Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-11-02
For tie Republican
The yyar.-.o be- continued in definitely,
with iEcEeascA !.0rroIs.


Is this runons never to have cnd2 1t
seems to be prosecuted with blind folly and OBJ
stinate perseverance, in wrong, as If the object
were to show TO the world how much mischief Il
few weak aud wrong headed can accom-
piish As vet the Government-neithrr the
President nor Congrcss-!las not declared to TIE
nation the object of the war, We do not yet
know by any official act of rulers, what Is
intended expected, or desired 10 be accomplish
ed by this expensive, bloody and corrapting war.
The world Is # to guess, from the occasional
arpumentative declarations of men oiiltet and
from few dejoiuted facts, which from time TO
time are brought TO light what the real o.
ects Of those who wicketly planned aud recll-
lessly play out this bloody drama.
Last winter we were told that the nation, hay-
ing, how other. got into this war "by
the act of Mexico We must prosecute 1t with
vigor. to get back the expenses which we hal
been compcllc to incur. The original cause of
war; If any existed, was overlooked and
forgotten; were fighting for the costs. Now,
that view of the case, its turn, Is superseded.
Mr.. Trat, as represented in the papers Of the
Cay, in proposing terms of peace 4" taa Mexican
Commissioners explicitly abanaohs the prePos-
ferrous claim of indemnity for the expenses OF
the war. He proposes TO grant peace TO weak,
Impoverished, Distracted Mexico if she wIll con-
sen, to dsne,nber herself, AMI scH 10 US. to', q
consideration in tuoney two states OF her Union:
And this is our sine ora Without this there
can be peace. War, endless war-Wicked,
corrupting, and bloody in its progress, and IN ITS
results porteutous of ruin both to Mexico and 10
us, is the alternative. And for what Because
Mexico will not agree TO sell rs certain tract
of land for II cert tain sum of money.
1t is enough to shock the common sense, and
the common humanity of the widest savage,
and what must be thought Of such wicked cruel
tY by a civilized and christian people The
blessings of peace denied to two great ma
tons; the finest city on the continent Is bomhar-
ded, and countless misery, destruction, and death
inflicted upon its people ana ITS defenders, ana
many of them the. brightest and best in the lani,
are slaughtered, new beginning TO this end
less war and for what? Because President
Santa Anna refuses to sell TO President Polk
piece of land.
Now we know on what terms Mr.. Trist
authorized to conclude a treaty of peace,
at a loss to know the motives which led the Ad-
ministration TO make this war They were
lust Of dominion, greedy coveting of the lands
of Mexico, and unprincIpicd determination to
wrcst them from weak ana distracted ncighbor.
at whatever cos, of blood and treasure, and at
whatever sacrifice of established policy, and OF
national character, to be incurred by resortln@
TO hypocrtical professions ana false prsteuccs.
Still this administration, weak it IS, wise
enough 10 know that this nation would not brook
the bold assertion Of the right to conquer and
hold foreign countries by the naked power OF
arms; and. therefore, that 1t was necessary to
gloss over the conquest with show OF peace
full transfer for valuable consideration.
1t may be that Mr. Polk and his advisers did
not, at the beginning of their enterprise, antlci-
pate the severe struggle that has euSuei, ana GI
not at all expect the enormous sacrifices and the
distressing losses which they have brought upon
the country. They probably thought that the
robbery could he effected very easily; that the
war would be sho and cheap, the victory Ger
tain, and the spells valuable. But in this they
showed their ignorance no less than their want
of patriotism and sound policy. They were
deaf to the warnings of history; they forgot
what race of men they were seeking TO conquer;
n ii of rsn,eIuler III these SpanISl Next
of the with those Gothic
Spaniards who fought the NIoors fol- eight ccntu
ries against ali odds, and until they finally eN-
PEELED them from their country; the same who
fought the veteran armies CT Napoleon. in regu-
lar war, as long 5 they could raise and support
armies, and that when broken, scattered, and
impoverished, they still tonght them with the
dagger and with poison. They did not remem-
Der that these Spanish Mexcans are patriotic.
proud, bgoted. aud obstinate, by inheritance. Ii
they had known and remembered these things,
they would have felt the improperly of attemP
ting to conquera people determined not TO be
conquered. And then should have been
spared this wicked and desolating war
Possibly Mr.. Polk and his advisers may have
had some secret hope of getting glory for them
selves, by gallant feats OF arms, and by spreading
our dominion. If SO, it was a most fantastic
hope, foredoomed TO grievous disappointment
Their conduct of the shows that they are
too light and chafy to bear the weight of glory.
1fgiven to them gratuItousiv, they could retain
II no longer IMAM does the wiSp or straw retain
the glory of the flame that consumes il. All the
glory that has been acquired belongs to those
who have displayed their military skill and their
valor and constancy in actual battle; and
part of il enures to the Administration. whose
duty il was, If the must be carried on, TO
devise a practical and consistent plan, and pro-
vide and supply, in proper time and place. ade
quate and convenient means to accomplish the
end designed, but failed in every point of duty.
II had no plan. II avowed no national end. Its
policy, Judging by its acts. consisted Of the I'M
settled purposes and the artful tricks Of the dem
agogue. The raising of troops at home, with
the appointment of officers and the selection of
men, was but system of electioneering for po-
Isical power; and the invasion of the enemy's
country was another system of electioneering,
consisting of denunciations of certain Mexican
leaders, and shameful ny pocrisy and false pro-
fessions of kindness tow ards the Mexican people.
w itness the proclamation which Scott and Tay-
Tor were made TO issue; while all the time our
invading armies Were left weak IN number and
unprovided with inadevuaie means, and exposed
TO dangers from which nothing could free them
out the consum mate skill of few officers d.
recfing efforts Amos; superhuman, and thus OBJ