Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-09-20

add foreign country TO our territory for such a
purpose? For what did England acquire power
the East Indics Was it to ..direct tho leglsIa-
ton of that country for good purposes''-free the
peope,-or to make them slaves. 1t is asked,
why did Spain carry long protracted and
bloody war against Mexico?'' 1t was to extend
her despotc powor-to mako the arbitrary will
of the throne Of Spain, the law of Mexico What
the of Spain, in the conquest of
Mexico and the South American colonies, and
her TO maintain that power? Let the page Of
history, covered with blood and gore, reveal it,
while humanity shudders with horror in It's con-
temptation. Let that Same uncrrng record tell
the tale Of internal infamy which belongs TO Spain
for her use of the power she obtained IN the ex
ions on of her territory. We might extend this
article 10 a length Of many columns, and prove
that when any government, at any age of tho
world, has been ambitious to extend It's territory
it has been to cnsave tho people of that territory,
and not to confer blessings upon them. Then,
why tho people of this country referred to
the policy and conduct of other governments, as
examples, when have feelings in common
with them. There, powerful unit governs the
manv-hcre tho nany--thc people govern. And
now let us inquire where this idea of annexation
was first conceived. Was it with the many, or
was it with those who have the power of the gov
ernment in their hands! Had this traitor John
Tyler conferred so many BLESSINGS upon the
American people, that he was anxious, in the
great bonovoonco Of his nature, to confer similar
blessings upon foreign nation and foreign peo-
pie! OR was lie actuated by the unholy lust for
power which has characterized ambition in all
ages of the worldl He BY an act of Providence,
became the acting President of this nation. and
secure reelection to that high station, he con-
ceivcd and brought forth this ubiquitous measure.
1t was to be hobby on which to ride into office, <
to accomplish it, he willing to con1pronit the
good faith that had been solemnly pledged to Mex
leo. and thus sacrifice national honor--n-
voIyc our country in war--in debt, in nfamy
and Disgrace. But thank God, he has mistaken tic
character of the American people,
Tho editor proceeds to give a reason why an
noxation should be had. We quote his own words
'Wo want more good land and vacant territory.'
What is the character of tho Texas lands2 We
arc told by those who have lived in that country,
and have travelled through It, that but small
portion the country is worth any thing. Col.
Stiff, who is an author OF some celebrity; and who
travelled extensively through Texas, informs us,
that it contains about 800, 900 square miles, and
in giving q general view of it, divides it into
throo classes: The first embraces a distance of
about 400 milos in length, with an avarago width
of so miles. OF this the Col. save: .'much Of tho
soil is an aluya deposit. resting on bed Of shells,
< section between tho Sabine and San Jacinto
rivers is comparatively unproductivo and unfit for
agricultural purposes Between the San Jacin-
to and San Antonio rivers the soil is much better.
and adapted to the growth of cotton &c. and from
thence to the Rio Grande the soil is moro diversi-
fled and better supplied with water, and in oil
things, except timber, is more valuable than any
other portion of tho country bordering the
| Gulf. Every man IN this country has some idea
of tho country bordering the Gulf of Mexi-
co. Commencing at the northern boundary OF
Flozida--folIow the coast around that territory
along Alabama. Mississippi. the whole extent of
Louisiana and Texas, and for about fifty miles
impenotrablo morass, cyprus, and cano swamp.
1t will be rococcted by those who are familiar
with tho movements of tho British at the time OF
their contemplated attack upon New Orleans, that
the entire army was landed about the Goth OF De-
cember. previous to the celebrated Battle, on the
4 beach near tho mouth of the Mississppi-that
( thcy intended to march by land up to the city
that they were unable to penetrate one milo into
the forest swamp--that they then determined
to make road-thoy set the army to work, and
after three days of ruitless labor. they had
not progressed ono hundred rods on their way tc
the city. They found it impossible to mako a
a road, from tho fact that the soil was nothing
but deposi. earth and water. Their men would
sink wais; deep in the mud, and stick could ca
silly be stuck ten feet in the ground without find
ing bottom TO rest upon. They gave up the
idea of making road. and determined to make a
canal. They set the men to work excavating a
canal; but as fast as the dirt was thrown oct il