Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-09-30
@ge Sfntinel:
WOOD STOCK.
SEPTEMBER 20. 1S47

WOOD STOCK.
SEPTEMBER 80, lS47.
Progress Of Neg citations. Since
Our st issue, there is no information
as to what has transpired between the
American and Mexican commissioners
toward concluding peace; and so
contradictory and unsatisfactory are
the rumors in circul ation upon this sub.
ject, that it is impossible to arrive at
any conclusion as to what will be the
resul It of the labors Of :he commission
ers. Some Of thesletters received from
Mexico hold out the idea. that treaty
honora bic to both nations will speedily
be ratified others declare that the
commissioners on the part of Mexico
utterly refuse to accede to the terms
proposed by Mr.. Trist, on TIE part of
our government.
In the absence Of official intelligence
from Gen. Scott, it is idle to speculate
upon the matter. Judging from the
past, however, we confess that we have
very little confidence in the sincerity or
good sense of the Mexicans, at this
junctnre, nor do we believe they will
aecede to the terms of the treaty offered
them until their power is scattered to
the four winds, and they shall be COM
PEELED to bow down before the stars
and suipes' and sue for mercy.
-aSe
The Issue.-The junior of The Har-
risonburg Republican, tit seems that
the sen. is absent from town, would
produce the inpres>ionSupon the minds
of his readers, that 'the question at is
sue between US, is whether we did not
deny'that war was likely to result from
annexation and not whether the re-
fusal oe the Mexican government to re-
celve our minister was received at the
Department of State before the orders
were issued for our army to take po-
sition on the Rio Grande.' After the
signal failure of the editor to controyert
the statements made in the article un-
der the head of Opposition Tactics,
and published in the Sentinel of the
9th inst, it suits his present purposes
admirably well, to attempt to bring in
to view another issue, which has no
practical bearing upon the points star
ted and maintained in the articled ma
med, and to which the editor attempt
ed to reply lii the Republican of the
18th inst. The ISSUE properly, is to
be found in our first article, and not in
the Republicans reply to that article,
as the editor sagely states. For the
satisfaction of the editor, however, we
will state, that throughout the canvass
of l844,' our files prove that when
we referred to the question of annexa-
ton at all, it was to discuss the impor.
lance of the measure, and to establish
the independence of Texas against the
claims Of Mexico, whether de tacto or
de jure, it was not material TO deter
mine, according to the established u
sages and acknowledged laws of all
4civilised. nations, which had any bear
ing upon the question. The question
Of war with Mexico, as the result of
immediate annexation, did not SO much
occupy our serious consideration, as
that, whether its postponement might
not involve US in more formidable diff
6culties with other nations. The pow
ers Of Europe were deeply impressed
with the importance to them, in poll
ical as well as commercial sense, Of pre-
venting annexation at all hazards -
and the French premier, M. GU1zoT,
boldly declared, that it was the policy
Of Europe to maintain the balance
of power on this continent, and that
to prevent annexation, would accom-
plish that object effectually. These
momeDtous considerations occupied
our mind in our discussions uponthe
question Of annexation.
The question Of war with Mexico,
.ooo.J.~, ~ IL - 80