The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-05-21
THE GREAT QUESTION
"MExICo OR NO MExiCO."
HOW SHALL THE WINGS MEET rTs

u
HOW SHALL THE WHIGS MEET 1T!
Proofs are multiplying upon the country
every day, every hour, that the party in power
intend to go into tine next Presidential contest
upon the great question of "Mexico or no
Mexico.o All domestic questions are worn
out and electioneering subjects are now sought
for in our foreign relations. In 1874 our oppo-
nents rode into power upon the Texas ques-
ton and they now purpose to keep themselves
in power by mounting the Mexican question.
Extension of the bounds of the Republic and
and "of the area of freedom" was the ''open
Sesame" in 1874. II the acquisition Of a pro-
vince could open the doors Of the public Treas
ury to the friends of that acquisition, why may
not the conquest Of an empire secure TO them
a neyer-ending possession of the halls Of pow,
err?
That foreign war was deliberately deter
mined upon by the administration on its advent
to power, we are fully persuaded. Itsaw that
it could not keep The government BY relying
upon the ordinary home party issues, and as
its continuance in power was the primary OBJ
ject Of the faction which had just succeeded in
The elections, measures were forthwith taken
to involve the country ia foreign war with
the studied purpose Of furthering that object.
The Senate warded off conflict with Great
Britain which the Administration diligently
sought TO bring about. Thwarted in this quar-
ter, il declared war against Mexico, without
law or authority, and forced Congress to re-
cognize that war.
And this war from the beginning has been
prosecuted by the Administration with view
TO the bringing into the next Presidential contest
the question ofterritorial acquisition 1t was for
this purpose that all Oregon was claimed by
the President in his Inaugural speech, and tho
he knew that war with England, no matter
what the cause, would be popular thing ow-
ing to the national prejudice against q. Britain.
he was determined to increase its popularity
by involving il with question OF territory
The war with Mexico was begun by driving
the Mexican authority out Of territory which
Tile OultGu OtdtcS CidIuCu " UClOuS "
The first battle drove that authority beyond the
Rio Grande, but the accomplishment Of this OBJ.
ject was not the purpose Of the war. 1t was an
excuse on which to hang the first aggression. -
The conquest Of peace was the next avowed
object OF the Administration. 1t knew The
kind Of enemy it had dealt with. It knew that
no peace could ever be made with the unfor-
giving and proud Mexican. So much the bet
ter, for its Interior purpose was this DISPOSE
ton Of the enemy. Tie acquisition Of the en-
pire Of .Merico ,oas the real object Of the acar.
From the first il was designed to throw this
question into The next Presidential contest, and
daily and hourly is this intention ripening into
absolute certainty. No peace scaI be made, none
ie desired to be made. The war WILDE kept up
and the next Congress will be told that the en-
emy's country must be occupied as conquer
ed region to ensure the peace which he refu-
SEES to make on such terms as our national ho-
nor can accept
Now-how shall the Wings Of the country
meet this great question, for il is truly great
one, and, when fairly made by the Admins
tration, as it will be in December next, one
that is destined to swallow up all other poiti-
cal questions. The Administration designs to
throw il into the political arena. Shall the
Wings take it up and endeavor to throw it out2
Il will not do for US to attempt to evade the
question Of ssMexico or no Mexico" We
must meet it like men, like Americans. Iii
one that has already sunk deep into the public
mind. 1t even now affects the whole frame
work Of society. Men Of all parties are pour
ing out their best blood upon Mexican soil.
That soil would not be given up readily by
public sentiment even if the Government were
to surrender il in treaty of peace. But there
is no such design on the part Of the Govern
ment. lis purpose is to foster the sentiment Of
conquest and 10 appeal to the people on the
question Of = Mexico or no Mexico''-with the
expectation that the policy will be resisted, but
that the resis,an,s will be overpowered by the
majority Of the nation. Already the outcry is
raised that if we surrender any part Of Mexico,
Great Britain will seize upon the rest. This
outcry strikes chord that never refuses to vi
brate under the touch. The idea of English
acquisition Of Texas threw it into our arms.
How then shall the Wings of the country
meet this question of /" Mexico or no Mexico?"
Il is matter, as we said yesterday, for deep
reflection. We desire to arouse the attention
Of our brethren to the subject thus early in or
der TO be prepared TO ward of the blow direct
ed al our heads Tomorrow we shall attempt
to suggest in our feeble way the only means
by which the Wings of the Union can meet
this question to the everlasting discontinue OF