Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-27
FEDERAL ABsrRACTIONs.

The Richmond Times, very thorough Fede.
raj paper (says the Pennsylyanian) feels the i'm
porance of explaining away Genera Taylor's
project for acquiring six or seven provinces from
Mexico las The line we will accept by negota.
lon" but we cannot say much either for the in
genuy or force with which il does 50. The
Times makes The attempt in this somewhat o!isi-
nal manner:
aBu 10 show that the views By which General
Taylor would be Influenced in negotiating a
peace, wonld be very different from those OF The
Wing party, the Pennsylvania points tr;rm-
phan;ly 10 his letter 10 General Gaines in which
il says he avows himself in favor Of Selling six
or seven Sta,es or provinces, as the line we will
accept by negotiation with Mexico. General
Taylors language is not justly susceptible Of any
such construction, IS will be evident 10 the
reader from an inspection Of il in The subioined
extract. He declares his opinion 10 be, that we
ought 10 adopt one OF two alternatives; namely
either take possession al once OF The line We
would accept by negotiation 'or keep what we
already have possession Of including six or
seven States, &c. These are Two perfectly dis
lncl plans, and he does not in This letter indicate
his preference for either. Ii is manieslly not his
meaning that we ought 10 insis, upon the line
which We then occupied. His advice is, il The
Government will not fix upon boundary line, TO
OCCUPY The line OF The Sierra Madre, not in order
10 appropriate the territory, but 10 force Mexico
into terms. General Taylor, 50 far as we have
seen, has never expressed an opinion as TO The
amount OF territory The Government ought 10
claim"
This is an explanation a little like that OF the
dealer in quack medicines 10 England who one
morning announced certificate as TO lis power
fu beneficial properties, from Wis grace, Inc
Duchess of Devonshire," but being assured oil
The mistake, corrected il the next day by intro
ducins the certificate from 'her grace The Duse
OF Devonshire." The dilemma OF our cousin OF
Richmond is no less ineylrcablc. Tine idea maj
General Taylor, in The language OF Inc Ilnes
''does not indicate his preference tor either" OF
the Two plans which he originated and sussesIeu
himself is ridiculous. He would certainly DC
satisfied with the adoption OF "eher." But .ne
Times is determined TO 90 the whole flsnre. II
is" says that paper, "maniiesty not his meaning
that We ought 10 insist upon the line winch we
Then occupied"-(at The time his letter was wilt
len But what does the General say himself
The subioined is The extract from his letIcr upon
which this novel construction depends:
IN SEEMS 10 me tie mos. judic,oas course 10 be
MI, sued on our part would be 10 take possession
at once OF the line we would accept by nesolia'
lion extending from the Gull of Mexico 10 The
Pacific, and occupy The same, or keep what we
already nave possession ui, anu ud' WIN o.
pico, (Which hope TO take in the course oil Inc
next month, or as soon as | can get me means
of ranspor,ation,) will give US al on this SIDE
the Sierra Madre, and, as soon as occupy sal
lilo, will include six or seven States or PfoVin-
ces; thus holding Tampico, Victoria. Monterey,
Sallillo, Monclova, Chihuahua, (Which pre-
sumo Gen. Wool has taken possession Of BY this
lime, Santa Fe and the CALIFORNIA;, and say 10
Mexico, drive us from The ry!-throwins
on her the responsibility and expense OF carrying
on offensive war-at the same time closely 6lcck,
aiding all her ports on The Pacific and the Chill"
If The Richmond Times was not a Federal pa
per, We should be surprised. A mind capable OF
disappearing or what is more fashionable,
misconslruing plain words like these, would ma
the power 10 create a bank in the Declaration OF
indie endencc, and see The right TO free slaves in
the resolutions Of '9S!