The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-10-22
ilarious 4flattrrs.
From Ae Richmond Whlg.
The News from nIcxicO..-Thc Ces-
sion OF TERRITORY

seat OF war, published on Saturday, has
been corroboratcd, in its leading palticu-
lars, as will be seen by reference TO an
other column, by another arrival from
Vera Cruz. The details, however, like
those pre- eviously received, are far from
being explicit or satisfactory, except as
to the important fact that hnstilities had
recommended. and ofcourse that all hope
of the restoration ofpeace has been post
poned to an Indefinite period.
1t results from this fact that the ques-
ton, which has been SO elaborately and
warmly discussed, as to the expedieDcy
DIMINISHING the cessiou by Mexico Of a
large portion Of her territory. not by way
Of mdemn1ying the United States either
for past injuries, Or for the expenses of
the war waged, as we have been told,
for their redress, but even for what
we must regard. if the character of Mr..
Tlist's propositions has been correctly
stated, as more than a tair equiraieat
therefor IN cash, has been, to say the least
oft, altogether premature. We have
been violating very wise proycrb. by
qnarrelling about the terms upon which
theconquered Tor rather purchased) ter
ritory should be admitted into the Union,
when we have yet to learn whether we
shall be able permanently 10 hold any ter
ritory al all, except by keeping. at an e.
normons annual cost, an immense stand
ing army to guard what we may win by
the sword-for, aferlhe rejection of the
magnificent sum which we are told Mr..
rrst offered for California. (and which,
from all the accounts we see from that
region, is infinitely more than it is worth,
ii is clear that all idea of inducing Mexi-
co to barter the sovereignty other soil for
gold, must be Abandoned, For our own
part, while we should rejoice at the re-
storaiion ofpeace upon terms honorable
to both countries, we can scarceI y believe
that the United States will sustain any
detriment either inpurse or reputation,
by falling to conquer OF buy any portion
of the Mexican Confederacy. All the
descriptions we have recently seen of
California, that portion of her territory
which seems TO be most ardently coveted,
upon some vague idea of the immense
value of ports on the Pacfc,-satisfy us
that the fertility of the country has been,
as is usual il: such cases, immensely over
rated. Distance has lent enchantment
TO the view" with regard TO that, as it al
uavs n 90 iona In rofaranco m aAar,, n,b
er portion of the world for the first time
becoming open to exploration and adyen-
ture. Whether country SO absolutely
uninviling as this is almost uniformly
represented to be, by persons who have
recently emigrated thither, some in a
military capacity, and others as mere ad-
venturers, fatigued with the quiet mo-
notony of civilized life, is worth FIST a
bloody and expensive war, and then a
douceur oftwenty millions 10 heal the
wounded pride Of the nation from which
ithas been already in fact wrested. does
not seem to us to admit of but one an
swer-and that must be in the negative
There may, indeed, be other advantages
anticipated from the acquisition ofC Califor
MIA, some of which have been vaguely
hiuted at rather than specifically set fortl
and demonstrated--or. there may be
hfgh Stale reasons of which the uninitia
ted have no knowledge-which may jusii
fly us in giving for it twenty millions O
dollars.-But, as we are not satisfied tha
either the one or the other is true, We
must in our ignorance confess that il
view of the dangerous questions of do
mestic policy that must follow as conse
quence of its acquisition, as well as of it
worihlessness, we shall not very serious
ly regret the failure of our efforts TO OBJ
tain it.
Nor is this the only portion ofthe con
quered territory thatis described as ut
terly valueless. In the last Lynchburs
Virginian, we meet with an iuterestin.
letter from an officer connected with thu
Virginia regiment, and is said to be mai
ofhigh character, in which the region a
bout Monterey, from the place he writes
is thus described;
Here am |, at the seat of war, in thi
much coveted land, this land of Orang
Groves. where delightful odours fill tn
air, and flowers spring up in luxurlen
beauty at ones feet, wherever he ma,
, turn his steps-this land of promise, Il
gain which, mighty nation has sent fort
her armies, and rivers Of blood have flow
ed. Such it is in fancy; such the adyO
Gates for the extension of the area q
!, freedom" would have it be; but ah! tn
reality! Ifever there was people hum
|, bugged, wofully, miserab)y, egregious
) humbugged, that people is the free, ell
lightened, patriotic people of the Unlte'
States of North America" When ma
n first puts his foot upon the soil Of Mexico
r he involuntarily exclaims, Great God
o Isl it possible thatthe people ofthe Unite
o States are fighting for such a land as this
5. and he asks himself where have beeu
IS From what source have derived my il
@ formation? How in tho name of heave
II has it happened, that | never until no
a heard, that from the Nueces to the Sierl
II Madre, it was but one vast desert, vii
here and there an oasis, nurtured by a
tiicial means. Yet such is neverthee
o the case. If ever there was a count
e upon which the hand Of God was laid
g anger this is the country. We found
j. parched. burnt to a crisp, b. a adrought
seven months duration; and when the RAJ