Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-04-27

repudiatod the agreement and refused to make
any terms whatever with Texas. In December,
after ihis agreement, the Texan Congress passed
an act declaring the Rio Grande, from Its mouth
to its source, to be her western boundary, and
that, il is claimed, gave her rightto the coun-
try. This act of Congress, sir, gave Texas no
right whatever TO one foot Of territory beyond
her ancient limits, that she had not conquered
from Mexico and subjected to her jurisdiction
aud laws.
This question was largely discussed in this
chamber when the treaty of annexation was ue'
fore us in 1874, Judge Woodbury., then Sena-
tor from New Hampshire, and now one ct the
judges Of the Supreme Court OF the United
States. in his speech in favor of the ratification
of the treaty, said:
conquered from MeScu, and actually governed Hence,
though her law includes more than the Prese9! Texas she
what she exercised clear Jurisdiction over"
The honorable Senator from Missouri, Mr.
BENroN) in the course Of his able speech a
gairst the treaty, introduced the following rcso
luton:
Resorcd That the incorporation of the left bank of the
Rio del Norc (Gande into the American Union, by virtue
of treaty with Texas, comprehendng as the said incopo
iaon would do, part OF the Mexican Department OF Now
Mexico chihuahua, Coahuia aud Tamauas, would be an
Of which the United states would be responsible"
The Hon Sllas Wright, then member OF the
Senate, but since deceased, in speech delivered
at WATERFOWL, New York, just after he had vo-
ted against the treaty, said:
81 felt be my duty ogans, the ratification of
the treaty for the annexation Of Texas believed that the
treaty the boundaries that must DO implied from it,
baced a country which Texas had claim, over which
she had asserted jurisdiction, and which she hah no
| right to ccdc,'
The claim of Texas TO the left bank of the
! Rio Grande derived no strength whatevcr IRON
her &C, Of Congress, If she had no title before,
| she had none Afterwards. wash my hands,
said Colonel BENToN
cor all the attempts to dsmembe the Mexican Republic,
by scvcring domnions in New-MeXico Chhuahua Goa
na and nmaupns Tho treaty in all that relates TO the
boundary of the Rio Gfando an act Of unparalleled Outrage
Mexico. 1t is the seizure of two thousand miles of her
OF a treaty with Texas, to which she is partyn
After full discussion, the treaty, as Rave be-
fore said, was rejected by vote of 30 nays TO
Is yeas.
Mr.. President, have already trcspassed too
long upon the patience Of the Senate, and will
! bring my remarks to a close. The career OF
conquest upon which we have entered, is full OF
danger and peril 10 the country. 1t may bring
under our dominion foreign states and provinces,
but it will bring with them an ignorant, degraded
population, wholly unprepared for the enjoyment
OF our free and liberal Institutions. With the
| extension Of our territorial limits will come an
| increase of armies and navies, and he building
! up OF great military power never contemplated
by the trainers of the Constitution. An increase
of Executive patronage will follow, and an am
bilious President, selected from the successful
commanders of the army may trample the Con-
stitution under foot, and subject the people TO
the despotism of military rule. If they appeal
TO the Constitution and laws for protection, they
will be answered in the language of Caesar TO
Meteus that arms and laws never flourish
at the same time" Mr. President, call on the
student of history, and we have many in this
chamber, to point me to nation, either ancient
or uodern, that has by its wars of conquest &C
CURED any enduring glory, or conferred any
lasting benefits upon It's people.
; Did Greece gain any enduring fame by the
wars of conquest in which she engaged? No
sir, Grecian Liberties persisted at Ch@ronea, more
than two thousand years ago. Rome carried
her victorious arms into neighboring provinces
and subjected them to her dominion, but she
could not save her republic. Roman Liberties
, were cloven down oy Roman armies on the bat
eded of PhilIippi, more than thirty years before
the Christian era.
What has France gained by the wars Of inva'
+ sion and conquest in which she has been enga-
ged? She delhroned kings and established hel
: power in the countries around her. She drench'
ed tie continent Of Europe in blood in her wars
Of conquest. And what is her condition now
She is confined to her ancient limits, and quietly
reposlng under the reign OF her Bourbon soVer
egh." What has Russia gained by her conques
OF the Caucasian country? Nothing sir; SHE
received the submission of the people in 1896
and from that day to this, she has been compell
ed to keep in the field an army of twenty thou
sand men to defend and protect 1t. Mr.. Pres
t dent, aggressive war is no part Of orr mission
we can gain no enduring glory by the conques
OF foreign states and provinces. The vlctore:
that rebound most to our honor are achieved il
the workshops and counting houses of the coUn
/ Try. We have broad domain with every vari,
ETY. Of soil and climate, aud by industry, enter
> prise, and energy, we can command all the com
forts and luXurles of life, and secure for ON
country the admiration Of the world.
+DcliveTed month before the late Revolution French
publicanism avoiding the rock which it spit.-Ed