Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-30
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE GOLD FARMER" AGAIN.
How shall the Tar be brought TO a clos

ESu opa must now see, Messrs. Editors, that
,ba homo of conauering peace in the halls of the
Montezumas . is utterly vain and futile. The Pre-
s;dept has taken the position that he will not with
draw our armies until Mexico consents TO peace !;
Mexico refuses TO treat until our troops are with
drawn and in the mean time, the terms proposed
10 be offered on either side are such as the oppo-
site party refuses 10 accept So long, therefore, as
our armies continue in Mexico, we can make no
peace, even though make desert. What,
then, is to be done ! Shall the war be waged in
termnably for no purpose whatever!
President Polk, on taking the Presidential chair,
finding himself in possession of giants strength,
seems to have thought it necessary for him g to
it like giant" Accordingly, after having buster
ed with England on the Oregon question, and then
accepted about half what he claimed, he turned
upon weak distracted Mexico and seized her by the
throat Against this unprovoked violence Mexico
demonstrated, and endeavored to free herself from
his grasp, but she refused TO humiiae herself be-
cause she was not conscious OF having committed
any crime. And now because she does not fall
upon her knees, and yield up her territory and her
citizens to President Folks mercy, he and his whole
Cabinet are totally dsconcerted and know not what
course TO pursue. Now, is it possible they can be
utterly devoid of shame 10 continue their ag-
gressions upon people who demonstrate with so
much dignity in the midst of their msfortunes, and
exhibit firm resolution TO perish rather than hu-
initiate themselves, where they have committed no
offence
1t is perfectly evident that Congress must inter-
fere III some way to bring this deplorable war TO
close. Should it fail to take some active measures
on the subject, it will disappont the hopes OF the
nation. Ii President Polk is TO make war with
lmpunity, when and with whom he pleases, and II
Congress cannot dares not refuse those supplies
of men and money which he requires for car
ryIn0 i he IN Dra
rogatve of the bowsring to become perfect
Turkish Sultan. And the Sultan of Turkey him
self was scarcely committing greater acts of vio-
lence and ferocity upon Greece than President Polk
is now committing on Mexico, when England and
France interposed for humanitys sake, and annihi-
lated his fleet at Navarino.
No one wishes or expects that the brave men
now in Mexico shall be permitted to suffer for want
of supplies; but surely Congress can insist that
the terms of peace shall be greatly modified, before
they crafty any further the Presidents childish
propensity to conquer other nations. Were both
Houses of Congress TO pass a resolution that it
would be inexpedlent TO admit foreign territory
into the Union, ercept nth the consent and at The
request Of ITS inhabitants, il might go far towards
facilitating peace, and placing this nation in a more
honorable position before the world than it now
occupies.
The Constitution of the United States was GER
us to conquer other nations. It's sole object is to
promote the happiness of our own people at home.
To annex foreign territory, with its inhabitants, by
force, TO the Union, is most preposterous absur-
dty, because perfect freedom al the very founda-
ton of our Institutions
Yet President Polk in his extreme anxiety to
gain eclat for his administrations after having
expended hundred millions Of dollars, apd sacri-
feed twenty thousand lives, in conquering Mexican
III.
millions OF dollars Tor whaI is not worth two mil
lions. Can the farce Of folly 90 further?
But the people Of the United States need no more
territory. We have land enough to cultivate, and
to spare. We have also cities to build and har-
bors 10 improve we have canals and railroads 10
construct; we have forests to clear and rivers 10
make navigable and, generally to embeflish that
country which kind Providence has assigned to
us. We have also the duties OF education, science
and religion to attend to. Is for such people to
waste its energies in assaultng other nations Shall
we send armed men three thousand miles TO burn
the hut OF the peaceful ranchero in Mexico! Shall
we send companies Of engineers there to blow up
houses filled with affrighted shrieking women and
children Shall we follow those counsels which
tell us there is still more work for the bavonet!
Is II worthy object, in magnanimous people like
US, to make widows and orphans in Mexico! Many
oad men there doubtless are in that unhappy coun-
out shdh we punish the innocent Tor the crimes
OIL me guilty It's not the knayes and desperadoes
OF Mexico who suffer from the present war il is the
moral and industrious portion Of her community
who are injured by our attacks. Then let wiser
eounsels now prevail. Let our armies be recalled
let us endeavor to atone for the errors Of tho mast
let US gladden. the hearts of unfortunate Nexicans 4
as we did those of starving Irshmen for such
mission OF mercy coners more true honor on
country than all the bloody laures which were ever
gained.
Do the enlightened and humane people Of the
United States, especially the females, consider
Iign"y the consequences of sending large armies
into foreign countries Have they never reflected
That large bodies Of men, in these circumstances,
whether flushed with victory or embittered by de-
feat are prone to forget the obligations Of religion
and humanity? Dc they realize the horrors of
plantations wasted, villages laid in ashes, cities
sacked, desolated, and their inhabitants put TO the
sword, and batle-heds slrewn with dead and diving
men, Alas how many fathers and husbands,
how many mothers and wives, how many hapess
orphans, will be left to lament the iHcursion OF our
armies into Mexico,
And by all this, let us remember, we have gained
and we can gain nOfhiHg-ABsoLUTELY NOTHING.
The blood and treasure we have expended are
like water poured on the ground, which cannot be
gathered up" Shame. everlasting shame on the
counsels which have led the nation into such an