Of propagandists ?
Why, sir, some gentlemen have gone so far as
to denounce every man who raises his voice
against the prosecution of war, for the pur-
pose of forcing upon Mexico government
of which she does not approve, as traitors to
their country! Such is the sentiment ex-
pressed in the speech of Colonel Morgan
which have before me.
AS Christians" says he, I'VE are bound
to protect the Mexcans from the bad inten-
tons of their rulers" "And," he adds, call
who will advocate the Withholding of supplies,
or Withdrawing our armies, disguise their
sentiments however they may, under what
ever artful plea they choose, are traitors at
heart"
Yes, sir, every man, every citizen, every
member of Congress who believes it to be
his duty to raise his voice against the further
prosecution of the war, for the purpose nor
avowed by the Administration, is denounced
by this orator as {" traitor at heart" and
unworthy of the confidence of the people. |
also have in my possession speech of Cap
tain Stockton advocating the same principle,
that the army shall not be withdrawn until
the overthrow of the Mexican Government
and the establishment Of government there
upon liberal principles, be accomplished
He holds the following language:
&C would insist, if the war were to be pro-
longed for fifty years and cost money enough
to demand from each Of you half Of all you
possess, would insist that the blessings of
civil and religious liberty should be guaran-
teed to Mexico"
/ believe that the sentiments advanced by
Colonel Morgan and Captain Stockton, so far
from meeting with diSapprobation on the oc
casons on which they were expressed elicit
ed the most unequivocal marks Of favor
Those gentlemen indeed. seem to have been
preparing the minds of the people for the
unqualified admission Of the doctrine, that it
is the duty of the Government to extend itself
over the whole American continent. At the
supper given to Colonel Morgan, the follow
ing toasts were received with the greatest en-
thusiasm
" Tile destiny of the United States Govern
ment-To overshadow the whole of North
America; therefore we may as we'll begin
with Mexico"
" The american Continent-An Almighty
hand has rolled the barrier of seas around it,
to make it as one republic.
"No pent-up Utica contracts our powers,
But the whole boundless continent is ours"
Tile Isttnlus Of Panama-The next rest
ing-place in the extension of freedoms area"
Now, sir, these significant indications strong
ly impress upon my mind the conviction,
however much the result may be deprecated,
that great efforts are making to convince the
people, that it is the destiny of our Govern
ment to extend its jurisdiction over the en-
tire continent An ocean-bound republic is
spoken of with apparent seriousness. Let it
not be said that these indications are to be
lightly regarded They proclaim, in language
not to be mistaken, the Interpretation which
masses of the people have put upon the poll
cy which the Government seems to have
adopted. And, sir, if this perilous career of
conquest on which we have entered, is not to
be arrested till our arms shall have subjugat-
ed the whole American continent, it is surely
time that the country understood it, 1t is
time that the voice of warning should arouse
the people to a full sense of the impending
danger.
Our Government was not constructed with
view to wars of aggression and conquest
The armies contaminated by the Constitution