Litchfield enquirer., 1846-12-10
"Progressive Democracy.''

congress met on MoHQdys anu We SuPPose the Message is on its way hither post-haste There is a laudabIe and very natural curiosity abroad among the people to know, in the
 first place, what the President will soy, and in
 the next place what Congress will do, relative
 to certain matters which now agitate the coun.
 :ry. The result of the recent elections has
 caused the administration to faulter and hesi-
 tate, Tie new Tariff does not take" as we'll
 as they anticipated, and they too plainly see
 that something must be done to check the pop
 ular tide which IS setting against it and them. But how can this be accomplished They have already pledged themselves to Southern pol icy, and they cannot retrace their steps without mourning the displeasure and opposition of the entire South If they stop where they are, judging from present indications, they can hardly expect to find locofocos enough left in the country to form respectable " corporal's guard" at the end of MT. Folks four years.- They are, therefore, in a sad quandaIy, and we are quite as much at loss as themselves, as to how they can safely extricate themselves.
 Then there is another matter which they
 are even more at loss how to dispose of, and
 that is the Mer,can War. They intended to
 have made sufficient capital out of that, to have lasted them through at least two or three Pres- ilential elections but, for wonder, they have at length ascertained that five millions of peo- pie, fighting on on their own soii, for their homes and for the preservation of their nation
 al independence, are not to be conquered in day. Our armies may kill off few hun dreds even few housaats of Mexican s,l-
 ders-yet Mexico will not be conquered. They
 may even take p' ssesslon of the capital, and
 "revelin the H Ills of the Montezumas," but
 neither the people or the army will tn ereby he
 ought into subiection to our governmer t.
 On the contrary, they may carry on system of guerrilla warfare for gears. and yet the two countries be no nearer an amicahle adjustment of their differences than now. Miserable sold iers as the frontier MeXcans have proved them selves to be in fair 6ght, all authentic ac- counts agree, that before our arm es can reach the capital. they will meet with resistance with which the sanguinary battles on the Rio Grande and at Monterey were bu, play.
 The progressive" nature of MT. Polk s de- mocracy is certainly marvel in the eyes of all honest men. A few months ago and the terri. 1 tory on this side of the Rio Grande was all that the President and his party claimed. But ro,c 50 far from being content with that. they are pushing on our armies from conquest to con- quest. " annexing" one province after another to the Union with as little ceremony as a con- stable would excessively e. annex" half dog an rioters to the County prson-only by no nsans 50 efeetually.
 The ridiculous farces which are being enact. d by Commodore Sloctkea and Gen. Kearney, ! the name of our Executive. would be laugha. '!e indeed, did they not carry with them the principles of rank injustice and disgrace. For instance, General Kearney marches into Santa Fe. takes possession of it, and immedi- ltely issues his proclamation extending his jurisdiction over the entire province of New Mexico. and then summarily proceeds to ap. | Sc. Now does any one suppose that New Mexico is conquered' And, farther, where is he constitutional light for such proceeduls s ,n the part of cur Executive or its agents Under Martial Law Military Government might exist there, but under what authority, gan the Military Chief appoint new civil efl.- cers, and Gepose those whom he finds taege'
 The truth is he is neither more or less than \ usurper, and such he would be justly pro- nounced by the whole civilized world.
 Commodore Stockton is acting similar part in California, as deputy ot the President, and without any mora auIhori y He makes and civil officers at his pleasure. Indeed, it will be remark Able, such Is the rapidity of '' democratic progress" if both California and New Mexico do not appear in Washington the coming winter. with delegates claiming seats in the House, if not in the Senate of the United | States.
 A.