The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-12-22


must essentially promote the cause OF peace
commerce, clvll,ztti0n, and constitutional
liberty throughout the world.
/ With all the governments on this cont.
neni our relations. 1t Is believed, are now
on more friendly and satisfactory footing
than they have ever been at any former
period.
Since The exchange of notifications Of the
treaty of peace with Mexico, our inter
course With the government Of that rcpub
lie has been Of the most friendly character
The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenpo:eniIary Of the United States 10
Mexico has been received aud accfed ted
and diplomatic representative from Mex
leo OF similar rank has been received aud
accredited by this government. The aui.
cable relations between tho two countries
which had been suspended have been hap
PLY restored, aud are destined, trust, To
be long preserved. The two republics
both situated on this con,non', aud with
cotermlnous territories, have every motive
OF sympathy and Of lu,efes, 10 blnd them
together IN perpetual amiiy.
lhi, gratifying condition Of our foreign
relations renders II unnecessary lur me
to call your attention moro specifically to
them.
4 Il hls been my constant ain aud desire
TO cultivate peace AMI commerce with all
nations. Tranquility a, home, and peace
fol relations abroad, constitute the true ret.
mlHcn, policy Of our country. War, the
scourge Of nations, sometime, becomes 10.
eyiiabe, but Is al"ays 20 lie avoided when
/. can be done consistently with the rights
and honor Of the na,lon.
OIe Of the mos, important results of the
war into which VIC were recently forced
with ne,ghbofins nation, IS he demon.
s,ration Il hls alI,fded Of the military
strength Of our country. Before the late
war with Mexico. European and other Tor.
ergo Powers oulettatned imperfect anu e.
roueous uews o. our physical strength a.
a nation, and OF our abluy 10 prosecute
war, and especially war Wuged out Of our
own country. They saw that our standng
army on the peace establishment, did not
exceed ten thousand men. Accustomed
themselves 10 MAINTAIN in peace large stand.
ing armies for the protection Of thrones
against their own subject rs sell Us against
(oteign enemies, they had ~. conceived
tina, Il was possible for nation without
such an army, well dtsc pinned aud OF long
service, 10 wage war successfully. They
held in sow repute our militia, and we're Tar
from regarding them as an effective force,
unless i. IN ghl be foi temporary defensive
operations " uen invaded on our osn sol.
The events OF the late war with Mexico
have no, only undccerved them, bu! have
removed erroneous impressions which pie.
vailed 10 some extent even among portion
Of our own counirymeu. That var hos
demonstrated, that upon breaking out Of
hosllliles not anticipated, and Tor shlch no
previous preparation hid been made, o
volunteer army Of cnlZ'u soldiers cq9a; 10
veteran troops, and IN numbers equal 10
any emergency, can 10 a short period be
brough, into the field. Unlike shat would
have occurred in any other country, We
were under no necessity Of fosoF.ng to
draushis or conscuptious. On the contra.
nv, such was the number Of volunteers who
periodically rendered their services, that
the chief diff u,y was IN making selec
tons and determining Who should be dis.
appointed and compelled 10 remain al home.
Our cllizen. soldiers are unlike those drawn
from the population Of any other country.
They are composed lndlscflmnaiely Of oil
professions and pursuits: Of farmers, la Nv.
yers, phy siclans, merchants, manufacturers,
mechanics and laborers aud this not only
among the officers, but the private soldciers
10 tho ranks. Oar cttlz N soldiers are IN.
like those Of any other ccun,ry IN other res
poets. They are armed, and hsye been ac
cusomed from their youth up to handle and
use firearms aud large proportion OF
them, especially 10 the western and more
newly. settled States, are expert marksmen.
They arc men Who have a reputation 10
maintain al home by their good conduct ~
the field. They ave intelligent, and there
10 an individuality Of character which Is
found IN the ranks Of no other army. In
battle, each private man, rs well as every
officer, f .h,s no, only for h,s country, but
for glory ond distinction among hls fellow
citizens when he shall return 10 clvll lile.
The war with Mexico has demonstrated
10. only the ability oil the government to
organize a numerous army upon sudden
call, bu, also to provide It with all the mu'
nlions aud necessary supplies with des
patch, convenience, and ease, and TO direct
+ It's operations with efficiency. Tho strength
i Of our institutions has not only been dis
played in the valor and skill Of our troops
engaged IN active service IN the field but
in tho organization Of those executive
branches which were charged with the geo
eral direction and conduct Of the war
While too grea, praise cannot be bestowed
upon the officers and men who fought our
battles, it would be unIus, TO withhold iron
those officers necessarily stationed at home
who were charged with the duty OF furnish
ing the army, in proper time, and at proper
places, with all the munitions oil war ant
other supplies so necessary to make II ell
fcient, the commentator TO which they
are entitled. The credl, due 10 this class