Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-09-05
From the Washington Union
cpIRJN Of THE PEOPLE.

rumor was circulated in Philadelphia
- Tuesday or Wednesday. that Mexico
had declared war against the United States !
+, nroduced considerable excitement
nh;cb began TO manifest itself in a, manner
hat was worthy of the American spirit.
Take one remarkable example. Gen. Pat
,erson, of Philadelphia, we'll known thro'-
out the country for the manly and elevated
character which he bears, came on yester-
dsy 10 this city, and offered his services TO
the government IN case Of declaration OF
war. We understand that 5000 volunteers
D;oht be calculated on from Philadelphia
md lts vicinity; and that the Keystone
ss4.e alone might furnish 10000. Such
is the patriotic spirit of the Americans at
this time, without regard to party dIstlnc-
lions. 1t is the spirit which should ami
mate the entire people oflhe United States.
Il would rouse the valley of the MISSISSIPPI
nj at once; and the difficulty would really
be, not how many soldiers should march
under the eagles of the republic, but how
many should remain at home.
And yet, is it not supremacy strange.
that Mexico should place herself in The
beIligerent altitude which she pro esses to
assume? She, who for eight years past,
ever since the battle Of San Jacinto, has
been unable to rally troops enough.to place
their stationary feet on the soil of Texas.
is now presuming to declare that she will
send her ten or twelve thousand troops over
the Rio Grande. For what purpose! 10
encounter what opposition! Not Texas
alone, hut the indomilabIe spirit and the
disciplined force of the United States. a.
long with the volunteers of Texas. She
could not defeat Texas singIe-handed; and
still she boasts Of her Willingness to meet
the allied forces of Texas and the United
States! 1t is idle to talk of the impression
which the Mexicans will produce in war.
1t ridiculous to calculate on her ultimate
success in arms. Her government must
have other objects in view. Is it ruse
dc guerre, 1--WE repeaO to affect her pend
lug elections! Or does Mexico expect,
that, when Ealr y arrayed against lis in the
fcld-whether with or Without an open
declaration Of war---$he will prevail upon
England and France TO mediate The terms
Of peace, and then to guaranty the boun.
darles which she desires to obtain Are
we to have a practical illustration of Mon
sieur Guizou's famous maxim of 1.-THE bal
ance Of power in America z" May no
Mexico be mistaken in the visionary cal
culasion! Will she prevail upon the pow
et7 of Europe to mediate between us! o.
what is still more mportant,-does slit
expect us to assent to the proposition
She may be mistaken IN the whole system
OF policy which her statesmen may have
imagined. At all events, she may be de
ceived about our disposition to accept o
mediation. If Mexico then advances &
the verge of hostiIities-if she declares va
upon us, or strikes at us without any de
claration, she may feel the blow recoi
with tremendous force upon her own head
We would spare her in her weakness,
we could. Bat it is high time for us II
settle all our differences with her--to de
mand atonement for her aggreSsions-t
secure justice for our injured claimants
and TO enjoy an honorable and permaner
peace. We desire this. We expect II
honor in a contest with power so con
parativeIy weak as Mexico Is. But if "
can have no honor III beating, we shout
suffer the more disgrace in being heate
by her. In case Of war, therefore, "
must put forth our whole strength. that "
may have short war, aud lasting peace
And, acting in this spirit, we have Il
doubt that the Executive will exert all It
resources which the laws have placed
his hands, until Congress can come toget
er to unite their constitutional powers vii
his own. Who can doubt that the peop
too will second the arm Of the Executv
and the will OF Congress THAT they wi
rally around the banner of the nation. al
present an undivided front TO our enemie
be they one, or be they more-be the
weak or be they powerful! Texas is on
by the best principles of the enig htene
age III which we live-by the concurrlr
consent of the people of the two republic
Ii Is not, then, for Mexico, or for the wor
at large, to forbid the banns, or prove
the annexation. We have acquired TIE!
as with the hearts of both people. "
will defend every inch of her soil with ii
arms of both.
Our Pn.Ddoru 1D;h 1fgrjco-Tha Was