The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-07-09
The Dismemberment of Mexico.

The Disme mberment of Mexico.
BY the latest advices from Mexico, it would
appear that several of the departments of that
unfortunate country have been entertaining the
project of separation from the general govern
ment, and OF forming, each for itself, indie
pendent republic on the federative system. Yu-
catan has already taken action upon this matter
--Jalisco has followed her example-New Mexico
threatens a similar course, and doubtless we
shall soon hear of Oaxaca, and the other southern
departments, breaking out under Alvarez, or
some other Mexican philosophers
If Mr.. Polk is determined on the conquest and
annexation of the whole of Mexico, his best policy
would be TO encourage, to the fullest extent, the
domestic separation of her States. The conquest
of the different departments in detail would be
easy and boodless; and, after all, would
have taken possession of this fine, but neglected
country, with less guilty motives than those
which led the French to conquer Algiers, the
English to overrun India, China and hundred
other countres-the Russians 10 possess them
selves of Georgia and invade Circassia - the
Prussians to tyrannise over Poland, and the Aus
TRANS to annex Venice, Lombardy and the Pc.
There is no, nation in Europe, possessed of
power, that has failed to make Of it; and not
one that could "cast the stone at u.s."
The only excuse that England can offer for the
conquest of India, and the invasion of China-or
rather the only palliation is, that she has endea-
vored to better their condition and we believe
she has, TO some extent, or rather to homGo-
pathe extent, accomplished this end. Certainly,
in these conquered countries, the great mass of
the people have exchanged their former abject
slavery for n slightly mdcr servitude or slavery.
With how much justice, then, might we, in the
eyes of the world, assume the same responsible
ty towards Mexico We have now looked upon
the Mexican people, struggling in their chains for
aperiod of thirysix years, and to the farci-
cal dogmas of international law, we have not
whispered to them word of encouragement.
We have seen them ridden to death, by unprinci-
pied military dctators-we have heard their groans
and needed not their oppression. Who, then,
will deny that these people would not be better
received into the bosom of our great republic and
protected by its flag of stars Poor serfs, theJ
would then experience what they have never
known before-the luxury Of liberty.
IT, on the other hand, we are only fighting for
peace with Mexico--a redress for past grew
ances and liberal compensation for our expenses
in obtaining that redress, the less encouragement
we lend to the dsmemberment of Mexico, the
better for US and the better, perhaps, poor DEVILS
for them. If Mexico is to remain independent it
is interest that she should be prosperous, and
70 become so, she must remain entire Our terms
of peace to be obtained at this juncture from her
government will put us on a good mercantile
footing with her citizens, and her prosperity will
become ours But this prosperity is not to be gain
ed by allowing her to be cut up into a number of
miniature independencies Far from it, How
long would these minnikin republics remain re-
publics Some Of them not year, and we
would have in Mexico halfa dozen little kingdoms,
with military dictators at their head, in less than
no time The great Bolivar, who knew the Span
ish American character intimately, spent the last
ten years of his lie in endeavoring to consolidate
the South American republics into one great fed
eralism. He knew thousand times better than
we do, the capacity of his countrymen for self
government-he knew that little federalism is a
great farce and only multiplies the number of ir-
responsible masters; and knowing all this, Simon
Bolivar labored with all his might to construct for
South America one great national government,
such as we have at Washington, and whose
greatness would be a guarantee for the dignity
and integrity of its acts. But Simon Bolivar la
bored in vain. The bad spirit of military am
bition was alb road among his chieftains-each
wished to have a slice of the cheese to his own
share-each wished to be little king himself,
and the plans of the great leader were frustrated.
South America could better bear dismember-
ment than Mexico-there are natural boundaries
there that require the existence of separate 90
vernments; besides, the South American people
are not serfs like the mass of the Mexcans.
1t has been amply proved that small republics
are contrary to the interests Of peace and prospe-
rity-proved by Yucatan herself-proved by Qua
temala-proved by Quito-by Perjury Chill
by Uruguay-Buenos Ayres and Hayh. Aye, and
even in our own country of intellect and educa-
ton.
IfMexico, then, is to remain independent let
her also remain entire. If she is TO be dismem.
bored, let the fragments be Immediately united
with the United States.
MORE OF THE CALIFORNIA ExPKpIrIoS.-In the
present interesting state of affairs, when is more
than probable that the territory of California il
actually in possession Of the American feet, ir
the Pacific, anything connected with the future
prospects of that country must be Of peculiar in.
terest and importance TO the citizens Of this grea