The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-12

b to sssums Q defensive position. and 70 msIn'
ton then srsSsstsd M which Of these positions should
we select In my opinion, this u gave ana i",
portant question in importance to the war itself
am broue conclusion that We ought TO change
the war to o defensive position A1d shall nov pro-
reed Mr. President state the reasons upon which this
opnion Is founded believe TO he best calculated to
bring the war successful termination, to expsin
undsr..oo3. believe II to DO most sdvsn,ageous to
successful termination OF the with the least sacrifice
Of men and money and with the least sacrn Of the ma
tonsl reputation rightly understand the objects for
which he was declared or this late day the
objects Of the w.I are len 70 inference in great
the objects Of the war were threeold-to repe Invasion
70 establish the Rio 0rande the southern and western
citssns for claims upon Mexico The two srst as
tbs primary objects OF the war were, the best
not rscOmmsnd. nor did Congress declare war He He
ssksd only declaration that already existed be-
csa.e the country had been invaded and blood had been
split upon American soil. MEXICO, In crossing the Rio
orsnds: in his opinion, had crossed the boundary be-
tween the two countries. The having been thus
commenced, was recomme nded to prosecute In refe
renee to the claims Of our citizens upon the Mexican 60
vsrnmsnt The executive and the Legislative depart
msnts Of this government stand equally committed as to
the origin Of the to the fact that the Rio 0rsnde
the western boundary Of Texas the crossing Of which
BY hostile force Of invasion Having plunged
ins the war; the President recommends that push
to exremtes in reference to the claims Of our ciIens
cause BY the war ali treaty :upuatons cswsen the two
nations dissolved These then are the three OBJECTS
and n would have been the extreme Of folly to 20 into
merely for the sake OF INJECTING The expenses upon
our enemy The three obeou specided1all the objects
fsnsivs position We have achieved great victsres-we
have expelled the enemy IRON terr,ory,hsre s not
q hostile Mexican east OF the boundary Of the Rio
GRANGE We have acquired territory enough even for
all the expenses Of the war; If peace with such pro-
braces thirds Of the territory Of Mexico from the
Rio 0rsnds the Sierra Msdre and 10 the Pacific
smother po:os have not now Ii. REQUISITE S niorms
ton nor necessary in this view Of the extent of the
s,o,is. occupied BY our arms The question t. wh.
ton shall now proceed to direct my consideration The
hrss objects Of the war have stated to be- to rsps
ties But, Mr. President ought to 60 an inch
shsr We ought to avoid all Appearances Of taking the
ton is boundary defensive lins, which shall involve
the least sscri6ce in Its defence OF and money 1t
the support Of the forces along the ne-t ought to be
such line % shall become IN the settlement Of peace
wl Msnico our permanent ;ss bCundarys ought
privs Mexico Of her real strength ressur
ses sa nation; forI consider that what is best for
the republic Of Msxi,o to be the best for We can
we'll afford to be, and ought to be- Just and liberal
Mexico. IL not only becomes US to be So because
public emulsting our example and because she is
the nsxt republic to this continent struggling
high considerst but there others nearly
concerning ourselves We ought to sustain her strong
This position for her 10 almost as important 70 US as to
Mexico. She forbidden fruit and she forbidden
IRON the mat we snail her territories
by tight Of conquest fatal blow will be given
political institutions. WHAT line, then, will secure
all these advantages OF peace, quick permanent and
coercive do not kosw what may be the best line,
am prepared suggest line which strikes as emf
nently favorable to these results would propose as
line of occupation to begin at mouth of the Rio del
Nore and folio the Of the river to the Paso del
Norte at 33 near the eastern boundary Of Mexico
Gulf nearly at its head and thence across 10 the Pacific
This line will enable Ia fulfil all the objects OF
war Il will give US boundary to Texas from its north
yfr IfN IN he No huvo aAu Had
the invasion; and the territory embraced within this
line. in its whole ont, will amply meet indemni.
cipe " hich do not approve ! shall now mpt to
show that this is perhaps the best line for defensive ope
side OF the Rio del Nore broad, novgable and rapid
river az the line Of our defence We snail be
nsnt to the Of Texas for supplies of prov
would IS am informed by military men, be amply pro-
tected by four regiments Of troops and three orca-
nonsons at the mouth OF the river, at CAmargo,
AID the third at the extreme northern part of Paso
del Norte- The line acIoss to the Gulf will be more
easily defendedthat vast country being ahabtsd only
by SPARSE savage population, would require no militia.
~ force to secure from invasion by the Mexicsns
soils requiring addition the peace mt
excep, single regiment at stations along tn coast
but small naval es,absmsot You will i0I have a ali
that will be required for the defence of the line &C.
cupaiien The country embraced will be valuable to
II s not inhabited by. and IL oil no value Mexico
IL embraces area OF $40 900 square miles, with Do
pulssn Of less 800 900 of all and coors Now
tnct regions Inhabited and the other unnhabited
vould evidently be to interest and advantage to SO.
iect the uninhabted district and this point Mr. Calhoun
illustrated by the rapid of our population dox
bling in twenty three years. and the
necessity OF room and space for i. expansion Thus
inhabited country, on the other hand, could be of no
value to Mexico Her population is nearly stationary
and her remaining territory is 10 itself but sparsey
bsings disadvantage would perhaps be advauag eous
to Metico Upper California nearly as far from the
CITY q Mexico as the city OF Washington. New Mexico
10 muth than to the central States Of Moxco
The Spanish population Of these territories could no
DOUBT defend themselves against the Indians but they
have been disarmed by the saousies of the central
government Again. This boundary will secure per.
mansnt peace with Mexico. In the very nature OF
things 10 impossible to resist the passage Of our PEG.
pie INTO uninhabited countries All laws for this pur
pose will be Intellectual Tne people will 90 in IL has
which the government from time to time has had TO pur
chase for the OF our extending p)puia
Mexico we know not Su, tina, in lew wear, we mali
DO engaged in another and all with her are
undesirable But the occupation of this line will also
facilitate negotiations IL will Indicate position and
that Mexico ready TO treat are; and that are
disposed to settle the line Isly ami Literally; and If
there be excess in her surrenders prepared
to inset it as we ought to meet it, with liberal pay.
ment In the next place, would hold I'LL the poris Of
ting too great sacrifice OF men and money. | would
levy low rate Of duty upon imports, falling equally
upon ALL say not exceeding ten per cent, from which
should collect the Of meeting expenses Of
81 for the military defence Of the line prescrib
cd That SUN might be collected from the Mexican ports
These several measures combined will give he
means Of enforcing Q settlement distant day. Be.
Sides the occupation Of this line will you nothing
In money. beyond the OF the peace
tabusnmens and without loss Of loss reputa
ton people; and it will lay tho foundation Of
long ana friendly psac between and Mexico. such
are prominent parts Of this policy again large
proportion OF your expenses will Immediately
tailed, while BY continued offensive they must con.
tnue to increase BY this plan OF defensive position
the whole Of your volunteers in the hsld may
charged and tor the next year you will save the expen
OF 5000 or 10000 Further taxes will DO
credit will be secured the prospect
viii the brighter Tor the estabsnnent Of poicy
WHOM some OF US this side have much heart
toe policy Of free trade policy winch to Great Britain
10 all eady beginning to be most fruitful Of opu
lence aud property But Will Mexico mold QUIT tnnk
not sne will see that we have taken position and That
capable OF occupying sns will see
that TO resis. will be USELESS and that only
ates the danger Of losing all IL would the
OF the people OF MeAi;o They will tnat is
war VI races and that 1t Is object exngui,h
their people When they that this 10 not OBJECT,
the feelings will return 10 their natural channels Iney
Will discaysr lpsi ths aaix ah Il