Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-11-13
ON THE PARTITION OF MEXICO.
rnon THE BALTIMORE "cLIprER."

PuNIsHMEN NJ OF MExIco.-The Washington cor
respondent Of ne Philadelphia Public Ledger (who
is supposed to know and express the sentiments Of
the Administration says that the Administration
is ready, when circumstances present themselves,
to do its duty, eUea unto the entire su6jugation
and aanihilation Of the enemy" Again " The
punishment of Mexico is to be graduated by her
offences, and, above all, by her stubbofnness. The
determination to punish her will be avowed; the
degree Of punishment will depend on her own con-
duct" These are bold and extraordinary avow-
abs, coming, as they do from Government sup
posed to be founded in justice, and jealous for the
rights of mankind.
In no part OF the world was the partition and an
Inhalation of Poland more loudly and earnestly
condemned than in the United States, nor was SYM
pathy for the struggling Greeks more strongly felt
than in the United States. In fact, our Govern
ment has always heretofore felt sympathy for
the weak when fighting against the strong. But
these feelings seem TO hare giUen place to those Of
ambition and vengeance. We are at war with a
weak Power and, because its citizens endeavor to
defend their soil against the more powerful inva-
der, they are not only to be punished, but mlnhi-
lated. No longer influenced by the principles
which have heretofore governed our own course
and that of other civilized nations, we are to throw
aside the pretext of justice upon which the war was
commenced, and to adopt a UindictiUe and eater
nainating policy. Against such policy we most
earnestly protest Rejoiced at the brilliant victo-
ries which have been achieved, we yet cannot
condemn to political extinction or personal ex-
termination those who are fighting for the protec-
ton of their families and firesides. The principle
aoo,ced Is abhorem TO reason, humanity, and jus
hce. When we were weak, and were invaded by
a powerful enemy, we termed resistance to the in
vader patriotism nor was the perseverance or
st oho IF Eoht hot
ties of the newborn Republic, deemed worthy of
punishment or extermnatlon. On the contrary, the
civilized world looked on with admiration at the
display of skill and bravery by WASHINGTON, and
the patient endurance and fortitude of his ill-fur-
nished followers. Had Great Britain avowed the
determination to eXtermnate the coloniss, there
would have been universal exclamation of horror
throughout the world. But the scene has changed.
We have become powerful nation, and are en-
gagged in war with a weak and neghboring Re-
public and because she does not at once bow the
knee of submission at our command, we are TO
adopt the monstrous policy of exterminating her
people, and sezing upon her territory. Such acts
would soon bring our Republic into disrepute, and
make the friends of human liberty of all nations
sigh at the failure of the experiment of free gov
eminent.
We hope that the correspondent of the Ledger
has Inexperienced the administration of our Gov
eminent, and that we shall be found at all times will
ling to grant an honorable peace TO Mexico. Were
sentiments such as those contained in the letter to
which we have referred to be openly avowed by
our Government, Mexico would rally against us to
man, and the usages Of civilized nations would
be mutually disregarded. 1t would become war
Of mutual hutchery, and its termination might not
be looked for in less than twenty or thirty years.
Would the American people sustain awar thus con-
Quoted We reply emphatically, no. Itwoud be
out of the power of any Administration to prose-
cute war on such principles, for the nation would
protest against it and compel the managers of the
war to observe the rules recognised by civilized
society.