Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-29
PEACE WITH MEXICO.
BY ALBERT GALDATiN.
/. THE LAW OF NATIONS.


1t seems certain that Mexico must ultimately
submit to such terms Of peace Is the United States
shall dictate. heterogeneous population Of seven
millions, with very limited resources and no credit
distracted by internal dissensions and by the amb
ton ut ITS chiefs prey by turns to anarchy and
military usurpers; occupying among the nations of
the civilized world, either physically or mentally
whether in political education social state, or any
other respect, bu, an inferior position, cannot con
TEND successfully with an energetic, intelligent en-
Heightened, and united nation OF twenty millions.
possessed OF unlimited resources and credit and en-
Toying all the benefits OF regular, strong and free
Government. All this was anticipated but the ex-
'uaordnary successes of the Americans have ex-
ceeded the most sangune expectations. All the
advanced posts of the enemy New Mexico, Cali
forna, the line Of the lower Rio Norte and all the
seaports which it was deemed necessary to occupy)
have been subdued. And small force. apparently
incompetent to the object has penetrated near three
hundred miles in,o the interior, and is now in quiet
possession of the ar-iamed metropolis of the Mex-
can doniinlons. The superior skill and talents of
our distinguished generals and the unparalleled
bravery OF our troops have surmounted all obstacles
by whoinsoever commanded on either side how
ever Strong the positions and Notifications OF the
Mexicans, and with tremendous numerical supe-
riority, there has been but single eugagemert in
which they have not been completely defeated
Ihe most remarkable and unexpected featursSf
that warfare is, that volunteers, wholly undisciS
lined in every sense of the word have We'd in de-
votedness and bravery with The regular forces and
have proved themselves in every instance superior
IN the open field to the best regular forces of Mexi-
CO. These forces are now annihilated or dispersed
and the MeXicans are reduced to petty warfare of
guerrlllas, which, however annoying, cannot be
productive of any important results.
1t Is true these splendid successes have been pur-
chased at price far exceeding their value IL is
true that neither the glory OF these military deeds,
nor the ultimate utility of our conquests eau com
pensate Tor the lamentabIe loss OF the many thou
sand valuable lives sacrificed in the field. or the
stiil greater number who have met with an obscure
death, or been disabled by disease and FATIGUE. II
is true that their relatives, their parents their
wives and children, find consolation for the mis-
cry inflicted upon them in the still groa er losses
perienced by the MeXicans. But it, dsreoarliup
private calamies and all the evils of a general ma
lure, the necessary consequences of this war we
revert solely to the relative position of the two
countries the impotence of the Mexicans ard their
total inability to continue the war, with any APP
Pearance OF success, are still manifest
ne question then occurs: What are the terms
which the United States have n RIGHT to rnpose ON
Mexico All agree that ii must be an 'shonorable
peace )" but the true meaning of this word must in
AIhe first place be ascertaned.
The notion that any thing can be truly honora-
Die which is contrary to Justice, WILL rs an abstract
proposition, be repudiated by every citizen of the
United States. viii any one dare 10 assert that
peace can DE honorable which does not conform with
Justice?
There is no difficulty in discovering the nr;n c,,ss
'oy which the relations between civilized and Chris
tan nations should be regulated and the recprocal
duties which they owe to each other. These nrin-
'clples, these duties, have long since been proclaim
'ed and the true law OF nations is nothing else than
1he conformity TO the sublime precepts of the Cos
PEI morality precepts equally applicable to the re-
iations between man Imam, and to the intercourse
between nation and nation. Thou shalt love inv
neighbOr as thyselR" ''Love your enemies ,,
80 AS you would that men should do TO YOU. do We
also to them likewise" The sanctty of these com
mands is acknowledged, without single excep-
ton, by every denomination Of Christians ar n,
men protesting TO be such. The skepticai philoso-
pher admits and admires the precept To this
holy rule we should iniexibly adhere when dicta-
ting the terms of peace. The United States.
though they have the power, have no right to i'm,
pose terms inconsistent with justice. 1t would be
shaheiui derelictlon OF principle, on the part OF
those who were averse TO the annexation of Texas
to countenance any attempt to claim an ACQUISITION
OF territory, or other advantage, on account of the
success of our arms.
But in judging the acts of our Government. il
must be admitted that statesmen think conformity
10 these usages which constitute the law of nations
NOT as 1t should be, but 1t is practically sufficient
to justify their conduct Aud by that inferior
standard those acts and our duties in relation :,
Mexico will be tested.
u.-INDEMNITIES TO THE CITIZENS
OF THE U. STATES.
The United States had and continues to have
an lndubltable right to demand full indemnity fol
any wrongs Inflicted on citizens by the Govern
ment of Mexico, in violation of treaties or Of the ac
knowledged laws of nations. The negotiations En
satisfying those just demands had been interrupted
by the annexation ct Texas. When an attemp
was subsequently, made to renew them, il was there
fore just and proper that both subjects should be dis
cussed at the same time and it is now absoIutel,
necessary that those just claims should be fully pro
yided Tor in any treaty of peace that may be con
cluded, and that the payment should be secured a
gainst any possible contingency. take it for grant
ed that no claims have been or shall be sustained b,
our Government but such are founded on treatie:
or the acknowledged law of nations.
Whenever nation becomes involved in war
the manfestOes and every other public act ISSUED
for the purpose of iustifying IFS conduct, AWAY,
embrace every ground OF complaint which can pos
sibly be alledged. But admitting that the refusa
TO satisfy the claims OF indemnity of cur citizen,
might have been just of war, it is most Ger
tain that those claims the cause of that II
which they are now involved.
1t may be proper, in the first place, to observ
that the refusal Of doing justice, in cases Of th;
kind, or the long delays in providing for them
have not generally produced actual war. Almos
always long protraced negotiations have alone beer
resored to- This has been srikinGly the case will
the United States. The claims of Great Britain
for British debts, secured by the treaty of 1888
not settled and paid TIL the year 1903 and i
only subsequent to that year that the claims o
the L. States, for depredatiOns committed in 1893
were satisfied. The very plain question Of slaves
carried away by the British forces in 1915, in oper
violation Of the treaty of 1914, was not settled and
the iudprnuitv Maid i'll the veor tSDG Tho