The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-12-04

ed III nation These who loose or are iIl-
different to i, become Just objects Of scorn
and contempt. Of all the abominable trans.
actions which sully the pages Of history none
exceed in enormlty that of the dismember-
ment and Partition of Poland, by the three
great Continental Powers-Russia, Austria
aud Prussia. Ages may pass away, and
centuries roll around, but as long as human
records endure all MANKIND will unite in ex-
ecraiinc the rapacious and detestahle deed
That was accomplished by Overwhelming
force, and the unfortunate existence of fatal
dlssensIons and divisions in the bosom Of
Poland Let us avoid affXing TO OK name
: aud national character a similar, if not worse
stigma. am afraid that we do no: now stand
well in the opinion of other parts of chrislen.
dom. Reputation has brought upon us
much reproach. All the nations. appre>
bend, look upon us, in the prosecution Of the
present war. as being actualed by spirit OF
rapacity, and an inordinale desire for terrific.
rial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Let us not forfeit al
together their COOL opinions. Let us COM
mand their applause by a noble exercise of
forbearance and justice: In the elevated
station which we hold, we can safely afford
to practice the Godlike virtues of modera-
ton and magnanimity. The long series of
glorious ,riumphs achieved by our gallant
commanders and their brave armies, unat-
tended by a single reverse, Justify US, with
out the least danger Of furnishing The nations
al honor in dsinteresedly holding out the
olive branch of peace. We do not want
the mines. The mountains. the morasSes,
and the sterile lands of Mexico To her the
loss ofthem wonld be humiliaing, and be
perpetual source of regret and modification.
10 us they might prove fatal qni'on,
producing distraction, dissension, division,
possibly disunion. Let therefore the integ-
rity of the national existence and national
territory of Mexico remain undisturbed. .. or
one, desire to see no part of her terri ry
torn from her by war. Some of onr people
have placed their hearts upon the acquisi-
ton of the Bay Of San Francisco in Upper
California. TO us as great maritime Pow
er, it might prove 10 be of advantage hereaf-
Ter in respect to our commercial and navi.
eating interests. To Mexico, which can
never be a great maritime Power, it can
never be ofmuch advantage. live can OBJ
tain it by fair purchase with just equiva-
lent, | should be happy 10 see it SO acqui-
red AS whenever the war ceases, Mexico
ought 10 be required to pay the debts due
our citizens, perhaps an equivalent for that
Bay may be found in that debt, our Cover
ment assuming to pay to our citizens what
ever portion of may be applied to that OBJ
D,,t.t ,l,n g. ,ot,,,
ecution OF the war, which would not con-
tnue a solitary hour for the sake of that har-
Dor
But what, it will be asked, shall we
make peace without any indemnity for
the expenses of the war? 1.-THE pub
lished documents in relation to the late
negotiations between Mr.. Trist and the
Mexican Commissioners be true, and I
have not seen them anywhere contradict
ed the Executive properly waived any
demand of indemnity for the expenses of
the war; And the rupture of that nego-
tiation was produced, by our Government
insisting upon a session from Mexico, of
the strip of mostly barren land between
the Nucccs and the Rio Bravo and New
Mexico, which Mexico refused to make.
So that we are now fighting, not for the
conquest of all Mexico, as intimated in
some quarters, for that narrow strip, and
for the barren province OF New Mexico,
with it's few miserable mines. We
bought all the province of Louisiana for
fifteen millions Of dollars, and it is, in
my opinion, worth more than all Mexico
together. We bought Florida at five
millions OF dollars, and hard bargain it
was, since, besides that sum, we gave up
the boundary of the Rio Bravo, to which
I think we were entitled, as the western
limit of the province of Louisiana, and
were restricted to that of the Sabine.
And we are now, if not seeking the con-
quest of all Mexico, to continue this war
Indefinitely tor the uncomfortable objects
to which | have Just referred.
But it will be repeated, are we 10 have
no indemnity for the expenses of the ware
Mexico is utterly unable to make us any
pecuniary indemnity, ifthe justice of the
war on our part entitled us to demand
it, Her country has been laid waste, her
cities burned or occupied by our troops: her
means so exhausted that she Is unable 10
nav even her OWN armies. And every days
prosc cuton OF the war, whilst it woold aug
men, the amour, of our indemnity, would
lessen tie ability Of Mexico 10 pay it. We
have seen, however, that there is another
form in which we are 10 demand indemni-
ty. 1t is TO he territorial indemnity. Hope,
for lea. ons already stated, that that fire.
b. and will not be brought into our country.
Among the resolutions which 1t is my i'll
t"n'ion to present for your consideration, at
the conclusion of this address, one proposes
in your behalf and mine, to disavow, in the
most positive manner, any desire, on our