Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-16

ColHAilSSlOneTS.
5 The cession to the IT, s. by Mexico, of tn,
provinces of New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;
! as proposed by the commissioner Of the U S.
II was believed, would be mofs il accordanc,
with the convenience and interests of both ma
lions, than any other cession of territory which
II was probable Mexico could be induced Il
make.
! 1t is manifest to all who have observed the
actual condition of the Mexican government
tor some years past, and a, present. that il
these provinces should be retained by her. she
could not long continue to hold and govern
thera. Mexico is too feeble power to govern
those provinces, lying as they do at d stance
tai, ant .ifattemp,ed to be retained by her they
would constitute but for short time, even no
minally, part Of her dominions.
This would he especially the case with Up.
California. The sagacity of powerful Europe
an nations has long since directed their aten
ton to the commercial Importance of that prov
ment the US. shall relinquish their present
occupation oft, and their claim to il as indem-
nifty, in effort would be made by some foreign
Power to possess it. either by conques, or by
purchase. If no foreign government should &C
|
ent revolutionary government would probably
be established by the inhabitants, and such for
elgners as may remain in or remove to the coun
try, as soon as it shall be known that the U. S.
have abandoned it. Such government would
be too feeble long to maintain its separate indie
pendent existence, and would finally become
annexed to. or be dependent COLONY of, some
{ more powerful State.
Shnu1d aDv f,ro;rrp o%+or,,+ 90
possess 1t as colony, or otherwise incorporate
it with itself. the principle avowed by Presi
dent Monroe in 1894, and reaffirmed in my
first annual message. that no foreign Power
shall, with our consent, be permitted t. plant
part of the North American continent, must be
maintained. In maintaining this principle, and
in resisting its invasion by any foreign Power,
! we might be involved in other wars more ex-
! pensive and more difficult than that in which
we are row engaged.
The provinces of New Mexico and the Cal
ltornlas are contiguous to the territories of the
U. s., and if brought under the government Of
our laws, their resources-mineral, agricultu-
raj. manufacturing, and commercial-woud
soon be developed
Upper California is bounded on the north by
WI oICSSVu i"'SScSsOuS duu u ICIu ny TIC - f.
States, would soon be settled by hardy. en-
population. The oay of San Francisco;
! would afford shelter for our navy. for our num-
! employed in the Pacific ocean, and would in a
! short period become the marts of extensive and
profitable commerce with Chinas and other
countries of the East.
These advantages. in which the whole
commercial world would participate, would at
once be secured to the United States by the
cession of this territory while it is certain that
! as long as It remains q part of the Mexican do
minions they can be enjoyed neither by Mexi-
co herselfnor by any other nation.
New Mexico is frontier province. and has
never been of any considerable value 10 Mexico.
From its locality, it is naturally connected
with our western settlements. The territorial
limits of the State Of Texas, too, as defined by
: her laws, before her admission into our
/ Union, embrace all tina: portion of New Mexl-
CO living east of the Rio Grande. while Mexi-
CO still claims to hold this territory as par,
of her dominions. The adjustment Of this
question of boundary is important.
( There is another consideration which indu-
ced the belief that the Mexican gsvernmne'
might even desiye to plaee this province under
the protection of the government Of the U. ,
Numerous bands Of fierce and warlike savages
wander over it, and upon its borders. Mexico
has been, and must continue to be, too feeble
to restrain them from committing depredations
robberies, and murders, not only upon the In
habitants of New Mexico itself, but upon those
of the other northern States Of Mexico. /
II would be blessing to all these northern States
/ to have their citizens protected against then
!. by the power of the U. S. At this moment
f many Mexicans, principally females and chill
dren, are in captivity among them. If New
J, Mexico were held and governed by, the Unitet
States, we could effectually prevent these tribe
{ from committing such ontrages, and compe
them to release these captives, and restore then
10 their families and friends.
! In proposing to acquire New Mexico
and the CALIFORNIA;, it was known tina
but an inconsiderable portion of ,h'
), Mexican people would be transferred
: with them, the country embraced with
, in these provinces being chiefly an un
Inhabited region.
These were the leading consideration
Fl which Induced me to authorize III
terms fpeace which were proposed I.
Mexico. They were rejected; and ne
gotiations being at an end, hostilitie
were renewed. An assault was mad
: by orr gallant army upon the strongly
fortified places near the gates ofthe q
ty of Mexico, and upon the city itself
aud after several days of severe con
: fict, the Mexican forces, vastly superi
J or in number to our own, weresdrlve'
! from tho city, and it was occupied b
: our tfoops.
; Imlnediately after informationswa
: recrivel ofthe unfavorable result ofs ne
e gotiations,, believing that his continues
: presence with the army could De pro
! duciive Of no good, determined tore
j cali our Commissioners. A despatch 4
! this effect was transmitted 10 him on III
: 9th ofOct.last. The Mexican govern
i ment will be informed Of his recall 3
L