Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-11-23
The Cause Of the WaF-0eeupatiOn Of q
portion Of Mexico. etc.

We copy the following from an article
IN the Baltimore Sun, one of the ablest of
the neutral press, in answer to an article
in the National IntelIigencer. Il will
commend itself to the good sence of the
reader:
''Fhe Intelligencer says, when 1.-THE
war; first commenced, we were told that
It was waged to redress wrongs &c. We
don't know who told the Intelligencer all
this, but certainly we did not. When
the war first commenced it was declared
by Mexico, and when hostiities first com.
menced 1t was in consequence of armed
resistance to the peac cable march of our
trOoPs-the Mexican enemy, in battle
array, disputing the return Of Gen. Taylor
from Point Isabel to Fort Brown. II is
true that we had wrongs to redress, terri
tory to secure, and indemnities to recover
from the Mexican government; and for
these purposes, in the event of the failure
OfnegOtiation and Mexican aggression,
our troops were thrown upon our frontier.
But when the war commenced. being by
the act OF Mexico, and in the manner in
which it did, the United States went into
1t per force, ofabsoiute necessity, and of
course with one single definite object in
vlew-to whip the enemv. That this oh.
Ject has been rather dexteriousIy achieved
we presume that nobody will have the
hardihood to deny; though it may be
urged with some plausibility, that he wont
stay whipped.
''But now, says the Tntellgencer, &C.
cording TO the Sun, we are t. conquer
Mexico FOR her own good,' &c; and as it
is TO be with this design, we have RICH,
to call on this Baltimore philanthropist
to furnish US with some light as to the
authority ofour Government to wage war
for any such purpose 1.-THE Intelligencer
will only admit the possibility of our con
quering Mexico for her own good, which
happenstO be ap item in our creed, the
authority OfOur Government will be deriv-
ed we fear from the conduct Of Mexico.
We say I'VE fear because as we have
before expressed ourselves, at present we
should prefer TO avoid so great task.
We think it might be successfully accom-.
plIshed, and that posterity, American and
Mexican, would reap uncomfortable ben
eits theresroig; but we cannot be insensi-
bic TO the fact that the labor, the expense,
the Inconvenience would be great. and
that sacrifices and risk might be TO some
extent involved. But now let US refer
: the reader TO the very first sentence quot.
ed from US by the Petersburg editor, in
the paragraph at the head; we there speak
directly of the present apparent 'reccssi-
ties Of the case; we also speak immcdi-
ately there after ofthcse necessities as
auspices for good to Mexi,o' Why then
should we be asked for the authority of
our government to wage war for the pur.
pose Otlhrashing any people into the bles-
sings OF good government? No; though
war has been waged in modern times,
and by civilized nations, so called, for a
much less holy purpose than This, far be
it from Us 10 attempt justification Of our
governmen Mt in any aggression upon the
rights and territory Of another nation,
though it were to impart millenial joys.
"But, there are differences, look ye.'
Mexico has plunged into war and conflict
with us, and we have become by success
the invaders Of her soil, and the occupants
OF her capital. She has challenged the
issues Of battle, and suffered inglorious
defeat; che is foiled at every point at her
own game-and v hat then? She retires
from our advance, leaving her people to
our mercy, and SCOTS at our overtures
for peace. And these overtures include
what? Simpl y'the redress of our wrongs,
the security of our own territory, the re-
covery of debts due 10 our citizens" and
just and equitable indemnity for the
war. To conclude peace, short of the
attainment Of these objects, would be on
our part to become the laughing stock Of
the world. To retire from Mexico with
less than this, would be defeat! Yet
Mexico--her military governm,nt--will
not treat with US. Her ambitious, selfish
rascally rulers refuse even to acknowl.
edge the supremacy Of our arms; denounte
us as barbarians and sacrileeious thieves.
and yet run off and leave their best towns
and most refined inhabitants, and veal
Ihiest churches and palaces, to the pro.
lection Of our flag, to the honor of our
soldiers. tits this military dominancy
that rides. with death.like oppression, the
people Of Mexico; holds from them the
enjoyment Of their rights; distract the
social relations with the ceaseless strife
of ambition; and spreads confusion and
anarchy throughout The whole country.
This same obstinate and improbable
authority is evidently determined to force
upon US necessity. That necessity will
be the appropriation and occupation
of a portion Of Mexican territory
now in our hands, or the conquest, mill
tary occupation, civilization and absorp-
lion of the whole. 1t is in the contempla.
tion OF the latter, as the alternative, we
ahall find II difficnlt to nrnid-as = nacas.;