Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-20

the claimants, in defiance Of the protests Of those
claimants and Of our Government. A new conten-
iiOn treaty for the examination of the remainder
Of the claims, concluded at Mexico, April 30th.
/ I3. The American Senate ratified IL, with two
amendments. The Mexican Government has never
deigned to inform ours. whether 1t would or would
not agree 10 those amendments
!. Hence il appears that while We had claims, some
of them of twenty years standing, ard many Of
them undoubtedly Just, she had only claim upon
of recent origin, and that evidently unjust. And vet
she had the hardihood, after accepting offer
to negotiate upon all subjects in dispute. recede
from H. and insist upon making her unt0uBded claims
the only subject of treaty, while our Just claims
should remain in abeyance. believe thete Is
instance in history Of powerful nation submitting
to such pretensiuns. At the time they up.
we had on hand The unsettled controversy with Eng
land respecting Oregon. Had Mr.. Polk acceded TO
the offer of Mexico; TO negotiate in reference
Texas alone, doubt that those who condemn
the war; one made for the support Of slavery.
would have thought, and said, that he had made tie
concession out of regard to the interests of slavery
that he was fearful Of alliance between England
and Mexico. and the employment of eolored troops
from the West Indies in conjunction with tie Mexi
cans and that the interests and rights Of the caIrn
ants upon Mexico who are mostly Northern men,
had been shamefulIy sacrificed by Southern Presi-
dent. in order to guard the Shareholders against the
dangers of such war.
On careful examination of the facts and the
correspondence, see reason to doubt the entire
sincerity Of the professions IF a desire for peace,
made By President Polk | think, however, il would
have been better for him 10 have adopted the
recommendltio made by General Taylor, In his let
ter of October a. lS45 TO move the troops from the
Nueces TO the Rio Grande, a of facilitating
settlement; yet. in adopting it, more than three
months afterwards see no reason TO suppose that
Mr.. Polk was go, erned by any bad motive, nor can
m o. q m sure ere
strong. | would have preferred however, that the
President should have thrown the responsibility upon
Congress that that body Notwithstanding impair
allced forbearance, should have forborne somewhat
longer, and furnished additional proofs Of the extra
ordinary moderation of this country In It's intercourse
with other nations Yet, considering the unrcasona-
bleness and nfatuation of the Mexcans, | do
think it likely that such forbearance would have pre-
vented, though it might have delayed, the war
1t is common for some people to speak of this a
peculiarly unjust war; yet have not found one of
them able to designate any war Of invasion, in the
whole range of history, that they could themselves
pronounce more Just one; to designate any pow
erful nation that they think would have f1rborne
longer than the United States have dune.
There many reasons for regretting the existence
of the war but it affords some consolation TO believe
that the amount of blood shed in it is not much
greater than that shed the period the civil
broIls of the Mexicans and the incursions Of the
Indians into the Mexican DISTRICTS left unprotected
and deprived of arms, lest the people might them
to regain their berty that the result will probably
be the introduction Of better Government. frecr
trade, and more civiEization, into Mexico that if
this Government acquires territory, snch territory
Will enjoy freedom Of religion and of the press
and VIII be settled more rapldy3 and that, If slaves
are allowed TO be transferred to the acquired territory
the transfer will increase the number Of slaves,
but viii place them in a climate more -congenal 10
their constitutions, where there is less prejudice of
color, and more facility for patton and will,
moreover, by the withdrawal Of portion of slaves
from the Northern slaSeholdng States, render the
speedy emancipation Of the remainder practical
bic aud mUre probable.
In conclusion, will notice, or repeat, some of the
errors into which the violent censurers Of the
have fallen. They are found in the assertions: l.
That Mexico ever had a right to Texas 2. That
Texas in 1885 was province :" of Mexico; 3
That the Texans, instead of Santa Anna, rebclss
4. That the resistance of Texas To the Usurper
prompted principally by desire to perpeuate slave
ry D. That the Government Of the United States did
not rema IN neutral in the contest; g. That Texas
was annexed ith view TO perpetuaie slavery z.
That the tendency of annexation viii be to perpeluate
that institution; 8. That, whatever fhe motive,
Mexico had any right to complain of the measure;
9. That Mexico did not accept The proposition 10
treat all subjects in dispute; 10. That the nego-
tiaton prevented from going by dispute
10 whether our negoator should be called " COM
mfssioner" CT plenipotenfery, instead of whether
he should be confined to the claim Of Mexico
upon US, passing by our old claims on her. III. That
our claims upon her are mere debts, instead of de-
mands for the restoration of property taken by shame
less robbery and u. II al Mexico came to an adjust
ment of ali our claims and delayed their payment
only by reason of inubility. Though these state
merits have been made by prominent members OF
Congress and respectable editors, deem them one
and all erroneous. F.