Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04

consderate person, Is the annexation OF a people
who for the most part in state of moral degra-
dalton, and are unfit, they have shown themselves
TO be, TO sustain free government For centuries,
probably, they will not amagamate with our race,
change their habits, or become enlightened. We
may well feel concern at what may be the moral
and political effect of this acquisition upon our
country.
Were we to consider the amount proposed to be
paid by the United States for the cession of these
Territories in any other light than subordinate
and comparatively insignificant item Of the treaty,
might object to it that the price to be paid is more
than four times greater than the actual value Of the
cession The soil is generally sterile and unfit for
cultivation, except on the margins of rivers and
smaller streams; and to this very limited extent
there can be no culture without irrigation. BY the
laws OF nations, moreover-although no provision
on the subject were contained in the treaty. as is
said to be, for the recognition of such grants, &C.
all grants Of land in those territories made in good
faith by the Spanish and Mexican Governments
must be held valid by US and also all liens sane
toned by Mexican authority. Whether this will
include any part of the public debt Of Mexico can
not now be determined. 1t is believed, however,
that no land worth claiming, to any extent worth
mentioning, will be found ungranted.
But momentous as these considerations are, we
view them dust in the balance in comparison
with those which force themselves upon us, in con-
temptation Of the rejection Of the Treaty. Of such
decision who can foretell the consequences? If
the War must be continued, our Army must be
greatly increased, and spread over the populated
parts of Mexico. Fifty or sixty thousand men, at
the least will be necessary to carry the war; as pro-
posed by our President into the vital parts = of
Mexico Should we capture her towns and occupy
her strongholds, it is greatly to be feared that no
thing but the entire subugaton of the country would
satisfy the rapacity which alone could prompt such
policy.
Every step we take in course which tends to
such result will only increase our difficulties. 1t
is wiser to halt where we are.
Were we to consult our own judgment, as we
have already said, we would reject all acquisition
of territory, except perhaps single port (say San
Francisco, and few leagues Of land to sustain and
protect it, on the coast of the Pacific. NE believe
that the proposed acquisition will be injurious in
proportion to its extent But we must take prac-
teal view Of the subject. We cannot do as we
would in this matter; can the Senate and House
Of Representatives, who are to act more directly
upon it,
That the annexation Of the Dhole of MEXICO to
the United States would be fatal to this Government,
whoever may doubt it, we are we'll convinced. Add
to our Senate the representation of some fifteen or
twenty Mexican States, and the Conservative char
acter Of that body will be destroyed. The increased
representation in the other branch of the National
Legislature might, at first be less injurious; but
its evils cannot now be computed. Would our COM
mercial manufacturing, and agricultural States be
content to be governed by Mexican Generals, who
are ignorant of Civil government, and who could
not understand the principles of our Constitution?
Pronuacidmenfos at the head of military array
constitute the basis of their political knowledge.
The Union of these States has withstood the
shocks Of war and of internal excitement, but it
would be dissolved by the annexation of Mexico.
We would take the Treaty, then, as it is, TO avoid
a greater national evil We cannot reject il and
continue our opposition to the War. Payment of
the debts which Mexico owed our citizens at the
commencement of the war is now hopeless her
means are exhausted. Her territory with its popu-
lation will entail upon increased expenditures,
and evils moral and politcal but it is all that
Mexico can give. There can be no indemnity for
the war expenses. We had better, then, we
have said, stop where we are for il we go further,
we shall only increase the evil.
The crisis should be met with frmness. BY the
continued prosecution Of the war; we should in three
months expend larger sum than the Treaty re-
quires us TO pay to our own citizens and to the
Mexican Government. And where is the indivi-
dual, so lost to sense of justice and to the COM
mon sympathies of our nature, who would not
rather pay the money than to expend even that
much (more likely ten times as much) in prosecut-
ing the war to the humiliation Of the Mexican Gov
eminent and namel
In case like this, nothing is so fit to guide ma
ton the examples Of the past and, surely, moth
ing can well become a People. that hopes it.
self to become the admiration and the light Of flu
ure times, to act up to the best instances in the
annals Of the most famous nations. We are emu
lating the exploits of Roman arms we are ventu-
ring upon conquests like the Roman, undeterred
by the ruin to Roman liberty which followed those
conquests and revenged the vanquished Shall we