Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-08-15
RICHMOND, VA
THE CRISIS Az LAST

tuorieS, which VIII &c iOaaa pCioNi do la@t"
itom the New Orleans Republican, there seems
10 be no doub, Tia; Mexico has committed ihe
suicidal folly Of declaring war against he tinted
States, for the supposed outrage upon her sou
ana national righ,s, b. the annexation Of Texas
the latter being vastly more fee AMI indcpchden'
than her savage orpres>or. we had hofeo ''a'
10 such mad aud ridiculous sep ~caid EaVe oeeh
taken By lha, mpo,eni nation, weak in It's own
elements, but rendered entirely poweTlcss ifom
intestine dssenson and anarchy
But the die is cas,-anl this Government. will
meet The issue, forced uron il, in thespii OF = me-
Iican lccmen. II is a matter Of proud satisfaction
10 know that the Executive have taken active
ana vigorous Steps 10 concentrate sufficient ma
val and military force, 50 as 10 meet al conlia-
gencies. In addition 10 the 1900 troops now IN
Texas, we see hat troops have been ordered rom
Fortress Monroe, Fort Hamilton, On. f.,) fort
Mcieniy, (rear Bal,moreOto repair al once 10
The rendezvous in Texas. Il is thought mat N a
very short tine, we shall have collected force 81
1000 eiiicirn, men-who, with the local troops
furnished b. our nc.v associate Texas, will be
amply sufficient 10 chastisc the insocnce OF
Mexico and ma liain the honor and rights OF our
country. A very efficient little fleet is now col
lected IN the Cult 70 capture, or drive from The
ocean, the wrelched vessel, thai Mexico NAY be
able 10 scrare together Her prira:ccrS will tall
an easy prey 10 The invincibie naval power Of the
United States Our victories, both on land and
sea. will be easiiy won-and, in very short time.
The baasied Mexican valor will be a bywori with
nations.
OF course, ii is unnecessary 10 add, that this
declaration OF hosiiieS will cause mol The least
apprehension among our people. Conscious that
Ihei. cause is righteous and lha! Tie las resort 70
arms has been forced upon them b. an arrogant
power, in a moment oil desperation the people
unanimously with the exception OF few trai ors
10 he North, will wait cooiy The course OF events,
resolved, at al bazariS 10 vindicale ih- rights
ana honor Of he country, agan>; Il world in
arms
The y. O. Republican thinks i probable that
England will be party 10 lie war with Mexico.
We must have strong evidence 10 make Us look
for such a result. She has too much siaked upon
her s.re Hing commerce. 10 expose j, toihe attacks
Of our gallant navy A war with US would cut
al, her supply OF coiiun-ths would, al once, stop
her manufactures, and arouse The deep discon-
tent Of her millions ii operatives. In her very
bosom would spr.rS up deatiy enemies Who, mad
dened Gy The want Of bread, "oud require :,
mighty force 10 sutiue their aercr dsSensi1ns :
Her colonies, gtcsnius Under British avafice
AMI oppression, wou,i welcome the signal
for their redemption from her CALLING chains, and
would strike for their Independence. In word,
in The first n:omcn, OF war, England would find
herself surrounded IL nuMberless obstacles, that
would cripple her power in every direction
For these reasons, we cannot tnink, that she viii
have the folly, 10 involve herself in war, which
will break up her commerce, stop he: factories,
and probably wrest from her many Of her rebel
liouS colonies.
But, suppose she should rush mad!y into The
7rc'cc, what woni be the consequence Il will
he admitted, iha; it would be almost exclusively
Il maritime war, and review Ui our early naval
operations will show how such an one would re-
suit at the present time Tie New Orleans Re
publican examines this point, and make u,e
oil ths facts furnished b. tia: excs!!ea: Journal.
Ia the Revolution our Navy consis;e.! OF about
twenty-five vessels of all descriptions. In 1893
small as il was, the ocean was covered with It's
glorious achievements The first Lord Of the
British Admiralty, in his official report, stated
that the Americans had captured s@r,n Apndred
GaA ci2ify-tiree vessels The loss Of which, he cs-
t;na,ed a. tlrcirs 0al La'f niiii0rs OF dollals-
bu, i, was subsequently asccria;ned 10 b. nearer
Treaty nliiLcns. In a single cruise Paui Jones
captured Sc'cen yti-cs. Before the close OF the
war, lis fighting vessels, carrying $500 guns and
lloO0 seamen, sailed under American co!ors.
They secured both the great oceans. moved over
the British Channel, and laid siege to castles and
Towns even ON the British Isles Bristol, the
sreat commercial City in England. was shat
tered by the sPoia,ions Of our cruisers.
So much FOR the glorious deeds Of our Navy in
the infancy Of The Republic. Il would be easy
10 calculate what cout now be done by our ex-
ccllen, Navy commanded ~ able ana skiliul Of
ticcrs, and thoroughly cpincd men. Welfare
all the means and experience 10 I'll ont icrnid2-
be naval force. The numerous steamers which
cover the Mississippi and Ohio cou! soon be
made valuable instruments OF attack and de-
fcnce-and we should have no cause 10 dread
even the bcas!ed Marine Of England. For
brief period We might encounter reverses, III; in
a short time, we should he fully prepared TO cut
up British commerce, and tame her arrogance.
The Picayune thus shadows forth the probable
course tina, Mexico will pursue:
''Ihat she will issue letters OF .narcue and re-
prsal-alempi 10 turn loose sci Of foreign pT-
va,errs upon oGr Con!ncfce-has been limited at
and with good show OF reason. There are not
sailors enough, pat them all together in her con-
tcmrtibic marine 10 man a single sloaT oi war
effectively, and We lra>i that our GovcTrmentwill
ai once declare every vessel engaged under Next
can colcrs, without the lawful complement OF ma
tives on board pirate, and string up every 10
reigner TO The yard arm. The pages OF Vattel
NAV not afford such authority, bu, Vattel knew
but little Of Mexico when he wrote, and strong
cases require prompt and iorcihle Arguments
On iand The course Of the United States is plain
enough. Wi,h The regular troops now in Texas,
ADD the volunteers ready TO start at moments
warming, We have force sufficient 10 crush any
miserable apology Of an army Mexico can con-
cenirate between San Lu 5 Po,osi and The Rio
Gfanie flr three months 10 comet would be an
act oil charity 10 take the entire army OF our
gasconadins neiehbors prisoners. 10 save them
from TIE starvation that has long been preying
upon them. Possession Of The harhors Of Calor-
MIA matter which irsatc and sloop Of war
could easily effect might also be taken, and if
all these plans are carried out We shall have the
enemy at our gates sueing Tor peace before a
year is over their heads"
The ~ O.. Courier contends that, even The
closing OF the ports OF Mexico TO American Com.
merce would, by the law Of Nations, be iana-
mount 10 declaration Of war, and holds, that the
United States should act accordingly, and MOI
wait until il shoul please Mexico 10 remove the
embargo. The Courier cites the example Of
France, against whose commerce Mexico closed
her porls-aiier France had wasted years in
vain attempts 10 enforce the rejected claims other
citizens for indemnify France al once blockaded