The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-24
Folks Defence OF the Mexican War.

rom the Liverpool Mercury, January !
Mr. Folks Mexican policy invulnershls If you only
concsde to him postuas tue one directly and the
other theoretically bgged just syor him with the sd-
mission, rst. that Mexico began tho war by invsaing
the United States and shedding the blood OF United
states' si,sens their own soil and, SEQ ndly that
the Mexicans come within the category OF cvsed
communities have any higher title to plead the jus
x-nium in vindostion OF their right to unrsslaimed
tsrritoIi possessions than savage horde Of red Indi
assumptions however At variance With fact and -
We deny Mr. Folks premises we cannot accept bis DON
illusions.
The plain unvarnished tale Of this Mexican invason
Is hnly vsled by all the wrap2sges Of the ngeniousy
Tbs advantages real supposed Of the annexation OF
New Me- co and the CALIFORNIA; stand out In grand
negotiate tho voluntary cesson these territories By
Mexico for pecunisry consideration, might have bean
tedious and dmeuit aaai SO Mr. Polk p.sisrssd cut
about the Texan boundary, and then running up bill
of against the sister republic which she could
only discharge BY territorial Indemnity; that ~ By
closing with terms Of settlement her victorious
nsighbor might be disposed to offer.
I 10 amusing to notice the ingenuity with which Mr..
Polk would sylcgiss the Congress into implied
quiescence nb his policy Of territorial extern
sion. Granted that began the war. You the Con-
gress voted supplies for its prosecution In doing %,
you doubtless expected repayment Of your advances
and as you knew that Mexico could not pay you back
in money you must Of course have looked acaui.
stion Of territory for reimbursement Therefore, you
are bound to support me in the ultimstam Of peace
offer to Msxicoths boundary Of tbs Rio 0rsnde and
the cesson Of New Mexico and tho California; Coz.
rage them and let US be that greatest and
But where shall fnd words to express the bound
css pudence ofths protest urged BY the President for
continuance OF tho with Mexico, that, the
United states have any shneas about stealing
the CALIFORNIA;, European powers will not be troubled
governments, Mr. Polk gives Congress to wit, have
already set their hearts these possessions and win
set their hands them too, unless the Union anti
knows It to be untrue No European power dreams Of
the acquisition Of the CALIFORNIA; either By conquest
purchase. But what crimes win not such an argument
justify! Think of Russia sezing Turkey and vindicst
ing her conquest on the plea that II she did not Eng
land or France might, and no doubt would, make the
French may have cast sleeps eye Cansds and that
the sa. had S: ter: cut them I X p
simulated approximations OF the intentions OF foreign
governments are put forward unieo eontsetu With
policy of the states, that no foreign power shal,
with consent be permitted to plant establish
North American oontnsnt.n To prevent the con-
tingency Of having practically to maintain the prinei
the American eagle hold her claws the quarry But
by parity Of reasoning all other powers besides shsud
be swept out Of ths North American continent Why
the Presidents answer;-He would II he could
How strangely does Mr. Folks summons to the acqui-
ston Of fresh territorial possessions contrast with his
satsment in regard TO the Of unreolaimsd
land In the heart Of the Western States lying unsafe
able like much proftless stock the hands Of the
general govsrnmsntl The waste public lands Of the
Union afford for the expansive powers OF her popu
sale Of these order to raise the wherewithA for
Qupg and holding on the shores OF the
Psoin,. Gostead Is his motto. He ssems quito un-
Of the truth that expansion procssd ct
ratio too fast for heathfa growth and that population
spread beyond Its powers Of profitable reclamation
Of the wilderness, must verge to savage life.
How inconsistent too, with the tauns Of Mexicos in
ability to put Der territories to usewhch grsvey ad-
tuced warranting the United States In taking tho
work upon thsmselvesis the Presidents confession Of
the wide-s spread wastes within the domuious OF his
republic What would Mr.. Polx say to tho "foregn 60
vernment" that should make it's to people and
claim these wastes the plea for appropriating them'
Try It, you dare would be his defiance This brings
to the conclusion of the whole mattsrhat Mexcss
the sole warrant OF the aggressive prooesd
ings Of the United states. The Msxicsn invasion 10
rsntialiy struggle Of might against right 1t 10 all
summed up in the maxim Of the Highland freebooter
teste Wentworth
"The simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can"