The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-10-10
Mexican Matters--The Probable Result OF the
War.

In the absence of further advices from the sea,
of war, il may be well TO throw out some ideas
relative to the course likely to be pursued by
the two governments interested in the struggle
going on in the city of Mexico, and the pro-
bable policy OF each.
From the insufficient accounts received of the
results Of the attempt made by the commission
ers of both countries, to form treaty of peace,
II appears that the principal point at issue-the
boundary on the Gulf-was the cause of the
abrupt termination of negotiations; and that the
spirit manifested on the part Of the Mexican
commissioners upon that point, was OF such
nature as to destroy all hope of an amicable ar
rangement The most they would actually con-
cede was the Nueces, and the establishment Of
an independent territory on the tract OF country
living between the Nueces and the Rio Grande
This proposition was not made entirely upon the
ground that their claim to the section lying be-
tween these rivers was not good, but partly upon
disposition which former government of
Mexico exhibited to establish a neutral terri
tory between the two countries, that their insti-
tutions may be more widely separated, and that
the boundaries may be more distinctly de-
fined
This was the policy OF the Mexican admins
tration alluded TO, from which we judge that they
had fears of encroachment, and wished to guard
against il much possible. About twenty
years ago, when Mr. Robert Owen, the philan-
thropist, was actively engaged in promulgatlng
his doctrine of socialism, he applied to Victoria,
who was at that time president of Mexico, for
the grant OF a tract of land within his dominions
for the purpose of establishing government in
accordance with his desires. His proposition
was received very favorably, and a tract of land
fifty miles wide, extending from the Gulf ofMex
leo to the Pacific, on the eastern and northern
boundary of Mexico, was granted for the pur-
pose proposed. All the preliminaries OF the
grant were satisfactorily arranged, and the only
difficulty in the way of carrying into full opera
ton the system of Mr.. Owen, was the form OF
rei lion to be established in the neutral terri
tory. Upon this rock the whole plan split. Vic
tora, the president OF Mexico, and Mr.. Owen,
were for leaving the territory free for the enjoy
ment of any form of religion The people wish
ed, while the clergy of Mexico opposed this, and
would not consent to the establishment of any
other religion but the Roman Catholic. The
opposition of the clergy created an opposition
in the Mexican Congress-, which ended in revo
luton in Mexico, and the overthrow or down.
fall Of Victoria and the explosion of the whole
concern:
This was twenty years ago; since which no.
thing of the kind has been renewed relative to
neutral territory between the two countries,
until the proposition made by the Mexican peace
commissioners. We do not know what are the
terms upon which the neutrality of the tract Of
land lying between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande are, and il matters very little what they
he he feaa xuhat ic
more. it is not the policy of our government to
permit any thing of the kind We have defined
our limits, and not rood or rod of land less will
be taken. We want no neutral territory on our
boundaries. Under the circumstances, however,
this offer made by Mexico was a very important
concession; they abandon all jurisdiction over
the territory in dispute between those rivers, but
they are not disposed to give us any privileges
there.
II the Mexican government are 80 anxious for
neutral territory to divide the two countries,
it had better establish the Sierra Madre as the
line Of separation These almost impossible
mountains would be the most effectual line OF
boundary. They would be neutral enough to
satisfy both parties, as they appear to be u
natural division, through or over which nothing
could pass. The course our government intend
pursuing, viii do away with the necessity fol
any boundary line; the entire Mexican terri
tory, from north to south, and east to west, will
be absorbed within our limits, and all lines will
be effaced. Nothing short of complete annihi
lation of the nationality Of the republic will b,
its fate, if the existing government of that mis-
ruled people adhere to the course it has laid out
so arroganty and so blindly.
A few weeks will develope the position of our
government in relation to this question, when
the whole affair will assume different and
much more favorable shape.
The Hostile Indian Tribes on our Western
a.ur Frontier.
On examining the pages of the Herald for the
last year, at least, occasional notices will be
found, recurring from time to time, of the situa-
ton, character and conduct of the Indians on
our Western frontier Our readers need not be
told that the Western Indian who ranges over
the immense country lying between us and the
Pacific Ocean, is a very different parsonage from
the Indian with whom we have hitherto been
most familiar. The Indian whom we have
in the course of ages seen driven from the east
ern edge of the Atlantic-who has vanished
gradually away, before the steady march OF the
mighty phalanx of Anglo-Saxon civilization
who has in fact become almost exterminated under
the direful influences of whiskey and the small
pox; this kind of Indian (the only kind with which
we in this part of the Union are accqualnt-
edo has offered in the process of subjugation and
Punishment from the lands now filled with our
own cities and increasing population, very little
impediment, comparatively speaking, and very
little difficulty to our triumphant extension.
But in reference to the Indianson our Western
frontier, it behoves us, and our government, to
entertain other feelings than those of contempt
and Notwithstanding which chiefly pre-
ponderate at the mere mention Of the name