ut freely assented to by the other
party. The preservation of peace was ever a primary object. The recourse
to arms was always in self defence. On its expediency there may have
been a difference of opinion; that, in the only two instances of
conflict with civilized nations which occurred during a period of sixty
three years, (1783 to 1846), the just rights of the United States had
been invaded by a long continued series of aggressions, is undeniable.
In the first instance, war was not declared; and there were only partial
hostilities between France and England. The Congress of the United
States, the only legitimate organ of the nation for that purpose, did,
in 1812, declare war against Great Britain. Independent of depredations
on our commerce, she had, for twenty years, carried on an actual war
against the United States. I say, actual war, since there is now but one
opinion on that subject; a renewal of the impressment of men sailing
under the protection of our flag would be tantamount to a declaration of
war. The partial opposition to the war of 1812, did not rest on a denial
of the aggressions of England and of the justice of our cause, but on
the fact that, with the exception of impressments, similar infractions
of our just rights had been committed by France, and on the most
erroneous belief, that the administration was partial to that country,
and insincere in their apparent efforts to restore peace.

At present, all these principles would seem to have been abandoned. The
most just, a purely defensive war, and no other is justifiable, is
necessarily attended with a train of great and unavoidable evils. What
shall we say of one, iniquitous in its origin, and provoked by
ourselves, of a war of aggression, which is now publicly avowed to be
one of intended conquest.

If persisted in, its necessary consequences will be, a permanent
increase of our military establishment and of executive patronage: its
general tendency, to make man hate man, to awaken his worst passions, to
accustom him to the taste of blood. It has already demoralized no
inconsiderable portion of the nation.

The general peace, which has been preserved between the great European
powers during the last thirty years, may not be ascribed to the purest
motives. Be these what they may, this long and unusual repose has been
most beneficial to the cause of humanity. Nothing can be more injurious
to it, more lamentable, more scandalous, than the war between