Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-03
The Mexican Campaign.


The Mexican Campaign.
We had thought that, if there was any Poi"
sanctioned by The whole country, it was tnas We
should prosecute The campaign aSains.
un,;, che was ready TO come forward WIN Pio'
position n do us Justice in all things, anu Ia''iy
so,;d and permanent peace. We nave hau
enough experience Of The folly OF diplomatic ne
oo,;a,iops with so treacherous people. She has,
in endless variety, broken her solemn word and
be,ned ioiury aud insults upon our Government
and citizens. She has always exhibited senu-
in. "Punic faith" She has made pledges ouI 10
b,eak Them. We bore all this with uncommon
forbearance-but when she invaded our territory
md killed our people on our own soil, we were
forced 10 shift oar ground. She had made actuai
war and we were compelled in selt-defence 10
NEE! il directly Our brave little army has dr'-
ven her forces beyond our frontier, and IS on Inc
eve of advancing into the interior OF the enemy
country 10 seize her rich provinces md holt mo-"
nc q guarantee Of her future justice anu respect
An moral means have been exhausted IN vaih'
Experience teaches US that The only impression 10
be produced upon her is BY resort 10 physicai
weapons. SuC lhuot OS uioue W iSNA w.
and respec, our national resources and character
Though she has been driven from disastrous
field BY our army, she still threatens vengeance
upon our nation. So far from being humbled
and brough, 10 terms BY the salutary infiIonon OF
our arms her rulers and men Of authority SUI
raise the flag of war, and boast Of their prepara-
lions 10 defeat the "barbarians Of The North -
II is al this critical moment thai Mr.. Webster, the
great organ Of the Wing party, steps forward
with mos, extraordinary proposition but one
which is greedily caught M by the Wing press
He twill no, say that Our Invasion OF Mexico Is
unjust" he admits tia, the President "is ready 10
treat with Mexico upon terms OF peace, while II
appears, at leas, as far as We know now, ttat
lles,eo IS net Killing 10 heat;" and he says,
that in this state OF things, "Mexico IS act
ing entirely an unreasonable and senssless
part, and the Government Of the United States, 10
this extent, is acting proper one" But ne
eoe. further and adds, "Mexco must be taught
that il is necessary for her to treat for peace upon
considerations which belong TO the present state
of things We have ust claims against her
claims acknowledged by herself in The most So
lcmn form oil treaty s;ipula,ions. She ought 10
make provision for The payment OF those claims
IN short she must be brought to justice"
And vet after all this he arrives al the lame;
conclusion, that we should "mee: her in negotiation
and IN the meantime suspend military operations"
He remarks
"For one, | would vote for suspension OF
hoslilities TO the end that negotiation might take
place; and il were to advise, would say, make
her an offer Of formal embassy"
BIZ, il she will not agree 10 negotiate, "it she
persist foolishly and senselessly in carrying on
the war; if she prefer war TO peace, then, OF
course, she must have war, rigorous lc0r, antii
she be compelled 10 ADOPT a different line Of con-
duct"
Can common reason or cur own experience Of
the s'senseless" and treacherous policy OF Mexico
Justly in the least degree resort 10 the policy |
here pointed oul Mr.. Webster admits that iii
appears that Mexico is MT lciRins 10 treat sill
he would destroy The moral eiiec, OF an active in
ya,ion by our army, and would Suspend militia
~ operations" involving the nation IN tho army
expenses of halt million Of dollars per DAY, as
he estimates them,l BY useless delay, in sending
formal embassy to Mexico, when the probability
is that j, will be in vain. The Presiden, has pub
lshed officially TO The world, that be was ready 10
close the war and make peace, whenever Mexico
is willing 10 negotiate. She is fully aware Of
this, and if she be willing 10 come TO terms, the
way is and will always remain open. Why, |
then, should We stop all operations, and waste so
much Time and money in so uncalled for pro-
ceeding2 Should we adopt it, il will have a |
most uniavorable effect upon Mexico. She |
will, in her arrogance, ascribe il TO want OF
courage or preparation TO vindicate our rights,
and will persist still more "foolishy and sensless-
~" in her imbecile but arrogant movements
She i. made up of peculiar elements, and will
place the wrong construction upon such sudden
change ofpolicy on orr part. Never were we
more strongly convinced, than that the best means
Of securing promp! and permanent peace is 10
push on with our army, and, in the language OF
Mr.. Webster, ",each" her 10 do US justice. We
have loo long tried "moral suasion.' Now that
her treachery and open assaults have forced us
into war, it is the part of wisdom as we'll us OF
humanity TO prosecute il vigorously. she VIII
yield 10 our power what she withholds from our
demands of justice. II, then, we desire short
war and one which will secure us all our fair
claims, we should no, exhibit any waverins OF
hesitation. If we push on with viSor and efl-
cheney, most probably she will be SO impressed
BY our power and energy, as 10 lind ii 10 be ne!
true interest 10 enter upon negotiations. Inc
contrary policy will produce false impression
upon her, and may cause the loss OF much blood
and treasure Our sole wish is 10 obtain our fair
rights and speedy and permanent peace we
would make no war for conquest. Vigor and en-
ersy, now, would, in our humble opinion, save
many lives and millions of dollars We canno,
but think, that the hesilating, uncertain policy
recommended by Mr. Webster and his party
will have mischievous effect upon the rulers oil
Mexico. Let US be ready al all times, 10 listen
10 terms of peace, hut, in the meantime, continue
our military operations with undated energy
On this subject, the Washington correspondent
oil the Charleston News says:
"Mr Webs.er's speech Of Ifs and other nom
commit,als, has attracted much attention. All
that | can gather from il is, that II what IS SAID
10 be is it is all right. Mr. Websters reasons ior
sending another minister 10 Mexico, do not strike
me as very wise. 1t is quite certain that Paroles
would not receive one; and we must either pro-
duce or wait for revolution, before we can send
one 10 any other government than the one which
unfortunately controlled the destinies Of Mexico
al the last advices."
GENERAL COURT.