Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-06
COMMUNICATION.
TO THE EDITORS.

reign Relations said in substance that the people Of this
country would peace without the ceson
by Mexico of the departments Of California and New Mexico
This declaration is all the important from the close per-
sona and political relations Of the distinguished speaker with
the President Of the United States and his position at the
head Of the Committee Foreign Reations which justify
the inference that he knows and expresses the opinions of the
Executive department Of our Government
The ParsIDESr, in his at the commencement Of
the Session. declared that the acquisition of Mexican territory
by conquest was object There is certainly some
difficulty ecopcng this declaration with that made by Mr.
SsvER in the Senate The only mode of doing sup
pose the purposes Of the Executive have changed since
the time when his message written If the purpose
acquisition months since, what is there that has since
occurred change it. Is il that the has been proaced
two months longer, although without active operations on
either side IL this gives right to demand SO large
portion Of the territory of Mexico how much more shall we
be entitled the end Of the year Certainly the extreme
southern boundary of Mexico will satisfy this just and
most reasonable demand Of ours.
The alleged ground of the at the time Of its
men and the only ground upon which the waged
country the and the Rio Grande
All that has since been said about Mexican spoatons upon
the property American citizens aer-thought; and,
this latter just for the war, the right to
decide with the Congress of the United States and not
with the President That body had for years refused to de-
clare against Mexico this account, when Mexico
fused recognise the justice Of the claims of citizens
promise indemnify Treaties have since been made
for the settlement Of those claims and the payments had been
punctuay made until Mexico thrown into state of dis
order and temporary insolvency by Of those almost pero
dcal revolutions which have much afflicted and mpovesh
ed that country. Would not have been harsh justice Ito
say the least of it, under such circumstances and for this
delay few months resulting from absolute inability
r.I
had existed, will it be pretended by any that Con-
gess would have esoed of the claims Of
citizens aone2 If the purpose of Government be
that which stated by Mr. SEWER is difficult any
necessity for the appropriation asked for If have per-
feet right California and New Mexico, why should we
pay for it If have such right shall continue the
to force Mexico to sell those departments The
ton of such principle that for such purpose would
be legitimate usab, would certainly be Interpolation
in the code of international law. Is this the century is
the nation in which and by which such principle for
the first time to be asserted
are to disregard all higher and more honorable
deraons becomes calculate least the of such
conquests money and in blood, well all the
other consequences which will result from it We have
right suppose that this will be the last in which we
shall be engaged and involved in another there
is much fear that it will be with than Of
the most powerful nations of the earth. In such event,
would not be we'll for to have contermnous Republic
both powerful and friendly us 1t has been truly said that
sole enemy Mexico is not formidable But, ally
Of powerful European nation, the would be very differ
ent She would furnish border of great from which
to invade the weakest and most pasey populated of
States-soders to any extent and supplies very great
extent tits not Mexico Alone however, which will be alien
aed from by protraced spolaton and dmember-
ment, but all the South American They an peo-
al hu tho al or.
broad and fertile plains and rich Mines and the same
great temptation of inability defend them. They will all
think and certainly not without reason that the only boon
which will be offered them will be that Of the ganhat
of being the last devoured
= But what will the WORLD say Of this openly -coness-
cd Of conquest force feeble Sister Republic 10
sell portion Of her territory, dsmember that Repub
lie the ground of indemnity for the expenses that war
Surely such right will be conceded unless are
clearly in the right and Mexico clearly in the wrong the
orginaton of the
Is such the opinion of the world do not believe that
out Of the United States that opinion is held by single en-
Ightened and impartial Many such in our own coun-
try, know think the just war but such is not the
opinion Of the world and cannot hope to change that
opinion by hundred battles and a hundred victories On
the contrary, the signal those victories the stronger and
general will be the sympathy for feeble adver
saes. Let not be said that Indifferent to the undi
vded opinion Of all Christendo. II true Of nations as of
Individuals that the most priceless jewel spotcss reputa-
ton. II is no empty baube, but is in itself power"
If we disregard all considerations Of this character
really practicable to humble Mexico such
bring her to these terms confess that do not think So
am quite that it be done but cost in money
infinitely tanscendng the value Of the acquisition say
nothing Of the sacrifice of human m Of thousands and tens
Of thousands of American lives and the making Of an equal
number Of widows and orphans say nothing Of the hor
bic consequences Of such TO enemies; for be
successful it be conducted in manner and carried to
e1emies at which the heart sickens and humanity ecos
Let least calmly and dspassonatey ask ourselves first
of ALL Is just is it right, is it honorable What after
all is the right Of conquest il any such right exists but the
right Of the strongest 1t the right Of the bandit He is
stronger and better armed than the traveller and he his
purse and keeps it.
Is there instance in all history Of nation, and nation
thoroughly united is Mexico with population Of eight
millions, and abundanty supplied with all the munitions Of
war; having been conquered Why should we expect such
result is our enemy the least warlike Of nations Are
her people less proud less pernacious less revcnge than
all others Nos but precisely the reversible descendants
OF the heroes Of Sagunum, Numan and SaraQossa II
remarked by NArIER in his history Of the Pennsuar War
that no country in Europe easy to oveun as Spain
difficult to etain The ultimate fate of the erions
Of BoSPARrE confirms this truth Where olse in history