The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-12-17

doned il. Such government woniu oe
too feeble long tc retain its separate 70
dependeDt existencerand would finally
become annexed to, or dePende'rs-c2lony
of, some more powerful state
Should any foreign government attempt to
possess it as colony, or otherwise to moor
porate it with itself, the principle evolved by
President Monroe in 1924, and re affirmed in
my first annual message, that no foreign pow
er shall, with our consent, be permitted to
plant or establish any new colony, or dominion,
on the North American continent, must be
maintained. In maintaining this principle,
and in resisting its invasion by any foreign
power, we might become involved in other
wars, more expensive and more difficult than
that in which we are now engaged. The
provinces of New Mexico and the Cali, ornas
are contiguous to the territories OF the United
States; and 1t brought under the government
of our laws, their resources, mineral, agrlcul,
tural, manufacturing and commercial, would
soon he developed.
Upper California is bounded on the north
by our Oregon possessions, and ifheld by the
United States, would soon be settled by an
enterprising and intelligent portion of our. pop
ulation. The Bay Of San Francisco, and 9th
er harbors along the California coast, would
afford shelter for our navy, our numerous
whale ships, and other merchant vessels en-
poyed in the Pacific ocean; and would, in a
short period, become part of an extensive
and profitable commerce with China, and 9TH
er countries of the East.
These advantages, in which the whole com
mercal world would participate, would at
once be secured to the United States, by the
cession of this territory; while it is certain
that so long as it remains part of the Mexi
can dominions, they can be enjoyed neither
by Mexico herself, nor by any other nation.
New Mexico is frontier, and has never
been of any considerable value to Mexico
From its locality, it is naturally connected
with our western settlements. The territorial
limits of the State of Texas too, as defined by
her laws, before her admission into our Union,
embraces all that portion of New Mexico ly-
ing east of the Rio Grande; while Mexico
still claims to hold this territory, as part of
her domnions.
The adjustment oftnis question of boun,
dairy, then, is another conside Grafton which
induced the belief that the Mexican gov.
ernment, might even desire to place this
province under the protection Of the gov,
ernment of the United States. Numerous
bands OF fierce war>like savages wander
overit, and upon its borders. Mexico has
been, and must continue to be, too feeble
TO restrain them from committing depre
dalions, robberes and muders; not only
upon the Inhabitants of New Mexico it,
self, but upon those of the other Northern
States of Mexico. Ii would be a blessing
to all these northern States to have their
citizens protected against them by the
power of the Uniled States. At this mo-
ment many Mexictns, principally females
and child en-, are in captivity among them
II New Mexico were held and governed
by the United States, we could eiTectuall,
prevent these tribes from committing such
outrages, and compel them to release
tbese captives, and resture them to their
a mlllps md Tripnus In
qnire New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;, il
y as known that but an inconsiderable
portion of the Mexican peuple would be
transferred with them: the country EN-.
,raced within those provinces being chief
: an uninhabited territory.
JAMES X. POLK.
Washington City, Dec. 7, l847.
Concluded neat peek