The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-09

L war with all the vigor usually attributed 10
i arbitrary forms Of government II has been usual
/ for writers ON public law 10 impute TO kePuolicss
Il want of that unity, concentration OF purpose End
/ yisor Of execution which generally admitted
Il to belong to the monarchical and aristocratic
i fons; and this feature OF popular government has
Il been supposed to display itself more particularly
in the conduct of 0 war carried on IN an ensmys
| territory.
| The war with Mexico has developed most stri-
/ kingy. and conspi,uously another feature in our
/ institutions. II is that without cost TO the Gov
/ eminent, or damage TO our liberty, we have in the
bosom of our society Of ffeemen, available in
ius and necessary war, virtually standing amy OF
fought the battles of Mexico.
But our military strength does not consist alone
in our capacity for extended aud successful oPe-
ra;ions on land. The Navy is an important arm OF
the national defence. II the services of the
Navy were not so brilliant those OF the army in
the late war with Mexico il was because il had no
i enemy TO meet on its own element, while the amy
had the opportunity Of performing more consPicu-
Gus services, and performed It's whole duty 70
the country. For the able and gallant services OF
the officers and men Of the navy, acting indepen-
IDENTIFY as well as cooperating with our troops IN
the conquest of the Califorpias, the capture OF
Vera Cruz, and the seizure and occupation oil otner
important positions on the Gulf and Pacific coasts,
the highest praise is due. Their vigilance, energy
end skill rendered the most effective service in
excluding the munitions of war and other supplies
! from the ensmy, while they secured a safe en-
trance for s5undsnt supplies for their own army.
Our extepded commerce was no ~ here interrupted,
and for this immunity from the evils oil war, the
county is indebted 10 the Navy.
High praise is due TO the officers Of the several
| executive bureaus, navy yards and stations con-
nected with the service, all under the immediate
direction of the Secretary OF the Navy, Tor the In
dustry, foresight and energy with which every
thing directed and furnished 10 give efficiency
TO that branch OF the service.
The same vigilance existed in directing the pre-
partitions of the navy as OF the army There was
concert of action and Of purpose between the
heads of the two arms of the service. b. the or
eers, which were from time 10 time issued, our
vessels of war the Pacific and the Gulf of Mex
leo, were stationed in proper time, and IN proper
positions to cooperate efficiently with the army.
By this means, Their combined power was brought
TO bear successfully on the enemy.
The great results which have been developed
; and brought to light by this war; will be of i'm
measurable Importance in the future progress oi
our country. They will tend powerfully top
serve from foreign collisions, and enable MS to
! pursue unlntenuptediy our cherished policy, in
peace with all nations, entangling alliances with
none.
Occupying, as we do, more commanding posi-
ton among nations than al any former period, ouI
: duties and our responsibilities TO ourselves and
postenty, are conespondngly increased. This will
be the mere obvious when consider the vast
territorial acquisitions, and theirgreat Importance
and value.
Within less than four years, the annexation Of
: Texas 10 the Union has been consummsted; al
4 conflicting title TO the Oregon Territory Souih o.
I 40 degrees North latitude, being all that In
sisted on by any OF my predecessors, has been adj
2 iusted; and New Mexico, and Upper CalfuInia,
. have been acquired by treaty. The area OF these
: several territories, according TO the report Gaze
fully prepared by the commissioner OF the Genera
\ Land Office, from the most authentic information
!. in his possession, and which Is herewith trans
: mitaed, containing one million one hundred and
: ninety-ihree thousand and sxy.one sauare niles
or hundred and sixtythree million 1--WE hun
I dred and fiity-nine thousand and Forty acres
These estimates show that the territories recently
} acquired, and over which our exclusive jurisdic
ton and dominion have been extended, constitute
| a county more than half large as that which
was held BY the United States before this aesaisi
3 ton. II Oregon be excluded from the estimate
there will still remain within the limits of Texas
| New Mexico and California, eight hundred anC
! ffty-one thousand FIVE hundred and ninety-eishl
: square miles, or FIVE hundred and forty-fiye mil
: lions one hundred and tventy-scyen thousand
seven hundred and twenty acres, being addition
equal 10 more than one-third OF all the territory
owned by the United States before tbis ecqusit on
and including Oregon, nearly as great extent oil
territory as the whole Of Europe, Russia oaly en-
cepted.
5 The Mississippi, so lately a frontier OF our
:
ton of the late acquisitions, the United States
are now estimated 10 be nearly as large as The
whole of Europe Il is estimated by the super
Intendent Of the coast survey, in the accompany.
ing report, that the extent Of the sea coast Of
Texas, ON the Gull OF Mexico, Is upwards OF foul
hundred miles; Of the coas. Of Upper California,
on the Pacific $40 miles; of Oregon, including the
Straits of Fuea, ESQ miles, making the whole
extent of sea coast the Pacific f61) miles, and
: the whole extent on both the Pacific and
| Ia s.lf of ax mil. of fhu
coast on The Atlantic, from the Northern limits o.
the Unted Stst--, around the Caps.-,s rl~<iaaf II
the Sabine, on the Eastern boundary of Texas, i
estimated TO be 5000 miles. So that the addition
Of sea coast, including Oregon, is veTy nearly two
thirds great as all we possessed before; and ex
GLIDING Oregon, for an addition of 1910 miles
being nearly equal 10 e-half the extent of eoas
which we possessed before these acquisitions
We have now three great marafirne points on the
Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific, ma
king in the whole an extent of sea coast exceed
ing 5000 miles. This is the extent of the sea
coast OF the States. notincuding bays, sounds ans
small irregularities of the main shore, and of the
sea islands. II these be included, the length O
the shore line of coast, estimated by the super
inlendent OF The coast survey, would be $500
1 miles.
1t would be difficult to calculate tie value o
these immense additions 10 territorial posses
sions. Texas, lying contiguous to the Western
boundary OF Louisiana, embracing within its lin
its pari CT the navigabe tributary waters of IN,
: Mississippi, and an extensive sea coast, which
Gould not long have remained in the hands of
foreign power without endangerng the peace o
: our Southwestern frontier. Her products in tn.
vicinity of the tributaries through these streams
running into and through territory, and tn,
danger of irritation and collisions Of interests be
tween Texas a ioreign State and ourselves
! would have been imminent, while the embarrass
+ ments of commercial intercourse between then
mcst have been constant and unavoidable.
| Had Texas fallen INTO the hands, or under III,
J influence and control, OF a stormy maritime, o
, military foreign power, as she might have done
these dangers would have been stIll greater. The
| have been avoided BY her voluntary and peaceful
annexation 10 the United States Texas, from he
position, was a natural and most indispensable par
of our territories. Fortunately, she has been re
stored TO our country, and now constitutes one o
the States Of our confederaey, upon equal foot
ing with the original States. The sallbrty of tn
climate the fertility of the soil ARE pee aary adap
ted 10 the production of some OF our most valuab
staple commodities, and her commercial advanta
J ges, must make her soon one Of our most popu
lous States.
; New Mexico, though situated in the interio
|. and without a sea coast, is known TO contain
much fertile land TO abound in rich mines of the pre-
cious metals and to be capable of sustaining larg
population. From its position, it is the inter
. mediate and connecting territory between our set
: Elements and our possessions in Texas and thos
on the pacihc Coast. Upper California, irrespeei
i've Of the vast mineral wealth recently developed
there, holds at this day. in point OF value and i'm
portance 10 the rest OF the Union, the same rela
ton that Louisiana did, when that fine territor
J was acquired from France, forfy-fve years ago
Extending nearly ten degrees of latitude along II,
aias.- k..ss.- s..~A, So s~~..y h-l.-,
1 miles, with a temperate climate and an exten
sive nte-ior Of fertile lands il is scarcely possible
to estimate its value, until il shall be brought