Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-01-28
WILL THERE BE A PEACE q


introduced a resolution into ihe Senate Of III,
United States requesting the President Of The
United States 80 order the Army Of the Tn
ted States now in Mexico 10 some place il tbs
United States near tie frontiers Of the two
countries" We DO noi know at this raon1en
what will be HE fate Of this resolution, but we
cannot immagine Cor enc instant that II will b.
adopted. II is thought were his course aaop-
ted, the Mexican Government would 81 once
consent TO treat for peace, BOT they viii
no, consider honorable any offer Of peace
which IS not accompanied by the withdrawal
Of our troops from their territory. The '.Jour.
nal Of Commerce. Of New York has been fur
nished with copioss extracts Of letters from "a
distinguished source in Mexico to a gentleman
Of tina, city, which clearly make the with
drawal of cur troops the ''she qua non" Of
any negotiation upon the subject. Gen. Al
MosTE, well known as the Minister near this
Government during the Texas Annexation
schemes and who demanded his passports and
went home upon its contamination, is sup
posed TO be the auth n Of these letters, and
their spirit are not at all favorable 10 peace
He is beyond all comparison the first States
man in Mexico, and is very bitter against the
United Siates--not more so however than are
the great majority Of his countrymen. He re-
CARDS his country as the injured aud aggrieved
party, and il his letters are truly indicative Of
the determination Of Mexico. then indeed IS a
long and bloody war in prospect before US
for we can hardly think our Government or
people now would ever consent to the with
drawal Of our Army upon the mere promise
OF Mexico TO treat for peace after that event.
Such a step as that would be giving the enc
my more laid and comfort" than has already
been afforded her by the supply Of Leaders
and Generals given TO her by the free passport
Of Mr. Polk. II has been rurnored for some
weeks past that MIR. CALHOUN intended 10 in
troduce proposition similar to the one now
brought forward BY the Senator from New
Hampshire. The "New York Courier
commenting upon this rumor holds the fol-
lowing language, which viii be found quite
interesting and, we therefore commend It's
views 10 the attention Of our readers:-
1t is stated in various quarters, and appar
entity with confidence, that Mr.. CALHOUN in
tends to propose that toe American army be
Withdrawn TO the Rio Grands, and the Amer
lean squadron removed from the Mexicans
ports; and that in that attitude we await the
action of the Mexican government. We can
conceive no good result which can possibly
follow such a course We have no evidence
that Mexico would be any more willing to
make peace then. than she is now. And we
should certainly throw away the means Of en-
forcing her, ~ any degree, 10 come TO pacii
ic decision. AT present the war threatens to
destroy her existence as an independent nation,
or at any rate 10 break up the union by which
her separate States are held together The
| American army holds possession of several of
these departments, and is almos, certain to
seize more. With every new step in the pro
sress Of the war, our army gains new hold
upon Mexico, and renders II still more neces-
sary tor her 10 bring about peace. But ii
all those advantages were to be surrendered
peace would cease 10 be desirable. or al least
essential, to her five were 10 withdraw all
our forces from her soil, and simply await her
attack, she would lose all inducements to res
tore peace.
We cannot believe that such policy could
! be for a moment entertained. Ii would be 10
put ourselves completely in her power, and 10
commit the whole matter of war and peace
entirely TO her discretion. The only ground
so far as we know, on which this course is ur
ged in any quarter. is that it would make the
war on our part detensire war, and thus re-
/ lleve us from the lmputaton of aggression
But this, il seems 10 US, betrays gross mis-
conception of the nature of defensive war
! The character of war, in that respect. depends
entirely upon its origin. Fit was at the out
set waged for aggressive purposes, then II is
an aggressive war, no matter on whose soil il
may be fought.
! But lift was begun by Mexico, for the re-
conquest of Texas, or TO drive our troops from
territory claimed by the Z. States, then il is on
our part deiensire war; and would be so. even
Were II carried 10 the gates Of the Mexican
capital. Most aSsuredly Our war with Eng
| land was not an aggressive war, on our part !;
yet we carried il into Canada we sought
10 wage il on English soil. NAPOLEON car
ried hIs armies into every part OF Europe -
! and the Allies dictated peace in Paris. but
! were 10th these conendjng parties waging
war OF aggression That point is never 10 be
determined by the method OF carrying on the
war. but solely by its origin-or by the spirit
which. during its progress, may become pre-
dominant.
The fact, therefore that we wage the war in
Mexico, does not make il an aggressive war,
unless we prosecute it for the purpose Of con
qAering her territory, and not os redressing
our wrongs, repelling her attacks, and render
ing her unable TO renew them. Our purpose
IL now 10 end the war. We have offered 10
do il by negotiation, but Mexico refuses. We
must end il then by force. We must acquire
still stronger control over her than we row
possess. We must again defeat her armies ;
seize upon more Of her possessions cripple
still more her ability to maintain the contro-
versy. Ii may be that even in this way, we
shall not succeed at once but certainly, we
cannot succeed at al in any other. 1t is the
only way left open TO us.
Ii is stated that Mr.. CALHoUK's intended
proposition will be supported by The Southern
section OF the Locoiocos. This, we think,
quite possible We have no doubt they de-
precate any farther accession of territory, Ike
that which is likely TO accrue. as almost cur-
tain TO weaken SIdre,y, not as a domestic
Southern institution. but as political power,
seeking supremacy in the National Councils.
4 Whatever may be the action OF Congress up
on the question, no one supposes that Callior-