Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-12-13
his fellow citizens when he shall RETURN ,ocivil lifs

merous army upon sudden call, but also to pro-
vide 1t with all the munitions and necessary sup
Plies with despatch, convenience, and ease and 10
direct Its operations with efficiency. The strength
OF our institutions has not only been displayed in
the vaior and skill Of our troops engaged in active
service in the field but in the organization of those
executive branches which charged with the
general direction and conduct of the war While
too great praise cannot be bestowed upon the officers
and men who fought battles, it would be unjust
To withhold from those officers necessarily station
ed at home, who were charged with the duty of
furnishing the army, in proper time and at proper
places, with all the munitions Of war and other sup
plies so necessary to make it efficient. the common
da'on to which they are entitled. The credit due
to this class of our officers is the greater when il
is considered that no army in ancient or modern
times was ever better appointed provided than
our army in Mexico Operating in an enemy's
country, removed two thousand miles from the seat
of the federal government lis different corps spread
over vast extent Of territory, hundreds and even
thousands OF miles apart from each other, nothing
short of the untiring vigilance and extraordinary
energy of these officers could have enabled them
to provide the army at all points, and in proper sea
son, with all that was required for the most eff
Gent service.
1t is but act of justine TO declare, that the Of
hcers in charge of the several executive bureaus,
all under the immediate eye and supervision of the
Secretary of War, performed their respective du-
ties with ability, energy and efficiency. They have
reaped less of the glory OF the war, not having been
personally exposed to its perIs in battle than their
companions in arms; but without their forecast, eff.
flclent aid, and cooperation those in the field would
not have been provided with the ample means they
possessed of achieving for themselves and their
country the unfading honors which they have won
| for BOTH
When all these facts are considered, it may cease
TO be matter of so much amaZement abroad how
II happened that our noble army in Mexico, regu-
lars and volunteers, were victorious upon every
battle field, however fearful the odds against them
The war with Mexico has thus fully developed
the capacity of republican governments prosecute
successfully just and necessary foreign war with
all the vigor usually attributed to more arbitrary
forms of government 1t has been usual for wr-
tiers ON public law to impute to republics want of
that unity, concentration of purpose, and vigor of
execution which are generally admitted 10 belong to
the monarchlcal and aTistocratic foIms and this
feature of popular government has been supposed to
display itself more particularly in the conduct Of
war carried on In an onemy's trrrtory The war
with Great Britain, in 1912, was to a great extern,
confined within our own limits, and shed but little
light on this subject But the war which we have
just clUsed by an honorable peace, evinces beyond
all doubt that popular representative government
is equal to any emergency which is likely to arise
in the affairs of a nation.
The war with Mexico has developed most strik-
ingly and conspcuously another feature in our in
stitutions. 1t is, that without cost to the govern
ment or danger to our liberties, we have in the bo-
som OF our society OF freemen, available in Just
and necessary war, virtually standing army of
two millions oarmed citizen soldiers such as fought
the battles Of Mexico.
But our military strength does not consist alone
in our capacity for extended and successful opera
tons on land. The navy is an important arm of the
national defence. IL the services of the navy were
not so brilliant as those Of the army in the late war
with Mexico. it was because they had no enemy to
meet on their own element. While the army had
/ -
the navy largely participated in the conduct of the
war. Both branches of the service performed their
whole duty to the country For the able and gal
liant services Of the officers and men Of the navy
acting independently as well in cooperation with
our troops--in the conquest of the CALIFORNIA; the
capture OF Vera Cruz, and the seizure and occupa-
ton of other important positions the Gulf and
Pacific coasts, the highest praise is due. The Wig
lance, energy, and skill rendered the most effect
i've service in excluding munitions of war and other
supplies from the enemy, while they secured safe
entrance for abundant supplies for our own army
| Our extended commerce was nowhere interrupted;
and for this immunity from the evils of war the
country is indebted to 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, for the in
dusry, foresight, and energy with which every.
thing was directed and furnished to give efficiency
to that branch of the service. The same vigilance
existed in directing the operations 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. BY the orders which were from time to
time issued, our vessels of on the Pacific and
| the Gulf of Mexico were stationed in proper time
and In proper positions 10 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 immeasura
bic Importance in the future progress Of our coun-
/ try. They will tend prwerfully to preserve us
from foreign collisions, and to enable to pursue
unlnterrupty our cherished policy of fpeace with
ali nations entangling alliances with none."
Occupying, as do, more commanding posi-
ton among nations than at any former period our
duties and our responsibilities TO ourselves and TO
poserty are cerrespoDdingly increased This will
| be the more obvious when consider the vast adj
ditlons which have been recently made TO our terri
tOrlal possessions and their great importance and
value.
! Within less than four years the annexation of
Texas to the Union has been contaminated; all
conflicting title to the Oregon Territory south of
the forty ninth degree Of north latitude being all
that was insisted on by any of my predecessors,
has been adjusted ; and New Mexico and Upper
California have been acquired by treaty The area
of these several Territories, according to report
carefully prepared by the Commissioner of the
General Land Office from the most authentic in
formation in his possession, and which is herewith
transmitted, contains one million one hundred and
ninety three thousand and sixty-one square miles,
or seven hundred and sixty three million five hun
, dred and fflyn thousand and forty acres while
the area of the remaining twenty-nine States and
Inc territory not yet organized into States east Of
! the ROCKY mountains, contains two million fifty
nine thousand five hundred and thirteen square