Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-13

Poseu enforcement mas Deen aireauy " uleQ. w
began the process by planting our army in the mids
Of Mexican plantations and homesteads, driving be
fore us her citizens, her soldiers, and her civil all
thorites. collision having necessarily super
vened on Mexican ground, between armed detach
ments of both nations, war did most "naturaly
follow. Our gallant army met the resisting Mexi
cans in force, and beat them, drove them beyon,
cessively occupied all their towns and posts in thu
Eastern portion of the territories of the Repub
lie, ending with the brilliant and decisive action
the capture of Monterey. But this " thrashing,
as the Pennsylvania calls it, has not, strange /,
say elected any manifestation of fraternal feeling
on the part of the Mexicans towards us, such as
we suppose, we of the United States would bt
moved to in regard to any nation that should resor
to the same method of " enforcing fraternity" with
US. We have, it seems, tried all the arts of wal
| upon them, beaten them in the open field, wrested
from them their almost invncible fortresses, block
| AIDED their ports, and even cast bombs into the
crowds Of their towns, and still they like lis not
their hearts do not yearn towards u.s. We have
not succeeded in beating fraternity" into them.
Thirdly, the Pennsylvania helps us to
the conclusion that g thrashing" has not suf-
mind towards us which our fraternal treatment
requires, that it has become necessary to CONQUER
her, and thus inspire her with due sense of our
amicable intentions
This brings us to the point to which we desire
most earnestly to direct the attention of our readers
to the determination of the Administration party,
now openly avowed, by this its trusted organ,
to force from Mexico, as the price of peace,
surrender Of such of her provinces it considers
necessary to our prosperity" under the plea of
an indemnity to the United States for the expenses
of the war in which we are unhapply engaged with
her, or in the alternative, to further invade overrun
subdue, and keep her capital, that Metropolis al
lurngly pictured to by the Pennsylvania as the
Palaces of the Montezumas.
That the execution of:this plan is not within the
physical ability of the United States, is not the
question that mean here to raise though there
may be yet found before Mexico reaches the last
distress, or even from her subugation there may
rise up,
,"The same high spirit that beat back the Moor,
Through eight long ages of alternate gore"
The consideration which precedes all others in
reference to this scheme Of Conquest is, first as to
the right of the United States to the payment
of any amount of indemnity which it may choose
to demand for the expenses of this War. In the
distractions Of the writers on the Law of Nations,
no such claim is authorized but in case of war
which on the side is undeniably just, and on the
other undeniaby unjust. Is that the character of
the war in which are now engaged Is such
the opinion of the world! Is it our own opinion
Is there an intelligent among us who can lay
his hand upon his heart and say that such is has
opinion Is any war just that is not necessary I!
Was this war necessary on either part We need
not wait for reply. The war has not thus far
been ola character to justify the prosecution of it
to the extreme Of conquest for the purpose of
compelling the payment of indemnity either in
territory or in money.
But suppose, for arguments sake, that both JUS
tce and law are on our side. We know that Mex
co-not her rulers merely, but her whole popua-
TOMS of a different opinion. We know that,
rather than yield to this alternative of national degra-
daton-of forcing the enemy to pay the expenses
of the war; or grinding her palaces and her in
SsiN"''oi'' iso ~" NCiy
are already reused TO such pitch Of enthusiasm as
to be ready TO devote their lives to resistance. It'll
only by conquest" the Pennsylvania frankly
'","rasses-by complete subjugaton, by overrunning
all MeNico-a''-' he objects of the friends of this
war are to be satisfied.
And here let US pause for monIe.> % ;n,,;,o
whether the avowed purpose for which the heartus
and homes Of whole nation are to be desolated,
| in order to induce them to submission, is one to
justify this nation in adding its yet proud and pros
porous name to the list of those which, in firing the
temples and razing the habitatons of other nations,
have bit kindled the flame in which themselves
were afterwards consumed! What mighty object,
worthy OF deeds of great emprse and high renown-
not to speak OF boundless waste of blood and trea.
sure-ls held up to those who having the majority
in the public councils are confidently looked to for
its accomplishment by those who propose it "a
them Letthe " Pennsylvania" answer. PEACE
(without forcing Mexico to pay " full indemnity 70,
our expenditures " is result" which " everv De
mocrn OUGHT To DEPREcArE," because certain
portion of our fellow-citizens (ridculously nick
named "Federalists," but constituting the undoubt
ed majority of the People, are in favor of Peac,
unconnected with condition which is in itself boil
absurd and impossible. And, as we unders,an,
the same authority, we not to make Peace wit