Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-03-17

stealth, TO the conquest of Mexico, he had sub
mitted the question to the American Conrres
and the American people. Sir, it is not states
manlike to make these protestatons to the world
that the purpose of the war is not conquest
when at the same time, every proceeding o,
the part of the Government their whole policy
is leading 10 that very result. All this, in tn,
judgment, is utterly inconsistent with that inge
nuous and straightforward course which ough
ever to characterize The Chief Executive Magis
trate of this nation. Sir, il is unfortunate, ex
tremely unfortunate, that when the attention o
the American people is at last called to the sub
ject, and they seek to know the object for which
the war is prosecuted, they are met by the de
claraton that, in all human probability con
quest has become inevitable, that we have pro
ceeded too far to retrace our steps. We have
gone on until we have acquired possession o
the country. We have placed that people in 0
condition in which they have no Government
with which to negotiate. We have placed then
in such condition that we must take them under
our own protection, and all this before the sense
Of Congress or the American people is ascer
tanned. Sir, it is not for me TO say that conques
was the original object. Common courtesy for
bids it. Were it otherwise, it would i'll become
me, on this floor and on this occasion, to advance
so grave charge in the face of the repeated
protestations OF the Executive, however strongly
the force of circumstances may indicate its truth
But do say that, if such was the object, it j.
little short of treason to the American people tC
pursue it thus by stealth, until the evil OF throw
ing upon our hands an empire, peopled by a
race of different origin different language, Gus
toms, and opinions, both political and religious
to be governed rs dependant province, or ad
United as homogeneous material into our politi
cal Union, becomes inevitable, and thus to place
us in position where, however strongly we
may disapprove this policy, and dcprecate sucl
union, we have no alternative but acquies
cence.
Sir, the questions growing out of this unfor
tunate war are too grave to he left to Executive
discretion--its results. involving as they do. tn,
integrity OF our Union, and the perpetuity of ou
institutions, should not be inirusted to the judg
ment, the caprice, the policy, nor the ambition
of "A mere Executive officer. The inroad upol
the spirit of the Constitution in this assumption
of power by the Executive, in entering. upor
his own responsibility upon this career of con
quest. would, but few years since, have as
founded the American people and the world
The countenance now given it by the people in
dcates too decisively the change which Ina.
taken place in the spirit of our institutions, ant
affords an alarming presage of greater changes
hereafter. This is very serious question
what effect will this spirit of conquest have upoI
the character and disposition of the American
PEOPLE and upon the genius of their institutions
This passion for military glory has been tn,
bane of all republics, the disease which has un
dermined their constitutions, and led to their de
struction. did hope that our peculiar position
-separated ,.as 0rean--s.would save us from thi,
lawless spirit of domination, which, when j
once comes to debauch u people, renders then
incapable Of sclf-government.
Sir, can any man define to me the relation
which the President holds to the Constitution
On the one hand, he is the chief Executive of !;
limited Government, with limited and delegated
powers, responsible to the people and, on tho
other hand he is military congueror, proceed
ing upon the right of conquest and standing upor
the right of power. Yes, sir, the chief office
of our limited Constitution stands at this momen
with one foot upon the Constitution, and tn,
other upon the law of conquest. lie is at thi
moment exercising the power conferred upoI
him by the Constitution, and he is at the sam,
time welding an absolute sovereignty over al
empire, unrestrained by any restrictions or limit
atoms whatever. His is most anomalous pc
stion. What are his powers and how ar,
these limited, and delegated, and qualified power
ton with this unlimited and irresponsible power
Sir we have heard much heretofore, and witt
great reas moi the entertainments Of this power
but undertake to say that the President of tn,
United States, independently OF this right OF con
quest which is carried out in Mexico, at THU
moment wields within the United States ;
power which, the trainers Of the Constitution
never contemplated.
The constant accumulation of power in tn
hands of the Executive bids fair to destroy TIN
balance of the Constitution. II has been an oh
iect of much alarm, of anxious solctude to TIN
statesmen of this country, aud may well excit
the anxious solicitude u. the country itself.
The immense amount of power vested in tn
Executive is extended already beyond any pre-
vious expectation. II reaches every nook am
corner OF this widespread Republic. 1t is
patronage all-pcrvading; patronage, lncreas
ing with rapidity uncNamped-as the blue
book, now ponderous volume compared wit
the blue book of former years, will illustrate.
expands itself with your growth, and plants il
self among the pioneers OF civilization, in ever
new establishment Of civilized life. Nay,
moves in advance Of civilization, and finds
wide field for its exercise in your Indian depar
ment-in regions to which the Indian title is n,
vet extnguished, where savage lille and savag
manners have not yet given place, and whic
the tide of civilization has not yet reached. Tn
immense and all-pervading power acts direct
upon the very source OF political power-tl
people. In connection with this is the vel
power-a power ingraited upon the Constit'
lion In sustain and preserve the legitma
powers of the Executive, but used oil late witt
ont scruple, not for the purpose of protectin
the Executive from legislative encroachmenl
but, AS am constrained to believe and to sa
for the purpose of controlling the legislati,
power-of holding it in check, and OF mouldir
its action to the opinions, views, and purpose
/ Of the Executive.
To these powers, already threatening to de
troy the balance of the Constitution, is now
be added these anomalous pow ers appertaining
the President as the head OF the military establls
ment and derived from the law of nations al
of conquest.
How can you resist this tendency to absou
Executive supremacy, or this career of CO
quest Direct Legislative action will not ava
The veto power will interpose. You must 7
fuse to act; you must adopt the remedy OF Il
English Commons, of Withholding supplies. b
will this avail you The President has assuI
ed the power of levying money in Mexico; an
u he can levy money, can he not also levy mel
May he not have a purse and a sword indepe
dent OF youl
Sir, let me suppose that we could exchanl
characters with the Mexican people: eliot
them with our energy, and enterprise, and al
) bition, and place us in their degraded condition
give the President the power OF levying IN
and money in Mexico, and how long would o
ephemeral republic continue
: Sir, with the tremendous power thus accum
lated, the President may overtuTn the Consti'