Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-06-14
THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.


were so eager TO preserve the blessings of peace as
TO close their eyes to the possibility OF war, now
seem inclined TO go TO the other extreme, ana
are ready to bring three wars upon us at once
with Mexico, with England, and with France-lo
say nothing OF the prospect with Brazil, whicn
appeared inevitable, according TO the late British
papers. We have only to repeat what has appear
ed probable for long time to many intelligent mer-
chants in this city--a with Mexico Is not an
impossible event. and the country ought TO be, and
we hope is, prepared to meet It. BY annexing
Texas, we did, in the opinion OF many declare war
upon Mexico, who had not de jtre, although she
certainly had de facfo, renquished her claim to that
portion OF her territory.
. 1t was then assumed that Mexico was too weak
and contemplate Power to resist to meet such
declaration of war by any other course than the
most quiet submission. And, proceeding upon this
assumption, il was argued that the annexation of
Texas would be closed as an important dramatical
event. by its declaration of assent to the terms of
annexation proposed to it by the United States.
This is still the received opinion of great portion
Of the press, and is an opinion sanctonedand APP
proved by leading statesman Of the South and his
political friends.
Still the fact must begin to make itself evident to
them, it does to many who hitherto have paraken
of this opinion at the North that the solution of the
problem Of our first step towards territorial aggran
\ dizement is not yet at hand. W. may be opening
upon new chapter OF events. Wemay be on the
eve OF passing quietly, and almost imperceptiby,
INTO new OF action which shall put to rest
for some years much of the activity and enterprise
of peace, and awaken energies and instincts natural
to the human breast, and not wholly foreign to the
Anglo-Saxon race.
Two years ago we were quite content to look
around upon our already widely-exended borders ;
TO view with feeling of patriotic satisfaction the
rapid and unexampled progress Of the arts of civil
cation and of peace to dwell with natural pride
upon the general diffusion OF knowledge and religion
under the protection of our institutions and to limit
antcipaons at least for the present generation
to the admission of Florida, Iowa, and Wisconsin
into the Confederacy, and the gradual incorporation
Of the Northwestern Territory into the Union.
Now we too FESTIVE and impatient to content
ourselves with these narrow limits. We think, talk
and write-perhaps dream-of Texas, Texas-Ore-
gon, California--and sweeping the British
from the face of the continent.
In the mean time, if the American people are de-
termined upon this change of habts-if of those
periodical mutations in human affairs, from which
the Atlantic world has been long exempt, is about
to take place, we may as well be prepared for it, Ii
the alarm is a true one, it would be objectionable
negligence on our part to meet it unprepared if
false, we SHALL in preparing ourselves for war, have
only done that which the Father Of his Country
butte among the States the surplus revenue which
they never should have received, we neglected to
do at the proper time.
The Washington correspondent of morning pa
per submits two alternatives, either Of which he
thinks is likely TO beget war; To the first of these,
which assumes that Great Britain will go the extent
OF live millions in order TO buy majority in the
Texan Congress, it is perhaps not necessary to pay
much attention.. Such purchases can never be made
I..1 AZ IL
ing the natural impulse to do good by a rapid cal
eulation Of the greater advantages to be derived
from an honest course over one so hagranty disho-
nest, enables weak human nature to resist the evil
10 the second alternative which is, that annexation
takes place by the popular voice, and that Mexico,
stimulated and encouraged by England not by any
direct assurance of aid, but by the hostile attitude
assumed by that Power towards us ON the Oregon
question. will proceed to repossess herself of por
ton at least of her territory earnest attention must
be given. II is here and in this way, that the be-
ginning Of the end may arise.
Mexico has force, under General Arsta, upon
the Rio Grande. The line she appears determined
to take is within the limits of Texas. collision
between the American and Mexican troops may
take place upon this ground, for Texas will not
yield this portion of the territory, and the American
Government has already placed at its disposal a
naval force to cooperate this point, and has
uohcu III reserve Iorcc OF eighteen companies OF
dragons and infantry ready for action if the tocsin
be sounded.
II is one of the anomalies in affairs Of Govern
ment to see how distant and comparatively unim-
portant spot often rivets the attention of the whole
Christian world, while il almost appears to overlook
its nearer and more immediate interests. Thus,
during the past twenty years, England France,
Russia, and the German Confederacy have occupied
themselves, by turns, with the affairs Of Greece, OF
Spain of the Levant, of Algiers, of India, and OF
the Pacific Isles. Yet there were some thirty mil
lions OF people in England, as many in France,
twice that number in Russia and Germany, and we
do not venture very bold assertion in saying that
IN neither OF these countries is government yet
acfiy perfect, the social system yet so organized
as to produce much comfort and happiness to all
It's component parts as il might do. Still il seems
that novelty is desirable in grave matters it is
IN those of lighter nature.
The brokers in Wall street. when they have suE
hclenty run upon all the well known stocks, gene
rally seek out the most distant and the most rotten
institutions they can fnd-the more worthless the
better-out OF which they make new and clear
pack, and the bysanders eagerly ion with them =
the game. So politicians, ohe,, an IL neoce NM
quiefness al hOne, go 10 The Uery verge of fh,
southern or Destern horizon, and thence bring i,
neto theme for prolific debates, speeches. and Al
plomatic notes. and The people, pleased Nth he mo-
rely, loAoU their movements Nth az, eager rag,
md ail-absorbing stare. But there is a limit r.
both these operations pay dav co,nea rn,,rd