Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-23
THE UNION AND THE MEXICAN QUESTION,

uNlON AND IHE MEAlCAN QUEcAiOAS.
g Fen though yanqushed he could argue still !" IN
The power of dsputaton ascribed by Goldsmliti
to his Village Schoolmaster is thrown into the shade
by the endowments Of our Official Editor; and his
appetite for argument seems as indispensable as ms
powers are untring Nothing can satisfy or silence
him. In the matter of the Texan boundary we
called to our aid the emphatic authority OF Senator
BENTON and President Jackson, statesmen OF his
own party, who, if they never claimed any thing
that was wrong, certainly never gave up any thing
that was our right. We know, indeed, that the
time was when the editor of the Union did not hold
the opinions Of General JACKSON in the highest es
TEEN; but the opinions of President JACKSON we
thought possessed more weight with him, and when
endorsed by those Of the distinguished Senator OF
Missouri, we INDUCED the hope that they would
prove sufficient if not to settle the boundary, at
least to redeem patriotism in venturing to agree
with them. Vain hope Instead Of graceful ac-
acknowledgement that with authority SO high, we had
at least color of right" on our side, the editor
plunges into fresh Of invectye and gives us
two columns Of reply, original and compiled. We
would fain follow him through his rejoinder, re-
state and reinforce our own positions, and answer
what is new in his article, if indeed there be any
thing new but it would be waste Of labor upon
him and waste of room for our readers. II con-
WINGED, it would be against his will Having,
moreover, no relish for argument for arguments
sake, it is our custom, when we have said what we
have 70 say subject, to let it pass for what it
is worth, and drop it, He, ardent as a southern
make him. delights in the lists, and would
hack his blade upon any foe sooner than have
none.
We requested the editor to combat the exposi-
fions of Messrs. BENTON and Jackson Of the bound
airy question: not ours. He replies by citing on his
side Messrs. VAN buren,, FORSYTH, JEFFERSON,
MADISON, MONROE, ADAMS, CLAY, and WALKER; a
formidable array Of names indeed, and worthy Of
all respect could they be all truly invoked in the
attempt to change the line which Mr. BENTON says
" divided the ancient Louisiana from New Mexico. y
But this is not the In regard to the opinions
OF Col. BENTON, he replies that he admires our
adroitness in bringing up the heavy battery of the
Senator from Missouri our relief; that he respects
Col. b. as much can; is grateful for his
brilliant services, &c. but prefers not to answer
himself the speech of Col. B. of May, 1914, upon
WHICH we Teiy, anu therefore VIII simply repuD-
iish the reply of Mr.. Senator WALKER, which he
accordingly subjoins. These antagonists not
unworthy of each other, and we willing TO re-
NIT the argument TO the arbitrament of their respec
tive speeches
One word more. The editor of the Union is fond
of Wanting his patriotism, and seems to measure
that virtue by the extent to which he pushes the
claims Of his own country and curtails those Of
Others. We do not object to this in the editor Of
the Union; it is in keeping perhaps with the uncal-
culang ardor of his nature, and the duties of his
official position. But we wish the editor to learn
that there is quality Of patriotism less beligerent
perhaps but not less true or less intrepid and that
is the PATRIOTISM not Of grasping all that can be got
but in guarding the honor of the country by keeping
it in the right; patriotism that would sacrifice all
the wastes between the Mississippi and Cape Horn
sooner than wrest one league Of territory from a
weak neghbor unrighteously, and stand before the
impartial world wrong-doer and an oppressor.
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