The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-17
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Union.
As Mexican Wa. and aAs .rus position o Or s upn

J tAI5tIlg ItpuDIlC
Mexico, and, unfortunately, opinion various to the
necessity, expedency and ultimate objects Of the war
We think that the correct established facts OF history not
only place the United States in the right as regards this
state Of hostility, but show her course to have been one
Of magnanimy, unexampled in the history OF nations
The prevalent idea in relation TO the object OF the war;
extension Of tenory and BY MANY the expedency is
measured by the probable fertility and value Of the soil to
be acquired With observation OF our foreign rela-
tions and some knowledge Of opinion where our inter
ess conflict in remote regions with those OF foreign
powers we venture TO take an entirely different and
somewhat more extended view OF the subject and TO re-
gard the war one OF those great facts, forming steps
in the fulfument OF tie destiny of nations II il is So
party controlling for the time the desnies of the
public could have ehrunk from the step and any power
which abandons the without bringing il to a
cessu conclusion acting though perhaps unconscious
~ adverse TO the interests of the nations and should the
nation desst from the war, under the circumsan
ces, il abandons its high position IN the world.
The territory OF California has not for some time been
Mexican, except in name Having no active allegiance
TO Mexico (as we shall presently show) and deriving
protection from California is just in the condition to
fal inao the on, or 10 Under The protection
OF those powers whose interests conending in the
great western which washes her shores and cir
cumsances render il more than probable that II not the
territory OF the United States, Is destined TO be that oil
Great Britain
Those who limit their view OF our country to its landed
eXtent-to these wentyeght Stateswe venture to sug
gest confne themselves 10 too compass. There
is vet another rich and energetic commercial community
the foundation, il need be- OF powerful military force II
is floating the bosom, and moving before the soft
ocean, accusomng It's population to prlvation and hard
ship, To daring enterprises To cool and ready courage
We allude the whale fishery OF the United States being
il is in amount and value than that OF England
France, and all other nations united. Yet while our
commerce peoples this ocean, those nations which here
and there show flag, ndustriousy gaspng It's terri
tory, and imposing upon the restrictions oil foreign
posse sson Far in the SOUTH the French have seized
upon the beautiful Aaquesan group; have converted ITS
king into French officer and are erecting upon his is
lands extensive buildings and strong forheatlons In
has French DOSsessel itself
of the important and sem-cyzed Society group, the do
minons OF Queen Pomare. Having obtained possession
of these important positions, already does our commerce
feel their restrictions An order has been promulgated
through the French and United States consus at Homo
lulu, prohibiting whalers visiting any ports IN the Is
lands occupied by the French excepting those where they
are Immediately established. Heretofore we have had
free to them, aud consequently greater facilities IN
obtaining supplies The public is familiar with the
patton by Lord George Paule of the Sandwich islands, in
the name of the British government in 1913; the protest
OF Commodore Kearny, and the subsequent restoration
TO their proper sovereignty BY Admiral Thomas: The
United States have too many interests in the entire in
dependence of these islands-the legitimate and cred
table children OF religion and commerce-quiet-
y to yield them to the occupation OF the great for
eign powers. Much might be said upon the impor-
lance the United States Of the independence OF those
islands but the foregoing facts only alluded TO
for the purpose of showing the disposition of the great
military coonZing powers TO SIT themselve down and
to erect Notifications and stronghos in the midst of
interests This manifested disposition should arouse our
vigilance and direct action in relation to California
Al present O Idll-
fona, and the whaers rendezvous in her harbors The
floating storehouses which visit the different ports OF the
territory, supplying the inhabitants with manufactured
goods, wear the stars and stripes. Having much
commerce in the Pacific and q commerce which keeps
ships years from home, rendering incumbent upon
them repair and to obtain supplies abroad it is clear
that the honorable possession OF suitable territory and
ports on the Pacific is in the highest degree desirable to
us 1t is equally clear that the establishment OF institu-
tons hostile to our own upon fertile portion OF contS-
territory is danger TO be carefully averted. In
remote Provinces where the interests of different nations
contend with each other the opinions OF individuals rep
resentng these nations, their tone OF feeling, become
worthy of consideration, evdencng, to some extent,
the views of the country to which they belong.
During the agitation OF the Oregon question, ii was, Of
course, constant topic of conversation between the
American and British residents of the western coast Of
Mexico. And all agreed that it was in no way a
sufficient reason for war between two such nations as
the United States and England but the question OF Cali
jects no matter how widely separated from each other,
with singular unanimty, agreed that occupation Of
California must and would be essted; and the rumored
mortgage was urged as an lnsuPerable obstacle to the
seizure of the territory by the United States in case
of war with Mexico. AS the probability Of war
with Mexico increased, the British squadron in the
The ships were withdrawn from all parts OF the ocean,
to hover around, and to watch the movements OF
the squadron of the United States They did so, it
was generally understood, to take advantage of any
contingency prevent the extension OF the United States
government the territory OF California The frgae
America which was on her way to England with two
|
even ordered back to increase the strength and force
of squadron, which already had neo battle ship at
its head IL very generally rmored, thalnthe absence
OF instructions, Admiral Seymour was in the most embar
raised condition the he should pursue in case
of any attempt upon part to occupy California In the
meantime he relied upon the threatening appearance OF SO
large force, and the effect OF much buffng CONVEX
sation could emanate from gentemany an officer in
the of friendly association He was, however
bunty told by the American commodore that " If he had
any use for his ships elsewhere than the coast of Mex
leo, he might well go with them, their presence
would in way influence the commodores action" The
war came; the territory occupied the British flag
ship ran into Monerey looked at the stars and stripes
we have not understood that she saued hem-and went
hurriedly on her way. We now the British press
pressing its Indignation at such infringement of what
it chooses to regard British rights and we have seen
promulgatng plan to occupy more southern portion OF
!, Mexico, means of neutraizing our extension. II
may not be out of place here to aude to the fact that in
April of the current year, Irish priest arrived in Ma
zatlan in company with Captain Seymour OF the British
army, nephew of the admiral commanding. The cer-
gyman his way to California, for the purpose OF
making arrangements for establishing colony of hi,
countrymen.
Leaving these advanced steps and broad shadows d
coming events we now proceed to an examination OF the
true political condition OF California
1t will be recoected that when Commodore APP Gates
by Jones, supposing that hostties had commenced be
tween the United States and Mexico prudenty seized
this territory in 1913, the Mexican military governor
General Micheoreno, being then absent from his CAPT
tai, in despatch to his government, wished himself
hunderbolt that he might strike the invaders dead This
General Michetoreno is not such Jupiter Tonans a:
might be inferred from this letter. written as it was &C
cording to the established forms of Mexican military
bombas and intended, in its effect for Buncombe Upor
the contrary, he mild courteous gentleman, literary
and scientific scholar, and contemplate contributor t