The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06

remain at home Our citizen soldiers are unlike those
drawn IRON the population of any other country They
are composed ndiscrimnaely of all professions and
pursuits OF farmers, lawyers, physicians, merchants,
manufacturers mechanics and aborers and this not only
among the officers but the private soldiers in the ranks
Our citizen soldiers unlike those OF any other
try in other respects They armed, and have been
accustomed from their youth up to handle and fire.
arms and large proportion OF them, especially IN the
western and more new settled States, expert marks
men. They are men who have reputation to maintain
at home by their good conduct in the field They are
intelligent, and there is individuality of character
which IS found IN the ranks OF no other army In battle,
each private man, well every officer, fights not
only for his country but for glory and distinction among
his fellow clzens when he shall return to civil life
The with Mexico has demonstrated not only the
ability of the governmental organize a numerous army
upon sudden call, but also to provide it with all the
nlence, and and TO direct its operations with eff
cheney. The strength of institutions has not only
been displayed in the valor and skill of troops
gagged in active service in the field but in the oganZa-
ton of those executive branches which were charged
with the general direction and conduct of the
While too great praise cannot be bestowed upon the Off
and men who fought our battles, it would be unjust
to withhold from those officers necessarily stationed 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 supplies necessary to make
efficient, the commentator TO which they entitled
The credit due to this class of officers is the greater
when is considered that no army in ancient or modern
times ever better appointed provided than
my in Mexico. Operating in an enemys country, re-
moved two thousand miles from the of the federal
government It's uleTet corps spread over vast extent
Of territory hundreds and thousands of miles apart
from each other. nothing short of the untirng vigilance
and extraordinary energy of these officers could have
enabled them provide the army all points, and in
proper season, with all that was required for the most
efficient service.
1t is but of justice to declare, that the officers in
charge of the several executive bureaus, all under the
immediate eye and supervision OF the Secretary of War;
performed their respective duties with ability, energy,
and efficiency They have reaped less of the glory of
the war, not having been personally exposed to its pers
IN battle, than their companions but without
their forecast efficient aid and operation, those in the
field would not have been provided with the ample
they possessed OF achieving for themselves and their
country the uniadng honos which they have won for
both
| When all these facts considered, it may cease to
be matter of so much amazement abroad how it hap
pened that noble army in Mexico, regulars and vol
unteers victorious upon every battle field, however
fearful the odds against them.
The war with Mexico has thus fully developed the
paslty OF republican governments 10 prosecute success
fuya just and necessary foreign war with all the vgof
usually attributed to more arbitrary forms Of government
1t has been usual for writers public law 10 impue to
republics want OF that unity concentration OF purpose,
and vlgo of execution, which generally admitted to
belong to the monarchical and arisscraic FORMS and
tins feature OF popular government has been supposed to
display itself more particularly in the conduct of war
carried on in an enen,ys territory. The war with Great
our own limits and shed but little light on this subject
But the war which we have just closed by an honorable
peace, evinces beyond all doubt that popular represent
alive government is equal to any emergency which is
| likely to arise in the affairs of nation.
| The war with Mexico has developed most strkngly
and conspicuously another feature in institutions
our Liberties, we have in the bosom Oh our society of
fteemeh available in just and necessary war. virtually
standing army OF two millions of armed citizen. sol
iiefs, such as fought the battles Of Mexico.
But our military strength does not consist alone in
capacity for extended and successful operations 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 with Mexico it was because
they had no enemy TO meet on their own element While
the army had opportunity OF performing more consp,cu
Gus service 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-ac
ing independently AS well as in cooperation with Our
roops-n the Conquest OF the Caitomias the capture
OF Vera Cruz, and the seizure and occupation OF other
highest praise is due Their vigilance, energy, and skill
rendered the most effective service in excluding NUM-
tons of and other supplies from the enemy, while
they secured safe entrance for abundant supplies for
our own army. Our extended commerce 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 execu-
cuve bureaus, navy yards and stations connected with
the service, all under the immediate direction of the Sec
rotary of the Navy for the industry, foresight and ene-
gy with which everything 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 pur-
pose between the heads of the two of the service.
by the orders which from time to tune issued our
vessels of on the Pacific and the Gull OF Mexico
were stationed IN proper time and IN proper pOsitOns 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 immeasurabe
Importance in the future progress OF our country. They
will tend powerfully to preserve us from foreign cos-
ions, and to enable to pursue uninterruptedly our
cherished policy of "peace with all nations, enangng
alliances with none,'
| Occupying, do, more commanding position
among nations than at any former PERIOD duties and
our responsibilities ourselves and to poserliy
respondingly increased This will be the obvious
when consider the vast additions which have been
recently made to territorial possessions, and their
great Importance and value.
Within less than four years the annexation of Texas to
the Union has been consummated all conflicting title to
the Oregon Territory south of the orynlnt degree OF
north latitude being all that insisted by any of my
predecessors, has been adjusted and New Mexico and
! Upper California have been acquired by treaty. The
of these several Territories according to report
carefully prepared by the Commissioner of the General
Land Office from the most authentic information IN his
possession and which herewith transmitted, contains
million hundred and ninety three thousand and
sixty square miles, hundred and sixty three
million five hundred and hity-nne thousand and forty
acres while the of the remaining twenty nine States,
and the territory not yet organized into States east OF
the Rocky mountains, contains two million htiy-nine
thousand five hundred and thirteen square miles, thr
teen hundred and eighteen million one hundred and
tweny-sx thousand and fifty eight These esti-
mates show that the territories recently acquired, and
which exclusive jurisdiction AMI dominion have
been extended, constitute country than hall as
large all that which held by the United States
before their acquisition II Oregon be excluded from the
estimate there will still remain within the limits OF Texas,
New Mexico and California, eight hundred and fifty
one thousand five hundred and ninety eight square miles,
or five hundred and fortyfv million twelve thousand
seven hundred and twenty acres being addition equal