Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-12-21

Vi Iatltuoe tnITty.SeVen degrees. Such
were the unreasonable terms proposed by
the Mexican Commissioners, 'Ai ii9'
The cession to the United States BY
Mexico, ofthe provinces Of New. Mexico,
and the Californias,9 proposed by the
Commissioner Ofthe United States, it was
believed, would be more in accordance
with the convenience and interests Of
both nations, than any other cession of
territory which it was probable Mexico
could be induced to make. ''-'' 'ii'.2 ~
It's manifest to all who have observed
the actual condition oflhe Mexican gov.
eminent, for some years past, and at the
present, that if the provinces should be
retained by her, she could not long con-
time TO hold aid govern them. Mexico
is too feeble power to govern those
provinces; lying as they do at distance
OF, more than thousand miles from their
capital, land if attempted to be retained
by her they would constitute, but for a
short times, even nominally part of her
dominions.
This would be especially the case with
Upper California. The sagacity ofpow-
eriul European nations has long since
directed them to the commercial impor.
lance Of these provinces; and there can
he but little doubt that the moment the
o. S. shall relisquish their present occu
patton Of it, as indemnity, an effort would
be made by some foreign power to pos.
sess it, either by conquest or purchase.
IT no foreign government should acquire
it by either of these modes, an indep md.
ent revolutionary government would prob.
ably be established by the inhabitants,
and such foreigners as may remain in, or
remove to the country, as soon as it shall
be known that the United States have
abandoned it. Such government would
be too feeble, long to retain its separate
independent existence. and would finally
become annexed to, or dependent colony
OF some more powerful State.
Should any foreign government attempt
to possess il as a colony, or otherwise to
incorporate it with him self, the principle
evolved 10y President Monroe in 1924, and
re-affirmed in my first annual message,
that no foreign power shall, with our con.
sent. be permitted TO plant or establish
any new colony, or dominion, on the N.
American continent, must be maintained.
In maintaining this principle, and in re-
sisting its invasion by any foreign power,
we might become involved in other wars,
more expensive and difficult than that in
which we are now engaged. The prov.
inces of New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;
are contiguous to the territories of the u.
3: and, if drought under the government
ofour laws. their resources, mineral, az.
ricullural, manufacturing and commercial,
would soon he developed
Upper California is bounded on the
north by our Oregon possessions, and if
held by the United States, would soon be
settled by an cnterprising and intelligent
portion ofour population. The Bay of
San Francisco. and other harbors along
the California coast, would afford shelter
for our navy, our numerous whale ships,
and other merchant vessels employed in
the Pacific ocean; and would in a short
time, become mart Of an extensive and
profitable commerce with China, and
other countries of the East.
These advantages, in which the whole
commercial world would participate, would
at once be secured to the u. S., by the
cession OF this territory; while it is Ger.
tain that as long as it remains a part of
the Mexican dominions, they can be en-.
joyed by neither Mexico herself, nor by
any other nation.
New Mexico is a frontier, and has
never been ofany considerable value to
Mexico. From its locality it is naturally
connected with our Western settlements.
The territorial limits of the State Of Tex
as, too. as defined by her laws before her
admission into our Union, embraces all
that portion ofNew Mexico lying east of
the Rio Grande; while Mexico still claims
to hold this territory as part other do
minions.
The adjustment Of this question Of
boundary, then, is another consideration
which induced the belief that the Mexican
government. might even desire to place
this province under the protection of the
government ofthe United States. Nun.
erous bands Of fierce. war.like savages
wander over it, and upon its borders
Mexico has been,and must continue TO he,
too feeble to restrain them from commit.
ting depreGations. robberies and murders;
not only upon the inhabitants of New
Mexico itself, but upon those OF the Nor
thern States Of Mexico. 1t would be
blessing TO these Northern States TO have
their citizens protected against them by
the power Of the United States. At this
moment many Mexicans, principally fe-
males and children.are in captivity among
them. IF New Mexico were held and
governed by the United States, we could
efiectualy prevent these tribes from COM
hitting such outrages and compel them 10
release thes cae ptives, and restore them