Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-18
THE MEXICAN QUESTION.

We lay before our readers the message VI inc
President and The interesting proceedings oil the
Senate in Executive session, in regard TO Inc oner
OF peace by our Government. The appropriation
asked for by the President, was approved by both
Houses of Congress, and but for the factious and
unuslifable course Of Senator Davis in defeating
the action OF the Senate, the President would have
been armed with what he regarded as efficient
means for putting an end 10 the war. We had
thought that if there were anything which could
tally with Wing professions, ii would be this cor
dial movement OF The President towards pacific
settlement OF our Mexican difficulties. AT one
time they clamored most loudly for peace on any
terms. The President comes forward with man
ly and magnanimous proposition, aud instantly
he is denounced by the Wing journals, like the
Baltimore American, in the following style:
Both in the Oregon business and this affair
with Mexico the President has pursued course
sayoring Of bravado and pusillanimiy-a course
which convics him OF incapaciy, and shakes
public confidence in him as man and as an ex-
ecutiye iunclionary. II requires no great sagac-
~ 10 ioresee that we shall come lamely out OF
The Mexican difficulty. In reply 10 our overture
ilw She may utterly refuse 10 par! with any
more OF her territory; she may demand compen-
sa,ion for admitting the Rio Grande as the line
between her frontier and that Of the U. States"
Other papers charge him with the degraded
purpose OF 6raJing Paroles and purchasing
peace. The ~ Y Correspondent Of the Nation
al IntelIigencer takes The following charitable
view, and moreover fully jusIifes The mischie-
vous course OF Senator Davis
The appeal OF the President for t'ro millions OF
dollars 10 be placed under his control, 10 purchase
a peace with Mexico, has been defeated, Tor The
want of time, through the tirmness OF Senator
Davis. Although many OF the Locotocos secret
~ rejoice in the failure Of the bill, yet they will
publicly assail him tor this manly act. Having
The power 10 defeat the bill, il was his duty 10
perform il. An opposite course would have sub
leced him 10 severe censure. II leaves Mr.. Polk
without authority TO purchase Mexican peace,
which, he says he sincerely desires.
believe that MIR. Polk planned and carried IN
TO effect the war; or, in other words, mat he
placed the army in such position that collision
was inevitable | believe that he considered
Mexico in such helpless, impoverished, and dis
racted state that after the first battle she would
seek a peace On any terms this Government
might suggest. ! believe that Mr.. Polk antici-
pated that the pIeimlnares for such peace
would be settled before Congress adjourned. La
boring under this delusion, he waited until with
in twelve or fourteen days OF The adjournment,
and hea ring nothing from the Mexcans on The
subject OF an unconditional surrender, ne became
alarmed lest his whole project should prove lail-
ure.
The Pennsylvania exposes the businessman
like and improper bearing oil Senator Davis in
the following just terms. We have here another
striking example OF The consistent clamor Of The
Wings for peace:
The low trick of Senator Davis, probably adj
vsed by his Wing friends, while II may have
prevented peace with Mexico, NAV also lose 10
us forever the great country OF California, which,
in time 10 come will prove 10 US an acquisition
even more valuable than New Orleans. The
Wings talk of The power Of one man 10 do HARM
aud eIecrale and abuse MIR. Dallas for his course
upon the Tariff; and yet here is single indivi
dual who by the exercise OF an extraordinary
privilege, has probably managed 10 continue The
war, and 10 defeat most valuable acquisition Of
territory.