Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-05
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, Va.
Saturday Morning, May 2, Is46.
LIE, the Presiden, do what he may, he will be

Let the President do what he may, he will be
denounced by some of the Wing press. II, under
the obligations of his oath, he lay before Con-
gress his solemn convictions Of our rights to The
Oregon territory, and recommend the adoption OF
measures for the ascertanment OF those rights
and the permanent security Of the honor and
peace Of The nation, The Wing press assail him
forwanlonly invoking war, 10 subserve his own
per.onal ambition. But no sooner has this Ore
pon storm blown over, quelled by the firm, yet
dienfed and moderate stand OF our Government,
than some Of The Wing journals turn around and
denounee the administration Tor want OF courage
and energy in its hearing towards Mexico. The
PhilaGeIph North American, that once shudder-
ed with horror al the shadow of British power,
and ,hreked with fear when il was announced
that the people Of The United States would be
ready, if forced 10 do So to vindicae their rights
and honor against Great Britain, has suddenly
changed its dove-like NOE, and raises warlike
cry against weak and unfortunate Mexico. 1t
calls for The most stringent and Incorporating
measures II would no longer give quarter TO
our Southern neighbors, but would at once sweep
them from the face Of the earth. We give few
passages OF its bellcose article:
"Our country is made by the Mexican govern
ment the subject Of the most dishoDoring vi,upe-
ration; quasi war is declared against us; our
Misister Is discarded; and, in Short we are subjec
ted 10 more of humiliation and wrong than We
have endured since the Tripolitan war. Where
is the Executive All that was characterized oy
the President as demanding national resentment,
has occurred The insults We have invited, by
sending our Minister e-have received. What
new dishonor is necessary TO arouse our govern
ment tc action And why is il, that The admin
isra,ion, which so anxiously seeks to embroil US
with Great Britain in relation to an abstract ques-
ton OF title 10 disputed territory submits 10 be
kicked and cuffed, wronged and dishonored by
power like Mexico2 II istrue, that, as The strong
er party, we may, without shame, exercise mag
unanimous iorbearance; but there are limits be-
yond which submission 10 wrong is sanction,
and tameness and invitation TO fresh injury
What government in existence would have borne
what we have borne from The MeXicans, il not
conscious that il was in The wrong7
as this the secret OF the nerneSs OF the Ad-
minisiration2 The acquisition Of Texas seems
to have cowed the betler part OF man in orr Go.
vernment. It's sword is glued in its scabbard;
and while it protests against the wrongs and in
suits which are showered upon its head a shrug
of the shoulders Is The only response. Now, the
act, whatever il be, has been adopted by The ma
lion: il is too late 10 debate about il. The repu-
laiion Of the country is al slake-not merely its
reputation for honor, but the credit of possessing
the strength and courage TO protect our commerce
il is necessary that il should be vim
dicaled, or we may expect that every petty pow
er, whether despol or anarch, will conclude that
il is safe 10 prey upon our people. Ii ian insult
SO deliberate, wrong so profound that TO en-
dure il is 10 invite from the meanest OF the CON-
lnuniIies of the earth, indignily and oppression
Our duty is plain. We should either reirace our |
steps or go on. To stand still and permit Mex
leo to treat and our citizens as robbers OF her J
and, therefore as unworthy OF recog- I
nitien under The laws Of nations is degradation |
hat cannot be endured.
"War is a great evil; but there are greater |
evils. The issue between this country and |
Mexico has reached point where there is no
'oom for turning. Our government should act
with promptness and decision, and upon scale
worthy OF the republic The police force now on
,ur borders is wholly inadequate; and il IS doubt
d whether our squadron is OF sufficient strength.
There will, we apprehend, be no action until
he administration shall have received The sane
on of Congress; bur il should then be backed by
force sufficient 10 close tie wdr By bloU. The
ounIy anticipates, and with anxiety, early ard
lrncsi action upon this subject"
Now let us suppose the reverse of what is ac- ;
ally the case. Lei US assume that, instead OF
lrsuing The forbearing but dignifed and yigi- .
Mt measures which have been taken, Mr.. Polk
I'd drawn The sword of war-had directed Gene
/ Taylor TO cross the Rio Grande, attack and de-
roy the Mexican army, and had ordered our
,et 10 lombard Vera Cruz, and blockade The
her ports OF Mexico. This We would have been
sifed in doing, on account of the various in {
Its thrown out by Mexico, her repeated declara-
ms OF war by her Presidents, Generals, Sc.
ut had this been done, The Wing press would :
i've come out against the "wanton, bloody J
ar" which Mr.. Polk had waged against weak,
and powcress Mexico! The acqui-
lion OF Texas, instead OF being said TO have
lowed the better part Of man" rs sneeringly
larged BY the North American, would al once
I'VE been paraded, as inhuming the Southern
God OF the President against wreched and IN
rejected nation. Texas, as now, would be made
&c scape-geat for allth offences imputed 10 Mr.
ok
But. no; the Administration, while il has prac-
sad prassworthy iorbearance towards Next
., has rigilan,ly consulted the honor and inter-
:, of the United States. Gen. Taylor has been
atoned on the banks Of the Rio Grande, not 10
s,ail the Mexicans, bul 10 guard our own right {
II territory. Our fleet is in the Cult, in striking
istance of the scene Of action, and ready 10 ACT
| the first signal. Mr.. Polk would willingly
void, if possible, violent measures towards Mex
%; but we are satisfied that he has at heart, as
,teresls OF thi. country. He is certainly better
cquainted with all The points Of The case, and
i'll, al he proper time, recommend what ne
links is necessary and polite, TO settle all our
ificutics with Mexico. He will do his duty,
.gardless Of the sneers or assaults Of his oppo-
enls. We have no fear that he will recklcssly
Ike any step which may endanger the peace or
ilu the honor of the nation.
The Union says that The Administration "has
re Mexican case under its best consideration and
ill act in its own good time, without waiting
pom Santa Ana, or for new revolution, or play
ng at all the part OF what Walter Scoi calls a
,aiter upon Providence
In another column will be found summary
/ The principal features Of the bill to establish
he Smithsonian Institution, passed by The House
N Wednesday. The original bill was brought
n by Mr. Owen Of Indiana, who sustained il in
classical and eloquent speech. It's leading lea
ure was the organization OF system Of Normal
Schools. This bill, after having been variously
lmended, was superseded by the substitute offer
d by Mr.. Hough, and passed in that form.
We observe that all the Virginia delegates pre-
en, voted against the bill, viz: Messrs. Akin
on, Bayy, Brown, Dromgoole, Hubbard, Hun
er. Johnson. Leaxe, and Mcdowell. Their OPP
position, We presume, was based upon The fact,
hat The bill substantially establishes corpora.
ion, which Congress has no power 10 grant.
When Congress accepted this fund, many