The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-10-04
Hon. Schuyler CoIfax Opposes
War and Approves Mr.. Sew
ards Policy ON the French
~ Mexican Question.


ards Policy ON the French
IN Mexican, Question. .a.
Ii i speech at San Francisco, on the 9th
ult. discussing the past, present and future
Of the Republic, Mr.. Collax thus entered
his protest against rushing into war TO drive
Macmillan out of Mexico = n7a3l t7assti
1 am here among you, people Of Califor-
MIA, apparently a welcomed guest. You
have placed full confidence in myshonesty of
purpose, and / would not appear before you
to speak only those words which you would
applaud, when I really differed from you. |
know how youofeel on the subjects Of oar
sister Republics, the Monroe doctrine, and
war to drive out Macmillan. 1Tremen-
dous applause.t I do not agree with you
on these subjects. viii be frank with YOU.
I am opposed to war for any purpose, or for
any cause, except for the viRdieatiop Of the
national honor or the salvation of the Union.
1 App|ausel I am for such a war II it
should occupy four, ten, or forty years
but for war in any other cause that cap be
honorably avoided, I am opposed. You
people of California have not seen the hor-
rors and desolations Of war around your
own doors; you have not seen the hundreds
and thousands of friends, neigbbors, and
countrymeu torn, mangled, dead and dying
on the cold earth moistened by their blood /;
you have not seen the long string Of arnb,i-
lances, carrying the n,aneled, groauihg, suf:
iering thousands, as they have been carried
to the hospitals 10 die, or to suffer mutila.
ton even worse than death, that cause vigo-
rous, Industrious men to become useless
burden on society for life; you have not
seen aud could not have heard OF half the
horrors of war. !,
Oh! but it is fearful thing to rush into
war, excert for the preservation of ones
country. Applause. Such a war is as
sacred as the war against the Saracens to
save the sepulchre Of the Saviour from the
pollution of the infdel. / am for no war
with any nation, if that war can by any
honorable craftsmanship be avoided, even il
by saying so I shall be driven into private
life. | believe in the justuess, aud patri.
otism, and republication of the Monroe
doctrine. Tremendous applause. But ]
am not for war with, France and England
on that question now, with IFS renewed des.
friction of our commerce, its rivers Of blood
and lis millions of added debt. i want the
Pacific Railroad built instead Of the lau.
reIs of victory and fields OF carnage and oil
death. I want the progress and blessings
of peace instead of mere heeat ombs Of piled
up dead. and hundreds of millions mere Of
debt. want the prosperity and develop
ments Of peace. / do not object to the
principles Of the Monroe doctrine Zap
plause admire the courage and patri
| otism Of Jaurez and his patriot bands il
defence Of their native land. | do not think
Macmillan is the rightful ruler Of Mexico
Enthusiastic applause] y
But object to rushing into foreign wal
ere we hayescareely ended our domestic one
| to drive him out. | believe that diplomacy
can effect the purporc better. Time ma.
settle it for US if we are but patient ane
firm. When you have President in thu
| chair who is such a believer in the Monroe
doctrine as Mr.. johnson, whose sentiment
expressed in the Senate OF the nation OF
! this question, leaves US in no doubt where h
| stands trust in him, then, to effect this OBJ
ject. HIS patriotism no one can doubt
4 Faithful among tie faithless, he stood b.
| his country when every Southern Senato
I faltered or deserted. Remember that hi
chief adviser is w. II. Seward, whom Coz
has spared from the bloody hat vest OF tb'
assassins who thought to gather the lives 0
six Of the truest in the land but reaped will
their murdetous sickle but one. Ap
/ plause. Trust himl His diplomacy ha
more than once saved the country froth {
foreign war. We are strong enough as |
nation to gain our own ends without wars
Let us stand by aud trust in the Govern
ment, in johnson, In Seward, in Stanton
and their faithful associates, and all will b
well. Applause.] Trust them in the sur
shine Of success, as we did in the days 9
darkness and nights without star.