The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-26


looms of the city of Washington. Various plans
for the settlement of our difficulties with that
country have been proposed, the most prominent
OF which are, the plan recommended by Mr..
Polk In his annual message, viz; the holding of
that country by military force, and the absorp-
ton Of its revenues, until such time it chooses
to propose terms of peace the withdrawal of
our forces to line to be designated by the Con-
gress of the United States, and then act on the
defensive; such line to include sufficient guam
tty of territory to indemnify US for all our claims
against that country; and the last, to withdraw
our forces to the original boundary of the State of
Texas, even within the part disputed, and give
Mexico an opportunity to recruit her armies and
carry the war into the United States. The first
of these propositions is now the subject OF con-
troversy in the Senate OF the United States, it
having been introduced by General Cass, CHI 4ir-
man of the military committee, to increase the
army by the addition of ten more regiments
The second proposition has been introduced by
Hon. John c. Calhoun. and does not seem to
meet with much favor and the third, the with
drawal of our troops, in toto, from Mexican ter
ritory, is condemned on all hands, in Congress
and out of Congress, and scoffed at by sensible
men of all parties.
Meantime, that important crisis in the United
States, the election Of President, is rapidly ap-
preaching, and in a very few months, the difie-
rent parties into which the country is divided,
will arrange and draw up their several pro-
grammes of their principles and their policy, to
be submitted to the people. and by them decided
upon; they, of course, taking the dish which
pleases their palate the most 1t is almost too
soon for this course to be taken; but, before
many months have run their course, all the par
ties will be cap in hand to the electors, solicit.
ing their suffrsges for their own peculiar favorte
candidate. The ten regiment bill, it is said by
some, will eventually and undoubtedly pass both
houses, whilst the contrary is held by others
Our own opinion is, that it will pass; but
whether its passage will bring the country
any nearer to peace than it has been for
year past, is matter of conjecture. In
deed, from what we have experienced of the
Mexican character, from what history informs
us Of the old Spanish character, and from what
has transpired since the breaking out of the pre-
sent war; it is not at all probable that any pro-
positions for peace will come from the enemy,
until they are harrassed and made to feel the
effects of a continuance Of hositilities, by a
complete diversion of their revenues, both
foreign and domestic, or until they are an
initiated. To accomplish either OF these results,
will require time. Meantime, as we said before,
our Presidential election is approaching and our
people will soon be called upon to decide upon
our relations with that country. And the two
great parties into which the country is divided
are already sounding the public mind, and
throwing out feelers to ascertain the popular
feeling. Dark and obscure intimatlons OF
annexing the whole of the enemy's country, of
taking that chosen part of the western heml-
sphere and attaching it to the United States,
under the plea that it is our destiny to occupy the
whole continent sooner or later, have been
thrown out, and from frequent repetition have
become familiar to the ears Of the public In
fact, what was considered, in the early part of
the campaign, as wild and speculative in the
highest degree, is now discussed by sober and
rational men; and whilst some think 1t would be
a death blow to our glorious institutions, others
think it would be the happiest thing that could
occur, no matter in what light 1t may be looked
upon-the benefit counterbalancing the evils.
Now, it is highly probable that in case
peace of some kind or other be not patch
ed I'D between the United States and Mexi-
CO, between this time and the period of our
Presidential election, the annexation of the
whole of Mexico, or some measure tanta-
mount to 1t, will be the issue which the two
great parties will conduct the Presidential cam
paign This will be the natural consequence Of
matters as they now stand; and as all plans but
that recommended by MIR. Polk are repudiated
by the people, matters so will shape themselves
as to end in that distinct point, leaving that dis
A. b. ,<oI hu he
Now, let us review the history of the United
States, and inquire in what way the people of
the United States have hitherto decided when
the question of the annexation or acquisition OF
territory has been submitted to them at the bal
lot box and we shall find that in every case, the
people have decided on having the territory, no
matter what the consequences might be
that were predicted. Yea, it is within the
recollection of our children even, that the an
nexation of Texas, and the whole of Oregon up
to 81 40, were triumphantly voted for by the peo-
pie, notwithstanding that disastrous and direful
war was predicted in both cases, and in one of
which it followed And further, it is known by
them that Mr.. Polk lost caste in his party for
conserving to treaty that did not include the
whole of the claimed territory of Oregon-not-
withstanding that not to do SO, would be to bring
the country into conflict with the most power
full military and naval nation in the world.
1t Is clear and evident, therefore, that in case
the relations between the United States and Mex
leo be not practically settled between the present
time and the period of our Presidential election,
the question of annexation of the whole of
Mexico will be made test question by
the political parties of the day, and on that
question they will seek the suffrages of the
people. ON what we know of the Ameri-
can character, and from the past history of the
country, we are confident the annexation prnc-
pie will be carred and the result will be, that
the nationality of Mexico will be annihilated,
and she will be made part and parcel OF the United
States, whether it be for veal or wo. The longer