Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-12-21

government. Ii has been usual for writers
on public law TO impute to republics want
of that unity and concentration of pur-
pose, of vigor of execution, which are gen.
orally admitted to belong to the monarch.
cal and aristocratic forms; and this fea-
ture of popular government has been sup
posed 10 display itself more particularly in
the conduct of a war carried on in an en-.
emy's country.
The war with Mexico has developed
most strongly and conspicuously, another
feature of our institutions. 1t is, that with
out cost 10 the government, or danger TO
our liberty, we have in the bosom of our
country freemen available, in just and ne
cessary war particularly, standing army
of two millions of armed citizen. soldiers
such as fought the battles of Mexico.
But military strength does not consist
alone in our capacity for extended and sue
cessful operations on land. / refer TO the
Navy-an independent arm of the Nation
al defence. If the services of the Navy
were not 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 an oppor-
tunity of performing more conspicuous
service, the Navy 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 as
in cooperation with our troops in the con-
guest of the CALIFORNIA;, the capture of
Vera Cruz, and the seizure and occupation
of other important positions on the Gulf
and Pacific coast, the highest praise is due.
Their vigilance, energy and skill, rendered
the most effective in excluding the NUM-
tons of war and other supplies from the
enemy, while they secured a safe entrance
for abundant supplies for their own army.
Our extended commerce was nowhere in
terrupted, 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 connected with the service, all
under the immediate direction of the Sec
rotary of the Navy, for the industry, fore
sight and energy with which every thing
was directed and furnished, to give eficien
cy TO that branch of the service. While
this harmony existed in directing the prep
araton of the navy as of the army, there
was concert of action and purpose between
the heads of the two arms of the service
By the orders which were from time to
time issued, our vessels of war, on the Pa
eifc and the Gulf of Mexico, were station
ed in proper time, and in proper position
TO cooperate efficiently with the army
By this means, their combined power wa:
brought to bear successfully upon the enc
my. The great results which have beer
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 collisions and enable US TO pursue
uninterruptedly, our cherished policy
peace with all nations, entangling alliance
with none.
Occupying, as we do, a more command
ing position among nations than at any for
mer period, our duties and our responsible
ties to ourselves and our posterity, are cor
respondingIy increased. This will be the
more obvious when we consider the vas
additions which have recently been made
to our territorial acquisitions, and thei
great importance and value.
Within lessl Ethan four years, the annexa
ton of Texas to the Union has been con
summated and conflicting titles to the Ore
gon Territory south of forty nine degree
of north Latitude, being all that was in
sisted on by any of my predecessors, ha
been adjusted; and New Mexico and Up
per California have been acquired by trea
~. The area of these several territories
according to the report carefully prepared
by the commissioner Of the General Ian
Office, from the most authentic informa
ton in his possession and which is herewit
transmitted, is one million one hundred an
ninety-three thousand sXty-one squar
miles, or seven hundred and sixty.thre
millions five hundred and fiftynine thou
sand and forty acres. These estimate
show, that the territories recently acquired
and over which our exclusive jurisdiction
and dominion have been extended, consti
tules country more than half as large a
that which was held by the United State
before this acquisition. If Oregon be e'
cluded from the estimate, there wi u still n
main within the limits of Texas, New Mel
leo and California, eight hundred and fifty
one thousand five hundred and ninet!
eight square miles, or five hundred an
forty.fve millions one hundred and twent
thousand seven hundred and twenty acre
being an addition equal to more than on
, third of all the territory owned by Il
United States before this acquisition, an
{ including Oregon, nearly as great an e
tent of territory as the whole of EuroP
= Russia only excepted.
. The Mississippi, solatcly frontier of o.
n country, is now only its centre. With Il