The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-16

| sacrifice "t tnen and mnnpv--in one word which
shai p"ssess all the natural advantages which
sh"h boundary ought To have for defence. and
at the same time he 81 situated that snoplips of
money and fond can he drawn readily to support
the line if assaulted bv Mexco Tho next con.
siheration. IN my opinion, which ought to govern
us IN selecting the line is this, il OUGHT tn he
snch as would be desirable for to possess it, in
the ultimate adjustment of differences with Mex
leo. that so established sbaIl become the common
bo,ndary between the two na,iuns And | yo
| '"'ther; 1t should he such "a shall deprive Mpxi-
co "f the smallest possible degree of her own
proper resources and strength. For while we
consider orr own interests in establishing de
'ens've line. in my humble opinion. we ouyh, not
Ia overlook the consideration of what is suited To
Mexico as well as ourselves. I hold that we
ought I" be just and liberal to Mexico. no, only
because she is our neighbor--not only because she
IS sister repuhllc-not only because she is emu
ious now, and ever has heen Of following our
exa'npe-not only because she is the greatest
power an the continent. almost if no, quite mex,
to ourselves. Of all portions Of it which have he
come sn!Jrcr Il" European possessiun These are
high considerations which every American ought
| 10 ierl. and which every generous and svmpathet.
&c heart will feel.
| But there other considprat inns of po,epti,l
weight IN this point, which belong far ,nore to
ourselves than To Mexico. Mexico is one of the
greatest problems connected with nur fDreinn re la
lions and in my humble opinion our true pulley is
| neither To weaken to depress her On the
contrary. u is interest To see her respectable
and strong. and capable of sustaining all the rela.
| tonS that ought In exist hetwpen the two nations
mold that there is a mysterious connexion he
tween The fate o: this country and Mexico and tha,
her independence. and her responsibility, and her
| rapaoiiity ot maintaining all these relations are
| aln"st as essential To us as TO Mexico | hold
Mexico I" be forbidden fruit. and the day that we
Consume it. the penalty will be anos, the political
death of our nation The next considrrati ton is
that the line should be such if il should he esiab
lished between us and Mexico finally. as would
lead TO permanent, peace between the two conn
tries and, finally, that il should he such rs would
lead To as speedy peace possible. and for that
purpose 1t should be eminently coercve Now.
MI President, the question is, what line hest ful.
| MS all these considerations And here, again
| am nut prepared To pronounce. IL requires a
more exact knowledge of the country-for | take
| IT all our maps are mnre less imperfrct-more
| thorough military knowledge on the subject than
| possess Bnt while do not feel myself prepar
ed with the necessary information TO pronounce
upon this. am prepared TO suggest line which.
In my oplnion, embraces most Of these considera.
t"ns. and is as nearly perfect as. perhaps. could
be decided upon and what especially recommends
that line To me s, as understand by the declara-
| tons ot the chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Relations. il is substantially the one which the
Executive themselves think of establishing even
shond an offensive war be successfully conducted
! The line should suggest is ihis-bepinninu a
the mouth of The Rio del Nnrte and continuing M
10 the Pasa del Norte, or southern boundary Of
| New Mexico. which nearly coincide. and then
due west Ia the Gulf of California, striking il ac
cord'nQ to the maps before us, nearly at its head
NOW MT President, propose To turn round. and Ia
examine this line in reference to the considerations
which laid down as thuse which ought to gov
ern us in the selection of line In the first place
! II will enable 10 secure all the objects for
which the war declared. The invasion is
already repealed. | will establish the Del Norte
to he the western boundary of Texas from its
mouth to its source and it will give us ample
means OF indemnity, even if the cost of the war
Itself shall be considered one of lis Objects which,
blythe nv, in my humble Judgment ] am very ia
from being disposed to counienance. The next,
! and very important object would be attained by
taking that line, and that is, il would involve the
least sacrifice of men and money to maintain it
And here it has advantages. First. there is the
Del Norte. broad. rapid and navigable river. of
which we would have the command In addition
TO that being near the settled paris Of Texas where
| In an emergency. the forces necessary to defend
lt.may he readily organized, and provisions readi-
Iy thrown on this part Of the line | have con.
snIled the opinions of military men of Judgment
and experience, and they inform me that a suita.
bile fortIhcation would not require more than four
regiments and three forts 10 put it in a complete
state OF deenre-One fort to be erected near the
mouth of the Del Nore. another near Camargo
the third at the Paso del Norie- which last has
! extraordinary advantages, as it commands The an
| ly passage into New Mexico, and commands the
whole of that part of the country which we have in
our military occupation. Four regiments would be
ample for this purpose after the first year-afier
having taken possession and erected the fnrtifica
| tons. The other portion of The line could he still
more easily defended From the mountains which
separate The waters Of the Del Nor.e from ,hnse
which fall into the Gulf Of California or The Colo
RADIO. which ia the same thing mp to the upper end
ct the Gull of California, is occupied by savage
| population through its whole extent. and requires
no forts. The remaining part is covered by the
| Gnlf of California. A few small vessels-a sin
gle reglmeni-wil he ample for it's defence -
| Hence FIVE regiments, with a small naval force
would he ample to effect all the objects W hich we
have in view in maintaining this line against any
Ppwer which Mexico could possibly bring against
us. The next consideration is the convenience
| of the country which may he covered by the line
Here the advantages are not less striking. Ii is
contiguous To us. IL has one part upon the ives
tern boundary Of Texas and the middle on The
southern boundary Of Oregon. Bot what gives il
still greater adyantage-what is Of immensely
more importance--what ought 10 make it desira
/ BILE IN the eyes of Americans, and not at all val
liable in the estimation of Mexico is the fact tina,
it is an uninhabed country. tcuvers an area Of
six hundred thousand square miles. with popu
laiion less han one hundred thousand. Of all cum
plexions and all descriptions Of people. 1t is as
! llule setiItd-ess So indeed than the country in
possession Of our savage neighbours.
! II This country had the choice of lwo regions
Of The continent, the one inhabited and the other
noi--'f we consulted the genius Of our gos IN.
ment--lf we consult the success Of our poll al
movement, we will vastly prefer the uninhabiied
/ iu the inhabited ,eri,u WIZ, 90, ,,,r, 10 e,,oo