Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-24

these acts Of the irs, 50 sanctioned, constitute
sufficient proof that ..ihe spirit Of conqnest'
has had some thing to do with tins war =
When we look, too. at conte mporaneous III
dlcations Of the disposition OF the Executive
aud his Official advisers as 10 supplied ny
the columns Of the government paper-the
most ultra and most odlous doctrine OF wh'ch
against the public liberty the President has
iust endorsed in his Message-we cannot
doubt but "the spirit of conquest entered IN
10 the motives of this war. We find IN tha'
poper of the 18th OF May last, Immediately
after the receipt of the first news OF the
conflict of arms on the Rio GraDde, exhoria'
tions TO "throw volunteers at once across the
Rio Grande, march into Mexico, and terml'
nate the war with Mexico, If necessary, IN
The Halls Of .,fontezumd !" Nor was this
hankerlng after the halls Of Montezuma q
new idea with :he Administration, thrown
0ul 10 the heat ofpursuit Of u retreatlng army
The same idea was broached by the organ
OF the present Administration ~ cold blood
within the first three months after its estaO
Iishment in Office, and within one week alter
the Editor OF the new government paper took
his post. In the "Union" Of the 9th OF May,
1915, referring TO some speculations OF
London newspaper upon the supposed designs
Of the United States upon Mexico, our gov
ernment Editor took occasion to say that no,
25 600 men nor 10000 would be necessary
but that 10000 men would be enough, Il
march upon Mexico, adding as follows
"Sound the bugle through the West and
Souhwest-let the United States raise the
standard to morrow, and in this proclaimed
crusade 10 the Halls Of Montezuma and h'
Mines of Aferico. twenty thousand volunteers
would appear" &c. .'"
And on the 22d Of the same month, reply
ing to the Cincinnati Gszette's exception to
the spirit and temper of the above in,imatlon
the "Union" said .... .....
"Was it wrong in us to tell the London
Times that, though we mght not have regular
troops enough yet volunteers would start up
at the first sound Of the bugle by the govern
ment of the United Statos sufficient 10 Over-
run Merico, occupy the Halls Of nontezuma,
and conquer ME usileys Of California ?" .
VIVA, thoughts we're running in the head
Of this Administration on it's very first acces-
sion to power, is sufficiently shown BY these
indications. Nor by the way, was the
thought of bringing on war by the advance
of Gen. TAYLOR's forces to the Rio Grande
entirely out OF the mind Of the Administra
ton long before that march was actually
ordered for, on the lih OF September. lS45,
many of our readers must well remember,
the Union" held the following language:
''lf Arista dares to carry out his braggart
threats-.if he ventures TO cross the Rio
Grande with reinforccments to any little arm
ed pos, which Mexico may occupy on the
east side of that river, Gen. Taylor will at
tempt TO prevent hlm-btood must foW-WAR
MUST ENsUE."
ARIsTA did not cross the Rio Gfande ;
and so, after waiting four months in vain for
such godsend The Administration ordered
Gen. TAYLOR to march his force 10 the Rio
Grande. With what object? For what
purpose These are questions which the
reader will answer for himself, if he be not
satisfied with the view which, in the pre-
ceding columns, has been already taken OF
that matter.
As early as the 9th of June last, the
~ Mon" inadvertently disclosed the fact
that our squadron was instructed, long before
the breaking out Of this war, to be in the
way to take possession Of California, in the
shape Of a supposllion that "an American
force may possibly at this moment be in pos
session of the principal harbors Of Califor
MIA" And before the news Of our occupa
ton OF those harbors or Of the capital Of
New Mexico reached this country THAT is to
say, on the 26lh September) the "Union"
discoursed as follows ......
"Thsrc is every reason to bsliovo tina,
General Kearney is already in possession Of
Santa Fe that Gen. Taylo is now or will
be in few days at Monterey, and perhaps
at Saltillo and that Gen. Wool will be at
by the 10Th or 18th of October.
Shall we then fold our arms and relinquish
one OF the advantages which VIC may have
/? On the contrary, shall zoe mol
prosecute our victories and make additional
conquests-io,cards California and toUardS
The capital Of .Nerico Itself?
And few days afterwards, the news o;
the occupation of Santa Fe having arrived
the "Union" expressed the views Of the
Administration thus {:
"rhe discretion which marked his Gen.
Kearney'sl proceedings after he had reached
Santa Fe, and the subsequent steps which
he is about to take ,ciu make THIS ACQUIsI.
TIoN one of the most remarkable and impor.
iant erents orihc par. He has located our
victorious eagles at this point, and Mexico
has to ask herselfT II ,oe haze THUS ACQUIRED
one of her finest provinces, what is TO stop US
IN our career, or why will she persevere in
the war amid so many dfficullies?"
We have neither time nor space 10 multi
ply proofs, which might be adduced, Of the
intention Of the Administration to consider
New Mexico and California at least, when
overrun, as having been acquired by conquest
for The United States. The President him
self almost avows the design in his recon.
mcndatioh 10 prouide for the security of these
important CoNQUEsrs, by making appropra-
tions for neutrality-suspicious. OF course;
field forticotions or other operations proper
The President, in justification Of the order
Of the 18th January for the march Of our army
to tho Rio Grande, states, as circumstances
existing when it was deemed proper to issue
that order, the following:
"Before these orders were issued, the de-
spa tch of our NJ mister in Mexico, transmitting
the decision Of the Council Of Government of
Mexico, advising that he should not be recev-
ed, aud also the despatch of our Council resd.
ing IN the city Of Mexico-the former bearing
date on the l7lh, and the latter on the 18th OF
December, lSI5-were received ut the De-
partment Of State. These communication
rendered it highly probable, If not absolutely
certain, that our Minister would not be receiv-
ed by the Government, &c.
This may be true, and, whether true or not +,
ia ,ato inl In ho hain0 su0 A..