Tri-weekly journal., 1848-01-29
WHIG.

all sense of propriety and elf-respect-courted
by none, and justly feared by all.
A MosT IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL LETTER.
From the last number of the National Intel
ligencer we copy letter of the Hon. ]. r.
Poinsett, Mr.. Van Buren's Secretary of War,
with the PREDATORY remarks of that paper. The
letter is brief, but we fully concur with the ed
itors of the Intelligencer in their estimation Of
its interest and its consequence. Sucha letter,
coming from friend OF the Administration,
from man whose great fame is familiar to the
whole nation, and from one who, having been
for many years the u. S. Minister in Mexico,
must necessarily have familiar knowledge of
the affairs of that country, cannot fail to exert
deep and commanding influence upon the
public mind of the United States If the Ad-
ministration had thousand times its present
strength, it would not be able TO sustain its
Mexican policy OF itselfagainst such overwhel-
ming assaults as this.-LOu. Jour.
From the National InteIligencer.l
We have perhaps never had it in our power
to publish any paper of more interest or conse-
quence on the particular matter to which il
was confined, than the subjoined letter from a
distinguished citizen of South Carolina, emf
nently qualified by his personal knowledge,
gathered during travel in foreign parts, and
public service and experience both abroad and
at home, TO form sound judgment on the sub
ject of which his letter treats, and who, being
friend to the Administration, cannot be sus-
pected of being under any possible party bias
against its proposed measures.
The name Of the writer is familiar to all our
readers of mature age. To some of the young
er class of them, it may be proper to state that
MIR Poinsett was, after returning from foreign
travel, for several years a Representative in
Congress, and there distinguished for his liber-
al and enlightened views; that he was the Min
lister Of the United States TO Mexico, for several
years Secretary of War, to which office he wa:
called by Mr.. Van Buren,; and has therefore
had every possible opportunity of acquiring the
information which authorizes him to express tC
the respected Senator from his own State the
opinions contained in the following letter:
A LETTER FROM THE Hon. Mr.. PoINTsETT.
SrATEsBURG, Is. C.) Dec. II, 1917.
My DEAR SIR:-ln compliance with your re
quest, and in conformity with my promise,
have determined to give you very briefly M
views on the all-engrossing topic OF the day.
was detained later than | expected to be il
Columbia, and have only this moment seen III
Presidents message and the report of the Sec
retary of War; and am surprised to perceiv
that they persist in recommending course O
policy which will lead to still further useles
expenditure of blood and treasure, and will Fl
nally have 10 be abandoned. With the reas
oning on the subject Of the acquisition of terri
tory have nothing to do, especially as tn
President seems to think Congress pledged t
these conquests. can only express my regre
and my firm conviction that these territoria
acquisitions will not add to our strength o
prosperity.
The recommendation that most seriously a
larms me is contained in the paragraph wher
the President says there can be no doubt tina
there exists peace party in Mexico, and tina
it may become expedent for our commandin
generals to give assurances of protection I
such party; in short, to create a party, max
peace with it, and guaranty it in the posses
sion of power. Nothing can be more chimel
ical; no;hing could be more insecure than tn
execution of such a project, were it practicf
BILE. Such party would bear no proportio
to the nation, and the members of it would r,
quire to be protected from public indignatio
and vengeance for years to come, bya force NJ
less formidable than that now in the countr,
without the chance of any indemnity, or II
I power of levying contributions OF any sort.
the peace Government should agree to pay al
: subslst their protectors, they must from the nj
( ture OF tIlnSS ldll 10 40 eltleT. IIdys save |
. the disgrace of attempting such an intervel
lion. The attempt might lead to an intervel
I tion of . different sort, that would possib
: prove more successful. The President is al
: prehensive of foreign interference, but first
California, and next in the establishment of
/: monarcy in Mexico. There isnot the slighte
: risk of the former, and, if the Mexican peop
A are left to themselves, no chance of the latte
o They were so entirely republican in 1922, tn;
e ! did not hesitate confidently to foretell Il
; downfall of Iturbide. They are much more
. now; and no scheme ofthat sort could have e
. en- momentary success, unless the leade
II considered it as the only chance of opposing L
il There exists a strong monacrchical party,
10 strong in wealth and station-the Priests, I
s. former aristocracy, and the adherents of Spai
We may drive the members under their ba
4 ners. Still the President is wrong; our arm
= intervention might bring on us powerful fC
\ eign foe, but could not prevent the evil, wher
! as, if we hold back, my life for it, monarc
IA would not exist in Mexico three years, WI
Il fifty thousand foreign bayonets to sustain
,s The people are republican.
- The President says he is convinced that t
" best means of bringing the war TO an honor
,r bic close will be to prosecute it with increas
:, energy and power in the vital parts of the en-
Il mys country. Now, am persuaded that
A. long as we continue to prosecute the war
1t 4 -1..ll krr- 40