The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-28
SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE.

.,uor was circulated in Philadelphia on Tues
- Or wednesday, that Mexico had declared war
.';o., the United States 1t produced considera-
70 v,i,sment-whch began to manifest itself IN a
a.r that was worthy of the American spirit
~ :. oos remarkable example Gen. Patterson, OF
n,u.a.,,his. well known throughout the country
-. manly and elevated character which he bears,
on Yesterday to this city, and offered his SER
-. ~ The government in case Of declaration OF
We understand that 5000 volunteers might
.,,.,sd on from Philadelphia and its vicinity;
,h., The keystone State alone might furnish
a. ooo Such is the patriotic spirit of the Ameri-
49,. his time, without regard TO party distinc-
.;on. II is the spirit which should animate the en-
=. n.oDle of the United States. Itwould rouse the
v.lIsy Of the Mississippi at once and the difficulty
ro0d really be, not how many soldiers Should
.,h under the eagles Of the republic, but how
..,nv should remain at home.
And vet, is ii not supremely strange, that Mexi-
:. .bould place herself in the belligerent attitude
nh;cb she processes to assumed She, who for eight
mast ever since the battle of San Jacinto,
h.en unable to rally troops enough To place their
-..;on.rv feet on the soil of Texas, is now pre-
80, 10 declare that she will send her ten or
,,.,e thousand troops over the Rio Grande. For
ub,t purpose' To encounter what oppositon' Not
Twas alone but the indomable spirit and the dis
,;,ned force of the United States, along with the
vo,uo,eers of Texas, She could not defeat Texas
.ioole.banded; and still she boasts of her willing
,.,s ~ meet the allied forces of Texas and the
IJnied S,ates II is idle TO talk of the impression
which the Mexicans will produce in war. II ia RI
aiculous to calculate on her ultimate success in
arms Her government must have other objects in
view. IA it ruse de gusrrs, 1--WE repeat,) to affect
her nending electionsi Or does Mexico expect,
that. when fairly arrayed against us in the field
whether with or without an open declaration of
war--she will prevail upon England and France TO
mediate the terms of peace, and then TO guaranty
the boundaries which she desires to obtain? Are
we to have practical illustration Of Monsieur
Gu;zo,,s famous maxim of 'sthe balance of power
in America" May not Mexico be mistaken in
the visionary calculation Will she prevail upon
the powers of Europe to mediate between usi Or
wha, is still more important-does she expect us
to assent to the proposition She may be mistaken
in the whole system of policy which her states
men may have imagined. At all events, she may
| be deceived about our disposition to accept Of
mediation If Mexico then advances to the
us, or strikes at us without any declaration,
she may feel the blow recoil with tremendous force
upon her own head We would spare her in her
weakness, if we could But it is high time for
us to settle all our differences with herto demand
atonement for her aggressons-o secure justice for
our injured claimants--and to enjoy an honorable
and permanent peace. We desire this. We expect
no honor in contest with power comparatively
weak as Mexico is. But If we can have no honor in
beating, we should suffer the more disgrace in being
beaten by her. In of war, therefore, must put
forth our whole strength, that may have short
lii, we have doubt that the Executive will exert
all the resources which the laws have placed in his
hands, until Congress can come together to unite
their constitutional powers with his own. Who can
doubt that the people too will second the arm Of the
Executive, and the will Of Congressional they
will rally around the banner of the nation, and pre-
sent undivided front to our enemies be they one,
crbe they nore--be they weak, or be they power
IMp Texas is ours II is ours by the best prnci-
pies of the enlightened age in which we Lively
the concurring consent Of the people Of the two
republics. 1t is not then, for Mexico, or for the
world at large, to forbid the banns, or prevent the
annexation. We have acquired Texas with the
hearts Of both people. We will defend every inch
Of her soil with the arms of both.