Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-06-21
THE CRUSADE AND THE CURSE.

i The National lnelligencer quoted some days ago
/ an article OF OURS on the crusade against Mexico
and the " Union," in transferring il 10 its columns
Il remarks
s'The facts, then, these The London Times was "a
king the part Of Mexico against own contrv soc
encourage Mexico, into war by telling her that she
might the campaign that she hot dread ~
invasion that had not troops than a
garrison posts had none to spare for the invasion
Of Mexico Was right IN 10 expose the bIunder nio
which the London Times had fallen TO the British
Minister'S Mexico herself against the consequences d
acting upon these views TO cntrea Great Britain
not NEEDLE with not TO stimulate Mexico to hosties
not to force us TO California, and therefore tempt
us keep Was the spirit the temper OF our article, IN
attempting opeyen with all the injuries would bring
on Mexico, wrong Was it wrong IN us TO tell the London
Times that though might not have regular troops enough
yet volunteers would up the first sound Of the bugle
y the Government Of the United States sufficient TO
Mexico occupy the halls Of Monezuma and conquer the val
eys of California Whose spirit them is the BEST and the
the most pacchs who, seeing the bunder OF the London
Times sought and pointed out the danger of pro-
vong and skeced out the ofa free and
erpsng people, the London Times, whowo encourage
Mexico plunge into war; by the hope Of mpuny and the
i prospect Of success"
i Let us, on this question of peace or war, waive
all minor matters. The Union need not fear the
1 loyalty of any party, if conflict comes with any
i foreign nation. Americans will be Americans in
1 that hour. Oppose its coming-regret it-dread
| it: all this may be with portion of them. But
i there will be no fear, no division, when the hour
as: shall all move together as one man--as one
party. Nor should the Union trouble itself about
the London Times. That journal neither sways
the British Public, nor speaks for the British Min
istry. And IL it did both, the Official misunder-
stands the real drift Of its articles about Mexico if
we read them Alright. But let the Times go. 1t
was not the reference TO that il not the notice
of any blunders committed by that journal; it was
not for any Of the suggestions thrown out by the
Union that we were led to speak and write as we
did; it was the apparent seeming purpose of the
Official, strongly backed by its leading friends, to
keep alive the spirit of the land to in1ame the
passions Of the people unnecessarily, we had al
most said paafoniy, against foreign Powers; to en-
courage preparation for conflict; to bring about,
in Short such conflict even while pacific in part, in
speech and pretension. This it was we dreaded,
both for the present and for the future, and this
alone. And this dread is in nowise diminished by
the explanatory article Of the Union; for that
signs as the reason why il spoke as il did the pur-
| pose to I. entreat Great Britain not to force
us to take California, and therefore, not to Tempt
us to keep it." Why should Great Britain force us
to do wrong! Why tempt us to excess-to a
boundless ambition for conquest! But we shall
pass by all these matters and, fthe Union Ito whose
general fairness and gentlemanly bearing we bear
cheerful testimony will lend us its ear for few
anxiety on this important subject.
/. The social position of the West, as il knows,
is somewhat peculiar. From variety Of causes
the ambition with all to be first to get up in the
world, is as hot as ever nfamed or afflicted the hui
man breast. The competition in trade-the intense,
fierce energy with which business and labor are
driven for money--not for its sake simply, but for
the power it gives, and the rank it confers-these
things marked upon the face of our society
he m, On the ctorr, he eu What
stops our adventures! What peril, by land or sea,
disheartens or damps their efforts! What scheme,
| however mighty or bold, alarms their fears or re-
tards their action For selfadvancement, for So
cial power and position they will brave any thing
and every thing--disease, privation, famine, even
death itself This is characteristic OF the social
| temper of the West.
2. Our political ambition is, if possible holder
aud more reckless than our social ambition. We
have been educated in strife. We love it, and look
for it, as necessary aliment Of life The people
enter into it, indeed, if it all in all to them,
and consequently party is carried into every thing
and, with few exceptions, rules every thing. For
proof of this need only look at the gigantic
dertakings by Western States-their failure-the
manner in which that failure was met by them
and the character of their Legislators, at home and
Washington. The latter consideration alone will
explain all we would say For one of the most
alarming symptoms we have noticed is, the charac-
ter of the representation, as whole, sent by the
West to their home Legislatures and to Congress.
tits young, inexperienced, reckless, ignorant coarse,
revolutionary in spirit, and, part, nfde at heart
Ii scrambes for Office by using the most polluting
means, and, when in office, puts itself in market for
higher Advancement or surer position, with the
most corrupt efrontery. Let it not be said here
that any party in the West lacks the necessary vr-
tue or intelligence TO prevent this state of things.
They do not They have enough OF both, under
proper secontrol, 10 meet any crisis in wide and
wise spirit and do for the country what the coun
try might need in it. But they have been carried
away, maddened and blinded by party excess and
political ambition, and they have thus impulsivey
sacrificed, so far they could sacrifice them, their
immediate interests and the interests Of the State
and Nation, for the present and future.
| 3. Our locaton-the very natural advantages we
en)oy-give vigor, an energy to human life, which,
with these operating causes, surround us with peril
No man be great without reverence, a love of
home, steadiness and patience. No nation be
| great or permanent without these same qualities
Look at the West, with this view, geographically.
There is hardly spot distant or near, which may
not be reached in few days. IL the wayfarer
stands on the wharf at Cincinnati he knows, as he
hears the escape of seam that he may be at the
Balize or the Falls of st. Anthony he is missed
almost from home and every boy knows it too ;
all know that Texas is within short distance, and
Oregon not beyond the bounds Of our travel. Is
there excitement greater opportunity Tor GAIN surer
/ or more rapid advancement socially or politically,
in these or other distant sections, they are of-of