Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-23
COMMUNICATIONS.
TO THE EDITORS.
NO MEXICAN TERRITORY.

dered only IA S relation The extension OF slavery In tina
relation more need be said those who deem that the p
mary consideration.
The comments of the press seem to require of
extended notice Of the subject.
In that communication HE position had an immediate
ference to the present war; the acquisition of Mexican ter
nory by conquest or iy treaty of peace
The recent failure of the negotiations has given direcnes
to the object Of the war and fully disclosed the ultimate in
Of the Administration to put aside all further doubt OF
equivocaon The wa is be prosecuted, not TO conquer
peace, but to acquire territory.
What spectacle to he monarchs of the world Two sis
ter Repubcs-the only mrvivors-waging OF desoaon.
The elder sister taking advantage of the weakness of the
younger west from her fourth of her territory And,
this end fomenng Internal divisions letting in first SAN
ia ANNA and next PAREDEs, to excite revolutions
No wonder those monarths fold their to the contest
The war; then, is to BE- prosecuted for the acquisition Of
tentory-by conquest o. by treaty of peace
now propose to consle the questions Of consutonaly
and national policy involved in both branches of the
shall take it for granted that if territory be acquired is
for the purpose of being held permanently territory
vened by military law, bat of being admitted, in due time,
into the Union States make this assumption under the
conviction that desires the acquisition any other
terms.
With this explanation submit the position, in its broad
extent that the fundamental principles of our Government
forbid the acquisition of territory by conquest
The Revolution the Declaration Of Independence the Con-
siuon based the principle that the sovereign power
the People, and necessary consequence that
Government rghtuy be imposed any people without
their This then, being the vital principle of
Government how impose on the people of any portion
of Mexico Government any permanent Government,
without their consent
The justification for establishing Territorial Governments
conquered provinces the pogatve of the President
commander n-chief and incident to the state Of
The conquest territory claimed the efficient Of
s'coaquering peace"
Without questioning the power limit declared OBJ
ec Mexican territory may be conquered and held durane
be, the of compelling peace In the time,
it may be governed by the right of conquered
try. go further If Mexico ultimately refuse peace, may,
with the previous of the people, both of
country and of the United States be admitted the Union
Without such consent they (the conquee are during war,
to governed conquered enemies having rights but
such as the laws of war give them.
Such are my views the constitutional effect of conquest
by absolute Government but by Government found
ed the sovereignty of the People, principle which the
people of the world, excepting Mexicans of right
entitled.
The acquisition of Mexican territory By treaty, without
the of both the people of the coded territory and of the
United States open the constitutional objection 1t
is only by the right that impose any
on a conquered peoples and that, too only during the
permanent Territorial Government is equally OBJ
econabe their admission into the Union Both equally
require the assent of the people Of both parties.
The only ground taken in support Of treaty acquisition
rests the pecedens Of the acquisition of Louisiana by the
treaty of s03 and the acquisition of Florida by the treaty Of
lsl9the latter based The former precedent 1t unior
for those who urge the main
tonss who all other occasions, hold that precedent
Tho Mr.
under whose administration the treaty Of 1903 concluded
held that cession be unconstitutional under the urgency
the the occuson OF the port of New Orleans
concluded the treaty. trusting alone TO the subsequent
Of the people OF Louisiana and the United States for his
Justification and from the manifest advantages Of the
sion he certain of thar assent That assent given
1t is them the subsequent of the people of Louis
lana and the United States that the validity Of that
sion depends. The has been given the Fo
da cession The acquisition of Texas has also had in my
Judgment the like Of the people of the United States
On that alone rests the consituonay Of the annexa
lion. Congress had power give the assent of the
people than add article the constitution In the u
tue history of this Government this original principle of the
subsequent implied Of the people will work many
changes and additions the constitution, and those arising
Of war; of the dangerous character The principle that
the People sovereign the constitution ITSELF and
aside of FORM to will and 10 do Of their good pleasure,
will work many changes Gen. JACKSON gave action and
energy to the principle though he had occasion to rePress it,
In became revolutionary in its charac
and dangerous the peace Of the Union Il is in itself
extreme-a dangerous principle.
As question of national policy regard the acquisition OF
Mexican territory, either by conquest by treaty Of peace,
deeply compromising the honor tho justice, and the well
fare of the nation.
What ingredient OF honor into the Wrestling domain
from the weak by the strong If taken as the evidence Of
victory what Of honor into victories nation
that for twenty years has been distracted by internal revou
tons What honor in exciting revolutions making
advantage from them What honor in the bombardment Of
cities of and chdren-of Tabasco of Vera Cruz, Of
Mexico And who can say what may have come I
In the opinion Of nothing but justify the da
ing Of military Desperation may render this
continued daring hazardous The present October . Is
moment full of anxiety.
On the point Of honor not the sole judges We
must abide the judgment Of the civilized worldthe moral
judgment Of the world In that judgment injustice will
| cldfhe victory Of all its claims to honor.
| In the origin Of tie certain Of the favorable
opinion of the world We should not take hope from the
non interference Of other Governments They would gladly
the vesges Of Republican Governments destroyed by
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