Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-13


US TO conquer Mexico! Gt being by conquest
only that the Pennsylvania expects to attain
the protested object Of the wary
The War Of France, that most formidable militia
ry Power, with Algiers and its adjacent territory
has lasted fifteen sixteen years, and cost thre,
hundred millions of dollars and the country is a.
far from being entirely subdued as ever Mexico
more warlike than the African nation, with eli
mate more fatal to invading enemy than even hel
armed resistance, will hardly be completely con
quered at a less expense. But suppose the cost o.
the war to us to be only one hundred millions o.
dollars how is Mexico to indemnify us for thai
amount OF expenditure, after we have left her with.
out either revenue or government We shall
we suppose, levy an execution on her Territories
and such of her "palaces" shall yet be standing
and, being the only bidder shall Of course take pos
session of them. That will be the answer of the
/" Pennsylvania" What do we want of them,
even as matter of convenience, beyond strip Of
land on the Rio Grande and seaport on the coast
OF California! What monstrous absurdity would
1t not be to 60 on fighting until we have wasted
fifty millions Of dollars more than the fifty which
we have already spent Gf all the accounts were in and
paid to obtain what could have readily purchased
without going to war-and possibly might be able
to purchase now-fOr tenth part of the money,
and % how transcendently more worthy of consi-
deraton y without the sacrifice of single life of
those dear friends, beloved companions, and coun-
trymen Of ours, who have fallen in the fight, or
who-far direr fate Victims to an unnatural eli
mate, are now mingled with the clods Of the valley
Some there are, we know, among our own friends
OF both parties-for we have the honor of having
friends In both-who entertain the opinion that the
Honor OF this Nation is involved in what is called
vigorous prosecution of this War; and who en-
terrain this notion, without appearing to have made
up their minds to the precise point which they
would consider the National honor to be satisfied.
What can be more for the honor of the Nation than
its being governed by justice by humanity by mag
nanimty! Are not the opposite qualities incom-
patble with the National honor! For our part,
we cannot conceive of National honor inconsist-
ent with National good. Statesman must not
reason for whole People, as he would reason in
his individual case; because it is their honor and
their welfare and not his own merely, that, in all
public affairs placed in his charge, he is bound to
official duty and responsibility in this their true light
we should never have been in this war; If he would
yet take this view Of the matter, we might soon
be ont Of it. Satisfy us that a thing proposed for
national action is right, practical, commensurate,
and we will allow it to be made point of honor,
and not otherwise. But, in regard to this Mexican
war, it appears to us-to quote the language of
BURKE, in his Speech against the American War,
Tin l774, THAT :" we are at this moment in the
awkward situation of fighting for phantom;
quiddity thing that wants not only sub
stance, but even a name; for a thing which is
neither abstract right nor profitable enjoyment
This is, however, our individual opinion only and
protest against any body else being held respon-
sble for it.
To conclude what we have at present to say on
this subject, cannot refrain from expressing our
surprise at the GOODNESS, and almost indifference,
with which men, who not only not hardened
against the finer feelings of humanity, but ordna-
rily most sensible to them, seem to, contemplate
calamity SO awful as would be the g second Con-
quest of Mexico" which our government paper
heraded before the first step was taken towards it,
and which is now announced to be at hand. Have
scenes of blood and carnage, the sack of cities,
the slaughter Of nnocents the waste of life, the de-
yastaon of half continent-have these things, be-
held even in imagination no terrors for their souls
Let them not fatter themselves with the hope that,
though all the means of doing it were placed,
without restriction, in the hands OF the Executive,
matters could not possibly be pushed to this ex-
IRENE! Even in a mirror, see reflected, in
the article which we have copied from the Penn
sylvanian," the course which the President of the
o',',d States is expected to pursue when the Army
anu VIC Navy aud Il" Treasury of the United States
are placed and left at his dlsci.s.,,
Finally: Would it be becoming in this tree a.a
great People to initiate only the rapacity of Rome
in her conquests, and forget only the magnanimity
and the jealousy of her honor with which she often
| acted I!
al might easily say, Conscript Fathers" says
julius Cesar, in his speech on the Catilinaran
question, what kings and commonwealth, mised
by either anger or pity, have decided amss but
choose rather to refer to what our orefathers did
of right or becoming, in spite of their natural i'm
pulses. In that Macedonian war which we waged
with King Perseus, thescity Of Rhodes, great and
splendid, which had grown so out of our wealth,
turned faithless and hostile to us. But when, the
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