The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-02-20

ced. r.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Congress..-The Peace Rumor.
We suppose the facts stated in the
following extract from speech by Mr..
SEWER Chairman Of the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, upon
bringing in bill to appropriate three
millions ofdollars to defray any extra
ordinary expenses in negotiating a
peace, ,--may be regarded as the truth
in respect to the rumors of peace prop.
ositions from Mexico. II would seem
that there are assurances in the hands
of the Executive that the territory Of
New Mexico and Upper California will
be ceded, by way of indemnity with
the drawback only that certain ad-
vance be made the enemy (of course
not exceeding the appropriation of $3,
ooO,0o0) Mr.. SEWER says:
''ln making peace of course the Uni
ted States would expect to receive in
demnity to some extent at least, for the
expenses of the war, and they would
expect also the payment Of the claims
held by our citizens against the Repub-
lie of Mexico and this indemnity was
expected in the shape of territory He
was not authorized to state precisely
what territory this Government would
require but he supposed that no Senator
would think that they ought to get less
than New Mexico and Upper Califor-
mia. He did not suppose that treaty
of peace with less than this would ever
pass that body. However, they would
be better prepared when treaty was
proposed to determine as to the guam
tity. Having stated then in few
words, the object of the bill and its
form the next question that arose was
whether it was proper that they should
effect their purpose upon these terms!
In regard to that he would say that in
coming to the conclusion they had The
committee were governed to great cx-
tent by the recommendation of the Pres
ident who had communicated TO them
official correspondence which he had
in his possession and after examining
that correspondence they had come to
the conclusion that peace could be
made upon those terms with Mexico
lie believed that Mexico large part Of
it, at all events large majority oftho
people would be glad to make peace
This opinion he derived from an ex-
animation of the correspo pondence which
the President had communicated to
them. 1t would not be expected how
ever that the President or any body
else would be required to give the
names ofthose who impaired this infor-
nation, for it would be breach ofcon-
fldence to do so. ltwould be sufficient
for him to say that in looking
over this correspondence coming from
the quarter it did, he thought the prob
ability was that if this bill should pass
peace upon such terms as he had named
would be effected. They were engaged
in an expensive war-a war attended
by great sacrifice of life, and one
which exhausted the means of the Gov
ernment; and if peace could be made
upon those terms he thought there
ought to be no hesitation about making
it. But It might be asked could last
ing peace be made under the crcum.
stances in which Mexico was placed,
divided as that country was into vari-
Gus ramfications ofparty, factions ex-
istng every where an unstable Gov
ernment and with no one party suffi-
ciently strong to make peace' The in
telligence possessed by the President
gave them reason to believe that, upon
n certain advance 10 be made to them
to pay the expense Of their army, and
other expenses they would be willing
to cede that portion Of their country
which he had named. His object was
not to consume the time ofthe Senate;
and to avoid every thing that might
produce discussion or party excitement
he had endeavored in as few words as
possible, to define the object Of this
measure, and TO hold out to the Senate
the prospect Of procuring a peace
Our arms had triumphed every where.
We had got possession Of large part
of their territory; we had got posses
sion Of some Of their seaports and held
others blockaded. We were po .erful
and in condition to force conlribu-
tions ard every one in Mexico or at
least the great number were desirous
of concluding peace"
This is the proposition which was
talked 10 death by John Davis at this
llst session after it had passed the
House, and which has grown more,
onerous to this country hy million Of
dollars in consequence. Ead it passed
then, there can be little doubt that we