The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-21
FOREIGN NEWS BY THE CAMBRIA
England.

The proceedings OF Parliament since inc las'
steamer have not been Of much interest On the
18th, 10 tie House Of Commons, tho chancellor 81
the exchequer obtained leave TO bring IN bill 10
authorize the appointment Of railway department.
The object was TO appoint board for the regula-
lion of all matters connected with railways, TO con-
sist OF 1--WE Individuals president who shall be
more or less connected with the government two
paid members, not connected with the government;
and two unpaid members, connected with the gov
ernment--the object Of the latter provision being
that there might be in either house Of Parliament
one person ready at all times to answer any ques-
tons which might be asked in reference TO the
management Of railways. II also proposed
20 transfer TO this board the whole Of the stati
Of the railway department Of the board Of trade,
and TO impose upon lis members the duty Of seeing
that existing railways strictly complied with the
provisions Of their bills respectively.
Some important remarks were made in the House
of Commons on the Gath ult, by Lord Pamerston,
upon the war between this country and Mexico.
We annex il at length;
Lord George Bentinck called the attention Of the
House 10 the present state Of affairs between the
United States and Mexico. This country had
exports TO il amounted TO f500,OO0 year, as the
British capital invested in its mines amounted to al
least xl0 000 900, and as the public debt OF Mexico
20 this country amounted TO nearly as much more.
War, therefore, between the United States and
Mexico must be extremely injurious TO British com
mercial interests; and IL 1t should end in the con
quest Of Mexico by the United States, he feared
that the British debt ia Mexico would follow the
fate Of the debts owing by the United States
themselves TO this country. Besides, # the UnE
Ted States became masters Of Mexico, they
would, in Consequence Of their having already
annexed Texas 10 themselves, stand at once ~
front and rear Of our West Indian colonies. lie
then entered Ito a history OF the various aggres-
siye measures by which the United States had hrsl
OF all annexed Texas, and by which they were
now attempting TO annex Mexico and California.
Unless there was an end put To the now exist
ing between Mexico and the United States, by the
firm and earnest mediation Of this country, II would
lead 10 results most unfavorable TO British inter
ests. He argued that there never was a case OF
moro unjusukable aggression than that Of the Uni
ted States upon Mexico, and that as the annexation
OF Texas was the test for President Of the United
States at the last presidential election, would thu
annexation Of California, IL not Of the entire OF
Mexico, be the test at the election Of President 10
the year l6tS. In gaining possession OF Mata-
moros the United States had gained the key to Cen
trail Mexico, and were thereby enabled TO Introduce
their manufactures into il without payment Of any
merce OF Mexico, which was 10 itself n serious
blow TO the commercial and manufacturing inter
eats Of Great Britain. Afler several remarks on
the unjustIhable character Of the means by which
the United States were working out their schemes
of territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, he asked Lord Pal
merston to expliin the existing state Of our rela.
tons with Mexico, and pressed upon him, at the
same time, the expedlency OF our taking some i'm.
mediate steps to prevent the annexation of Mexico
to the United States, and to put an end to the hos
ttes prevailing between those two countries.
He reminded Lord Pamerston that on the 18th Of
June last, the then minister of the crown had told
the house that the packet, which sailed the 81
June, had taken out an offer Of mediation on the
part Of this country to the government Of the Uol-
ted States. Now Il stated by the official organ
Of the American government that no such offer o.
mediation had been signihed to or made by Mr.
Pskenham, our minister at Washington. He COZ
cluded by asking Lord Palmerston what was the
true state Of the case with respect to this offer OF
rnedationS
viscount Palmerston: shall have great pleasure
in giving my noble friend to the question
he has put. | trust, however, that the house will
think am pursuing that course which is most be.
fitting the position hold, if do not follow my no.
Bile friend mo those observations which he has
made upon tie past transactions between this coun-
try and the United States, Mexico, and Texas, con
corning the relation to that country with Texas, and
the annexation of Texas to the United States
facts historically known; and it is not think,
necessary or useful for me at present to express
any opinion upon them. Hear, hear. Sir, my
noble friend has expressed opinions as 10 the injury
which must to British interests from the war
now going on between Mexico and the United
States. | entirely concur with my noble friend,
that in the present state Of international relations in
the civilized world, it is impossible that any great
war be carried on between any two considera.
bic aud independent states, without that war affect
ing periodically the commercial interests Of all 9th
or countries which may have relations of commerce
with the two contending parties. And in proportion
as commerce increases, in proportion as commerce
freed from all those restraints which tend to limit
and crcumscrbe its extent, in that proportion will
be the interest of all nations that peace should uni.
versally prevail. Heart Therefore do look
with greater satisfaction upon the progress which
has lately been made by those doctrines of extended
commerce which appear to me to afford additional
security for the maintenance Of peace all the
world. (Cheers. ,s..i
y think, however, my noble friend has in some de-
gree exaggerated the facility with which, ia his
opinion, the United States may establish their au-
thorty and dominion over the territories of Mexico.
Those territories vast in their extent, and in pro-
portion to their vastness is enhanced the difficulty
of carrying on military operations of an aggressive
character within their limits That country is oc-
ten millions of inhabitants, ofa race different from
the people of the United States, Of a religion differ
ent from the religion Of the United States; and
though it might be easy for the United States to
incorporate with the Union country like Texas
filed and inhabited almost entirely by United
States settlers, the question: assure my noble
friend and the House, becomes very different when
il applies to the annexation of territories much
thickly peopled, and inhabited by race different
in those two respects from the race which wishes to
possess them. will, however, say nothing which
shall IN any degree affect that character Of impartial
ty which BELTS government that offers it mediation
between contendng parties Hear, hear. My
noble friend doubts the accuracy Of the statement
which made by her majesty's late government
with respect to the offer asserted to have been ten
dered by them, Of mediation between the two par
ties. am glad, in justice to predecessors, that
my noble friend has enabled set that question
right. The facts shortly these. 1t is perfectly
true, asserted by the right honorable baronet at
the head Of her maesty's government, than an offer
was made to the United States, and also commun-
Gated to Mexico; which her majesty's late govern
ment understood and meant to be an offer Of me-
dintion. That offer was, think, properly convey.
ed in terms which left great latitude Of interpreted
ton to the government Of the United States Our