The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-02-29

are not Mexicans, and we have no more pow
or or right to take or destroy such property,
than we have to take other property of a peo-
pie with whom We are at peace. Now sir l do
not say what lawlessness und reputation may
become in this country, but this do know,
that if we are to preserve any respect for our
national character, and the opinion of man
kind, and to hold position with civilized ma
tons, just so sure as we conquer Mexico, Just
so sure we shall have the uncounted millions
of her public debt to pay. Nor am l sure that
even taking the disgraceful position of repudi-
alton would prevent it. When Frederick the
Great of Prussia conquered the Kingdom of
Silesia. the debts which Silesia owed to Eng
lishmen were demanded of him by the King
of England, and after some shutting and
much negotiation, he was constrained to pay
them.
My next objection is, that we have declar-
ed to the world that man Is competent to self
government, and we are now, in this country,
presenting to the world a successful expert
ment, Of the principle Now by the conquest
of Mexico, we show, the world that, in Mexi-
co, 1t Is shown man Is not competent to self
government, or even sufficient to preserve
themselves from foreign conquest. That even
in this country we cannot control our spirit of
aggression and ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but proceed
to Swallow" or ''absorb" neighboring re-
public, weaker than ourselves, not competent
to self-protection, and so ignorant and dcgra-
ded as to be incapable of internal free govern
ment, but yet desirable citizens of our free re-
public. Our conduct and our protested prin-
ciples WILL in this way, soon become laugh
ing stock by word, and reproach in the
world. The propagation of republicanism by
the sword is as gross an inconsistency as the
propagation of religion in that way. Neither
can exist but as matter of choice and opinion
of the people, with whom it prevails.
Much is said of destroying the nationality of
Mexico. Sir, to my mind, the uniting Mexico
to this country, with its mixed population of
seven or eight millions, of Spanish, Indian and
negro admixture, is to destroy or oscn nation
atty. We cease TO be the nation we have
been and now are: the nation which achieved
and established civil liberty.
The nation over which Washington presided
A treaty Of peace is the result of war. 1t is
the product, the creature, the child of the war
and must ever be considered as made by the
pressure of the war; therefore, whatever terri
tory is ceded in treaty of peace, and especiat-
ly if it be territory of which military possession
was taken and held during the war, is and
must be ever regarded as acquisition by con-
quest. 1t is altogether vain and idle to attempt
to disguise the true character Of the transac-
ton by calling it purchase, or giving to it that
form. The sale is coerced and let us not at
tempt to debauch our moral sense by forcing
our enemy, when Frustrated, to enter, while in
that condition, into matter of business and
bargaining, as the condition to peace.
- r.
the objections which have been made TO put
ting an end to this wretched war. The first
is that we cannot make peace. That | re-
gard as utterly unfounded and untrue. There
is not man of ordinary intelligence in Anne
RIGA who can, for one moment believe but that
a peace may be made with Mexico on any day
if we will but abandon the project of conquer
ing & Remembering that country. From the
very terms offered by the Mexican commits
soners to Mr.. Trist, as stated in the Presidents
message, this is perfectly certain.
But it is said peace should not be made I'M
til we receive, in the treaty. indemnify, not on
ly for debts due by Mexico to our citizens but
for the expenses of this-war. That Mexico
should pay what is due by her TO our citizens,
is undoubtedly true, and no treaty should be
made without provisions therefor, because, if
treaty were made without such provisions they
would be discharged. But that indemnify can
be obtained by land, for the expenses of this
war is an entire delttsiOn. What is understood
by this people as indemnify? Undoubtedly it
is understood that land is to be had, by the
sales of which money is to be obtained, to re-
place in the Treasury, the millions we are ex-
pending in this war. 1t will be remembered
that Mr.. Trist informed the Mexican commits
sioners that, even if the business and boundary
Of Texas were adjusted, his instructions from
the President were such that no peace could
be made without the whole of California and
New Mexico were coded to us, and that we
would, thereupon, make compensation therefor
in nOney, what it is worth beyond our claim for
the Mexican debts TO our citizens, and our gi
wing up all claim for the expenses of the war.
From this it is certain, that indemnity for
the expences Of the war was not alone what
the President insisted on; for it was made
sine qua non that we mnSt have the whole OF
New Mexico, and pay the difference. How,
then, can it be said that the war is prosecuted
only for indemnity? The Mexican commits
sioners then asked Mr.. Trist, if, when the orig
inal cause of the war was adjusted, to wit, the
Texas business, we could justify continuance
of the war to compel them to sell their country.
i Ills question mas never Dccn dHSWcTtu, Uut
the war proceeds. But the great delusion
which prevails in relation to this subject of in
demnity, by taking land, is this. Mexico has
no land to cede to us, or to any body else.
When any territory is coded by one nation
to another, or is conquered by another, the new
sovereign, or government, succeeds to all the
rights of the former one, and has jurisdiction
over it, and owns so much of the land as be-
longed to the former government, but does not
acquire any title to any land, owned by indi-
vidual proprietors. Spain always made her
grants of land, to individuals, in very large
tracts. New Mexico is an old country and
there is not an acre of land in it, capable of
cultivation, that has not been granted TO indi-
viduals hundred years ago. The notion,
then, that we can, by possibility, obtain any
money from land that can be gotten, either by
conquest or by treaty, of Mexico, is an utterly
unfounded delusion. Something has been said
among the people as to mines, but believe
this Government has not attempted to practice
any delusion on our people, by pretending that
anvthin1 can he obtained that WAY exeeDt fhe