Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-12-02
Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Ledger
The Prospects Of Peace with Mexico
again opening.
WAsHINGToN. Nov.

l0c OsDeCtS o. IchCc WIFI ule4RCO
again opening.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7th, lS47.
Letters have beea received here, opening again the
prospects of peace, and representing the people III
and about Mexico quite favor of It. The question
seems merely to be whether before any peace Is
cluded with the shadow of authority which
lists in Mexico, anarchy will not prevent Its
nation. Mexico is already dismembered and the
trail government supplicant before the governors of
the provinces. 1t mplores them to be true To obey
to urge the members of Congress to repair to Quere
taro, TO provide them with money, and 10 all those
things which the central government has no power to
enforce but without which the country IS sure 10 be
plunged into u civil war, to be dreaded than
the invasion of foreign enemy. The very style
the proclamation of Senior Pena Pena, the President
pro tenn exhibits an amount Of misery, weakness and
despair, which, with any other people, would present
an irresistible argument for peace but which. with
the Mexcans, may prove nothing or only Increase
their obstInacy.
Pena Pena is doubtless in favor of peace-but
what kind of peace That's the question. Shall we
still offer ten fifteen millions for California Shall
our government renounce the indemnity which 1t
claimed for its citizens Shall it surrender the blood
stained battle fields monuments of national glo-
ry, in order that the bones of brave soldiers may
be desecrated by dastardly foe Above all things,
shall we withdraw from Mexico, without her paying
the expenses of this war, and without guaranty OF
peace IN future !
The President, in his last message to Congress- de-
clared expressly that this waged for the
purpose of obtaining full indemnity for our outraged
citizens and that he should hold Mexico responsible
for the expenses of the war. Mr.. Buchanan, in his
report, said the thing. MIR. Van Buren,, in his
last letter to the Wkesbarre Farmer, re-echoed the
same sentiments, and to recede from this ground
would be admitting to Mexico and to the world that
the war which we have been waglng against Mexico,
L., oLoH md
menced by Mexico.
Mexico must pay the expenses of the war, and if
she have money, she must pay in territory which,
moreover, has this advantage that 1t dlmnshes the
power of Mexico do mischief, to recommence the
war under adventurer, who, after the with
drawal of troops, may chance to seize upon the
reins of government.
For this purpose we must fix upon a military from
tier and keep possession for time at least, of some
of the most important fortified places which con-
sdered the keys to her wealth and power. The Cas-
tie of San Juan dUlloa ought to be surrender
ed. That Gibraltar of the Mexican Gulf, which
opens the road TO her capital, and commands the ma
VACATION Of that sea, ought to permanently remain IN
our power England In making treaty OF peace
with China, knew very well the rebeous mob OF
Canton, and insisted on Hong Kong as British ma
val station from which readily to punish any attempt
of instruction or depreciation her commerce. She
is now bitterly sorry not to have, in addition, insisted
on the surrender of the Chusan Islands, which COM
mand the harbor and canal which leads to Pekln and
ten chances TO she Will have 1t before another de-
cennium passes over our heads
To make sure of the trade of the North Sea- and to
command that trade in time of war, she is now fort
fying Helgoland, at the moath OF the Ebe; the lon
an Islands and Malta command the Dardanelles, Glib
raltar the whole Mediterranean. Ii is by sucf
means that she preserves the European equilibrium
that is peace, and prevents her flag from being In
suited.
The Castle of San Juan is of no value to The Next
cans. ANY maritime nation at with her, now tina
we have shown the in which 1t Is to be done
may seize upon 1t, and she may surrender 1t by treaty
| to a European power. to prevent the United State
from holding it, as the French sold Louisiana to thu
/ United States, when they expected that IN the wa
with England, it would be captured by the British
The Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa is of vital impor
lance to us, and of no use whatever TO Mexico, ex
cept that it may enable her again to assume warlik
attitude, and force to fight battles over again.
We are now In possession of the best part OF Mex
leo. We shall soon command her mines and he
commercial resources. She has neither the means t
raise an army, the revenue TO pay and maintain
one She has exhausted all her resources and is oI
the eve of anarchy and confusion But she has conn
to this after violating all her promises and pledges
and all the laws that govern civilized warfare; she
has come to this by her folly and treachery; ant
after involving IN expense of hundred mil
lions and the sacrifice of 1000 of the stouest hearts
that ever beat for freedom. She has shown that slit
is incapable of comprehending generosity and the
only means, therefore, which we have to prevent her
from again arraying herself against us-that is
against superior civilization and LAWS to deprive
her of the means of doing all this over again, oil
some frivolous pretext. The millionaire cannot play
game of hazard with beggar; the industrious maj
cannot very well fight the vagabond. or the saving
man the spendthrft, without suffering in the contest
He has much at stake against the zero of his an
tagonist, and hence he must permanently disaru
him.