Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-10

some foreign Power to possess it either by
conquest or by purchase If no foreign gov
eminent should acquire il IN either of these
modes, an independent revolutionary govern
ment would probably he established BY the in
habltants, and such foreigners "a may remain
| In or remove to the country, as soon as it shall
be known that the United States have aban-
doned it. Such government would be too
feeble long to maintain its separate indepen-
dent existence, and would finally become an
nexed to, or be dependent colony of, some
more powerful State
should any foreign government attempt to
possess it as a colony, or otherwise to incor-
porate it with itself, the principle avowed by
President Monroe in 1924, and reaffirmed in
my first annual message, that no foreign Pow
er shall, with our consent, be permitted 10
| plant or establish any new colony or domin-
ion on any part of the North American CONT
nent, must be maintained. In maintaining this
principle, and in resisting its invasion BY any
foreign Power, we might be involved in other
wars more expensive and more difficult than
that in which we are now engaged
| The provinces of New Mexico and the CAL
ltornias are contiguous TO the territories of the
United States, and if brought under the gov
eminent of our laws, their resources-miner-
al, agricultural, manufacturing, and CONNER
cial-would soon be developed.
| Upper California is bounded on the north
by our Oregon possessions and if held by the
! United States, would soon be settled by har-
! dy, enterprsing, and intelligent portion of our
| population. The bay of San Francisco, and
other harbors along the California coast, would
afford shelter for our navy, for our numerous
whale ships, and other merchant vessels en-
| poyed in the Pacific ocean, and would in a
short period become the marts OF an extensive
and profitable commerce with China, and 9TH
er countries of the East
These advantages, in which the whole com .
mercIal world would participate, would at
once be secured to the United States by the
cessIon OF this territory; while it is certain
that as long as 1t remains part OF the Next
can dominions, they can be enjoyed neither
by Mexico herself nor by any other nation.
New Mexico is frontier province, and has
never been of any considerable value 10 Mex
leo. From it's locality, it is mutually connect
ed with our western settlements. The terri
torlal limits Of the State Of Texas, too, as de-
fined by hen laws, before her admission into
our union, embrace all that portion of n. Mex
CO still claims to hold this territory as part
question of boundary is important.
There is another consideration which iRdu-
ced the belief that the Mexican government
might even desire to place this province un-
der the protection of the government OF the
United States. Numerous bands of fierce
and warlIke savages wander over it, and upon
its borders. Mexico has been, and must con-
time to be, too feeble to restrain them from
committing depredations, robberies, and muir
ders, not only upon the inhabitants of New
Mexico itself, but upon those of the other
northern States Of Mexico. 1t would be a
blessing TO all those northern States to have
their own citizens protected against them by
the power of the United States. At this mo-
ment, many Mexcans, principally females
and children, are in captivity among them. II
New Mexico were held and governed by the
United States, we could effcctually prevent
these tribes from committing such outrages,
and compel them to release these captves,
and restore them to their families and friends.
In proposing to acquire New Mexico and
the CALIFORNIA;, it was known that but an in
considerable portion of the Mexican people
would be transferred with them, the country
embraced within these provinces being chiefly
an uninhablted region.
These were the leading considerations which
induced me to authorize the terms of peace
which were proposed to Mexico. They were
rejected and, negotiations being at an end
hostilties were renewed An assault was
made by our gallant army upon the strongly
fortified places near the gates of the city oil
Mexico, and upon the city itself; and after
several days of severe conflict, the Mexican
forces, vastly superior in number to our own
were driven from the city, and twas occupied
by our troops.
Immediately after information was received
of the unfavorable result of the negotiations
believing that his continued presence with the
army could be productive of no good, deter,
mined to recall our commissioner. A despatch
TO this effect was transmitted to him on the
sixth of October last The Mexican govern
in the existing state of things, | shall not deem
peace, but shall be at all times ready to receive
made by Mexico.
Since the liberal proposition of the United
} States was authorized to be made in Apr
last, large expenditures have been incurred
and the precious blood of many of our patr
otto fellow citizens has been shed in the pros
ecution of the war This consideration, ant
the obstinate perseverance of Mexico in pro
tracing the war, must influence the terms o
: peace which it may be deemed proper hereaf
, ter to accept.
Our arms having been every where victor
} ious. having subjected to our military occu
: patton a large portion of the enemy's country
including his capital, and negotiations for peac
having failed, the important questions arise
! In what manner the war ought TO be prosecu
ted and what should be our future policy
r cannot doubt that we should secure and rem
T der available the coaquests which we hav
; already made; and that, with this Jew, W
3 should hold and occupy, by our naval AM
military forces, all the ports, towns, cities
and provinces now in our occupation, or which
may hereafter fall into our possession; tina
r we should press forward our military opera
r tons, and levy such military contributions o.
a the enemy as may, as far as practicable, de
S frav the future expenses OF the war.
Had the government of Mexico acceded t
: the equitable and liberal terms proposed, tina
e mode of adjustment would have been prefer
T red. Mexico having declined to do this, am
j failed to offer any other terms which could b
e accepted by the United States, the natlons
7 honor. no less than the public interests, re
p uuires that the war should be prosecuted wit
increased energy and power until just an
satisfactory peace can be obtained. In tn
= meantime. as Mexico refuses all indemnity
t we should adopt measures to indemnify our
= selves, by appropriatng permanently POI
: ton of her territory. Fairly alter the com
o mencement of the war, New Mexico and tn
a CALIFORNIA; were taken possession OF by GU