The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-27 00:00:00

Mont%

LONDON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1846.

Mexico is now fighting for its existence. For no
infraction of the international laws, for no intolerable
attempt to encroach upon the territories of a neigh.
bouring state, for no actual infringement of the re-
gulations of political economy in its traffic with any
other of the American princedoms or republics
Mexico is threatened with the loss of its independence
It is impossible not to sympathise with a hitherto
free people under such perilous and disastrous cir-
cumstances ; and our sympathy is only increased
with the reflection that the existence of this Mexican
republic is endangered solely through the lust of
empire and the passion for domination, whether it
be over negro slaves or subsidiary provinces, inherent
in the constitution of the citizens of the central portion
of the northern continent.

California has already followed Texas in the dis-
disgraceful and wholesale system of annexation which
is regarded with so much favour in the United States.
New Mexico has just been seized 'le ith a similar
rapacity, and incorporated with the dominions of the
States with the same shameless pecipitation. Other
portions of Mexico must inevitably enrich the exche-
quer and extend the influence of the American Go-
vernment, unless the patriotism of the fellow •country-
men of Presi lent SANTA ANNA shall evince itself in
some unprecedented act of hercism. Unless Mon-
terey or some other quarter be made the Marathon of
Mexico, Vera Cruz will soon be as much subservient
to the authority of Mr. Pore( and his colleagues as
Boston or Washington. No neutral power has as yet
interposed for the settlement of this melancholy and
disgraceful warfare ; indeed, the proposed interfer-
ence of Great Britain was eagerly rejected, and the
offensive and defensive forces have been consequently
allowed hitherto to fight it out together " like decent
Christians." Very speedily the existing maps of the
western hemisphere will be entirely useless; the old
lines of demarcation will be, in many instances, obli-
terated ; a nation will be blotted out from its surface ;
and this metamorphosis will have been accomplished
by a race of Liberalists, who, under the
banners of freedom, and under a constitu-
tion framed by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN and GEORGE
WASHINGTON, had marched forth, not so much for
the spread of civilisation, as upon a career of mi
litary devastation, and who had changed from peace-
able citizens into conquering despots. Those will
inevitamy oe , .
the occurrences which are now transpiring in North
America, unless a more generous policy be infused
into the councils of President POLK, or unless the
warlike counsels of President SANTA ANNA be re-
sponded to by the Mexican civilians. For the sake
of humanity, for the sake of all liberal institutions,
for the sake of the stability and independence of every
lesser nation, we deplore the recent proceedings of
the American forces aqd the principles latterly
adopted by the American Legislature. They are
subversive of the kindlier and nobler impulses of
government ; and beyond this they associate the
sword of justice with the sword of a pillaging cap-
tain, the cap of liberty with the crown of tyranny.
The intelligence just received by the packet-ship
Washington Irving and the steam-ship Great
Western is corroborative of all our previous anticipa-
tions. It tends to illustrate the resolute refusal of
the new Mexican President to accede to the rapacious
advances of his opponents ; it shows, moreover, in a
stronger light than ever the thirst for conquest in
which this expedition has originated. General KEAR-
NET capturz-s Santa R!, and by so doing takes forcible
possession of the surrounding countries called New
Mexico. Immediately upon the retreat of General
ARMIJO to Chihuahua the American invader formally
annexes the entire province to the United States,
and by a pleasant effort of political legerdemain
transformed himself from simple General into Go-
vernor of New Mexico ! There is no mincing hypo-
crisy in these proceedings ; they are done in the full
glare of public observation, and in open defiance of
all the dictates of municipal decorum. Resolved, if
possible, to weary out the patriotism of the invaded
population, the Americans are now quartering their
armies upon the conquered districts. By foraging
excursions they are striving to undermine the in-
fluence of SANTA ANNA. Not satisfied with
inciting General TAYLOR to march for-
ward on the Rio Grande in spite of

every opposition, the Legislature of the States endea-
vours to worry the Mexicans into some immediate
concession by defraying none of the expenses of pro-
visions, but by feeding their soldiers by contributions
from all the larders encountered in their progress.
This is in perfect keeping with all the preceding
arrangements of the assailants. The consequence
continues to be, of course, of the same dubious cha-
racter. A battle was seriously anticipated, but the
effects of such an encounter were variously estimated
by those who placed reliance on the ambition by
which the American bosoms are fired, and the
desperate anxiety for self-preservation by which the
Mexicans would be animated. We cannot consider
these'facts without entertaining an earnest sympathy
for an unfortunate race and an almost powerless
patriot.

A representative of the people should enter the
Imperial Parliament free and unfettered. He should
not be a mere delegate, to give a fixed vote on par-
ticular questions to be ever regarded in the
same point of view, no matter what intervening
circumstances might have occurred to justify or
demand an alteration in his opinion. If every
senator was so firmly pledged and bound there would
be little occasion for the debates that take place during
the continuance of the session; the result would be
well known in every instance, and the sitting of Par-
liament might be terminated, and the business dis-
posed of in a less number of weeks than it requires
,nonths under the present system. There are higher
luties and far greater qualifications required from
he legislator selected to represent the wants and
wishes of any constituency. He should he a man of
profound and varied inforrnetion, of sound judgment,
and good common sense. He should be competent to
arrive at a just decision on the several measures that
may from time to time be submitted for his ac-
ceptance, and to maturely weigh the various reasons
and arguments by which they are supported. He
should have formed his opinions on the great and
leading questions of the day, and le prepared when
coming before his constituents ma nfully to declare
them, and also the reasons by which. he was actuated
in coming to these conclusions ; and, if by any change I
either in himself or those by whom he was elected, he
should at any time find that a great variance exists