Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-25

this was the inclination oil Mir. Gallaiins mind
Ii is painful 10 see how, by minsling propcsl
tons, which no one would contest, with assump
lions which have no foundation whatever, ne ma
been the author OF a publication calculated to ID
Jure the country OF his adoption, and that country
which has delighted, during his pEoiracied lie, K
listen 10 him. with respect, and al all ines 10 d.
him honor. | shall endeavor briefly 10 expose
The ~tallacies which he has ingeniously ~inteIlnin.
sled in his production.
He has divided bis argument into eight parts
and | wish 10 give il a passing notice. In hi.
first clause, headed "lhe law OF nations he de
scribes the Me1icans as heterogeneous popuia.
ton of seven millions, With very limited resour-
ces, ard no cTedi,-as distracted By internal dis
senSions, and by The ambition OF its chiei.-a
prey, by turns, 10 anarchy and military usurpers,
and as occupying amung The nations OF The CT.
vilized world, either physically or mentally, whe-
iher IN political education, social stale, or any
o'her respecf, a most inferior position"-and yel
II IS ms very people in whose 6ehalfal his SYM
pathies are enlisted, whist in his whole produc-
lioD he has mol had one moments leisure 10 lock
at The condition OF the people of Texas, against
WnoM these NexicaDs were waging a war cf IN
discriminate organization, Tor the only reason
that lney would not submit 10 be the slaves Of
ms demi.savage people, distracted by anar-
cny ana military usnrpalion, and occupying only
a halfway position in me civilized world, the de-
graded position he has SO eloQuenily described.
tie compliments our valur al The expense Of our
prln~ciplc-concludes that we must be succesaG
enquiries what are the terms which We have a
right 10 impose on Mc1ico-iakes il for granted
that all will agree that il must be an honorable
peace, and hen enquiries, "Will am one dare 10
assert that a peace can be honorable which docs
hol CONFORM 10 justice Z"
Why does Mr.. Gsiiatin ask this question 4
Such a question may be asked by one who taxes
II Tor granted that our government has been in
The wrong from first to last-fhat, halt savage IS
The heSicans are, We are still more savage than
lhey-bul il ought hardly 10 be asked BY one who
has Just before described Us as an energetic, in
%telIisenr, enlightened ard united na,icn, possess
ing unlimited resources and credit, and enjoying
all The benefits Il a regular, strong and free go.
rernmenl;-and il woniG moi have been asked, but
Tor the inference which the writer would have 10
be drawn, that our object was neither just nor he
noIable.
Why no, have addressed his homily Of "ihou
shalt love Thy neignbo. as Ihys-ii, love your enc
mics, and as you would that men should do 10
you, do you also TO them likewise" 10 this demi-
savage population OF Mexico. and have endea-
yoiet 10 bring them into the civilized ranas2-
Why mol have told lhem hat they mus, cease 10
tre.pass upon The rights Of others, before they
were entitled 10 any sympathy either from God or
mani And Why present the n as a people WHO
are privileged 10 rob because they are unable 10
pay Whose land must not be taken from them
because they have agreed among themselves not
TO part with il, and who are privileged 10 show no
mercy TO their brethren in Texas, engaged in CT.
vii war; but when the lash is applied 10 them, he
eloauence even of MIR. Gallatin is 10 be evoked
for their apolosy}
Why not have told Them that The marauder
does moi always 90 unwhipt OF justice; tha, the
day Of relribu,ion will come2-and that such
may be The desiituiion OF principle, from him
who hath not, even that which he hath shall be
taken away4" Why not have toll them lha,their
conduct was a ~reproach 10 civilized man, ard II
they were treated a. they ought 10 be ireaiej, they
would be left in a condition no longer 10 be cut
ling their own throals, and no longer 10 be an
noying a neighboring nation, who had prac,ised
lorbearaDce toward them until ioIbcarance ceased
10 be a virluel
WHY Tell those who were averse 10 the annexa-
ton OF Texas, that it would DC a shameful dere-
!ic!ion OF principle, on their part, TO countenance
any attempt 10 claiman acquisition ofteriitory or
other advantage, on account OF The success of our
arrns7 Is this the partor a minority 10 act, in a
Republic like ou!sl A thing being determined on
by the voice Of The majority, becomes the will OF
the nation; and shame 10 those who would para
lize that will, SO lesi;imately manifested. The
argument is, that having been robbed by Mexico;
having prevented Mexico from butchering The
population Of Texas; having offered 10 Mexico
all lust and honorable erps Of adjustment, after
being spurnet and insuited by Mexico, and
driven 10 war, vhe;hcr We would or rot; after
the loss Of 50 many valuable lives, so Justly 10 be
d~cp,Ored; after mourning an enormous e%I1cndi.
tuie. which We did ali we could 10 AVOID, We
must claim no advantage on accouH. OF The sue
cess OF our arms and we are loId this under Inc
head OF the ''laW Of nations"
Is il "salirical irony, or sober earnest, winch the
writer is addressing 10 the American peoplel
Does he offer il as a deliberate insult 10 'ncir un-
derslandins7
There are Two modes Of expressing our feel
mos in favor Of those We side with. One is 10
weep over their failures, the other is 10 glory in
their success. During The war with England,
there were many who much more bemoancd the
fate of Tecumseh than they regretted The capture
and destruction Of the city Of Washington; and
in The present war ii is quite Obvious lha! there
are many who look so completely 10 one side Of
the question, and with such a Jaundiced eye upon
The position Of their own country, thai, happen
what will, they will have it that We mus, and
will. and ought to be di>graced and dishonored-
ii not IN a military, d. ledSt Ia d hdsiondli mural
or political point Of view.
Mexico has fallen, and they are found deplo-
ring her fate. And YET, but yesterday, Mexico was
inorecnablc; she stood protected BY the mighty
~pannply Of n~orlhers, reefs, sand banks, Carries,
ras,ilian pride and Castilian honor. Mr.. Pom
sci. was ready 10 portray The terrific and tremen'
dous Notifications OF The Castle oil San Juan de
Ulloa, OF Vera Cruz, OF Perote, Of The National
Bridge and Of the immortal city-the terrific &c.
files and passes in which our armies were 10 be
cut 70 pieces.
Mr.. Thompson, Ell ii onnH genus, joined in tbs
war song over The remains II our fallen army.
Mexico believed all this. She believes now that
she will rcpel the barbarians, AS she styles Us,
and ,ha, she is in The unqualified en- 'yment oithc
best wishes Of This and every o,her land, who
beheld her enriched, and %encirclei BY honor ard
renown, by valor and by patriotism.
VIVA. say you, brave soldiers-you VINO,
where The banner OF Washinc'on flaIed TO The
wind. presented your dannlle.s bosoms N defence
NJ vo,r c%ounlfy's causel Are you a mercenary
crew, creeping forth at the de'PoTs old, 10 muf1el
vonr fellow man, reckless oil the causes which
ied n the catastrophe I 10 wage an unJosi war
asains, helpless, deienccless, injured and insuitcd
IeYico3 II have you slept iorlh voluntarily,
~ resn Inc lau ella of the fed III hatIle, AMI 10
yindiratc. at the expense Of your lives, the inter'
es, and ,he honor Of the beloved county whose
flag waves in triumph over yourhcads' Doyou
want auy crocodile tear, shed over your graves !
Have YOU not long since learned that The SOL
dier,s need is the bays of honor and renown on
glory's gravel How do you like to be told thai
all you have achieved is nothing compared viii
The disasters which have followed your armsI-
are mol the survivors. whom Providence has Ie-
.'ored 10 their beloved counry, 10 The scenes Of
Iheir earlier days AMI happier hours, when heart
with heart delights 10 blend, received with an en-
,husis.;ic dcIigh, sufficient 10 make The heart
dauccwiih joy
over The dead who have fallen in distant lands
from kindred friends, how far!-may the uagls for
ever hover with wide spread pinions-
And tho red brsast. of At evenings hour.
sun kindly lend Ito little aid,
win gathered moss and fragrant flower,
To deck tho grave where they arc laid.
No bowling ghosts shall then be seen.
No COLLINS lead their midnight crew.
But Fairy fays shalt dance the green,
And deck their graves with Dearly dow.
Adorned with h0nnrs on 4 distant shore.