Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-23

tons prevails, it will sacrifice cur priceless
glorious Union.
The Washington monument fund is now
nearly forty thousand dollars. As it may be
in our power To obtain by purchase the Mount
Vernon estate, l respectfully recommend that
the purchase be author ;zed. and that this fund
he applied to effect it. The residence Of the
Father of his Country should become the
property of his native State. At no plac,
could modest a+a Hnpreten ling monument.
be SO appropriately erected, as on the spot
where he lived ana died
I am happy to inform you that the health
and 'conditfen OF the volunteer force from this
State IN Mexico is good; and that ito rebnta
ton for soldiery efficiency and department is
in the highest degree satisfactory. 1t is a
source Of 40 sIi.yht modification to this gallant
corps itself. as we'll TO the pride of our
State, that no opPol tunity has occurred for it
to obtain those laurels which have been 80 A.
bun,lantiy gathered by the gallant troops of
our coramcn corlntTy III every battle Reld.-
Although wa, With Mexico still continues. the
prospect for distinction is rot lattering. The
armies Of Mexico have been annihlaed; her
resources have been captured or exhausted;
her government e!isorganized and forced to
fee, and there seems to be nothing left for
our armies tc encounter but the sullen md
logged temper Of ohr im5ece and benght-
ed foe.
Allow me gentlemen, 70 congratulate yot,
npon our uniform success in Mexico. The
splendor Of our achievements has elevated
the name of our country, covered our arms
witt, imperishable glory. and excited the
wonder and admiration OF the world. Com
menced IS the war was by Mexico wrong
fully and without sufficient cause, I trust il
will not be terminated until we shall have OBJ.
tanned 'inlemaity for tie past esd security
for tie FUTURE" and shall have taught Mexico
to respecta power she has heretofore treated
with arrogance and scorn. Had it been her
pleasure, treaty Of ahity, OF, peace. aud OF
friendship, upon terms highly liberal, would
have been readily entered into by this coun
try; but pieferring war, and having entered
the disputed territory. and attacked the army
of Gen. TavIcr. preceded by sundry incidents
OF bloody atrocity. the question is widely df-
ferent. BY the laws Of nations this country
has the right to require surrender ct terri
tory as some equivalent for the heavy loss to
which we have been put by tie aggressive
policy of Mexico, and it is duty We owe to
our country and to the future peace of the
world, to insist as a sine etia non, upon such
concession
Shall the insolent Mexican 60 iinpiinished9
Shall the glores of Palo Alto. Resaca de la
Palma, Monterey. Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo,
Contreras, Churubusco, Mo!in" del Rey, Cha
pulteptc, and the Garitas, pass away a
dream, leaving no solid mem orial behind them
ct a skill, a gai'antry, and self sacrificing
devotion unsurpassed in the history of MANI
regard this war as a practical Question. and
to he disposed of accordingly. That morbid
sympathy which lives only for Mexico-,ha,
Mexico which murders the drunken soldier
and laHces the wounded on the field OF battle
Il cannot approve; nor can respect thai
closet philosophy which teaches magnanm
ity that calls us to surrender every thing, be-
cause we are victorious. No. my sympathiea
are for my country, for the gallant dead. for
those whose mighty deeds have given bold
err and a broader light to our GLORIOUS con
stellation, for their widows and for their or
phans Instead Of this unhealihy magnanim
ity, to which have adverted. l would be lust
to Mexico. but just also to my own country.
Allow me. gentlemen, again to congratua te
you upon the suspicious circumstances in
| which You commence your important labors.
trust that they will he characterized BY eniarg
ed and practical wisdom, ard that by the adop-
ton of the true policy, you may obtain the
gratitude of your constituents, and live in the
affections of our beloved Commonwealth.
WILLIAM SMITH.
Deco,nber e fSAT