Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-19
But seen too off, familiar with its face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace. |"

all the evils Of faction and anarchy The project though
mdabe and repusve to the judgment at first when
70 be soened down. and lis dangers diminished by the bril-
liant colorng Of fancy longer fearful and peous
Add TO this the of the country ITSELF the broad table
OF the Coreras of the Andes opening out like fan from
the south the and the NORTH aorng every variety
OF clme from the ord to the temperate and then the gran
deu and magncence Of OF its features and the beauty
OF Others There nature exhibits herself in her sublime
ana terrific, well as in her more lovely and enchanting
aspecs You capped mounaln-peaks towering to
me Clouds and the scarcely extinct vocano rising by the side
o. fowery vaes studded with refreshing lakes. There too
Mature has bestowed the often fatal gifts Of mountan eemng
with the precious metals and the earthquake nequent
comes awaken the guilty conscience of the oppessors. II
10 country full Of stirring recoectons. The pen Of Pres
cot has made it classic land Ii the theatre Of the
deepest and darkest tragedy enacted II is the land where
once iourhed great and popuous empire, founded by a
race Of unknown origin and of destiny Sir strk
ing as these things in themselves distance gives them
additional charms and increased enchantment These
some OF the attractions which capyae the Imagination Of the
young and perver the judgment of age and shall
see that In due time they will be heraded forth throughout
hs WIDE country by thousand tongues in strains of vivid
and impassloned eoquence Sir the qualification Of national
ambition, The national pride, the love of power aud dominion
which fills the heart Of man. the idea that belong great
and powerful nation, how often in the history of the world
nave they econcled the sncerest patriot despoc rule
crcied with glory
Sir, confess my weakness and when contemplate
nls picture OF NATIONAL greatness often find myself wishing
that this future could be realized without danger the public
liberty How would exult could only preserve free
i such my feelings, what be the effect Of the
brilliant destnes OF the republic presented the youth of the
country full OF ardent and ambitious hopes and whose i'm
pusve and inexperienced minds seldom pause weigh the
evils which may attend of such gterng prospects,
Sir who shall undertake to prophecy favorable this
question: when every temptation to ambition, individual and
nationa when every lure calculated excite and win
to this scheme of conquest alike the audaby curious
terpsing among the youth of the country, and the vicious
and corrupt slaves Of cupdy, offered in rich profson
We must not forget the army already element of
great influence in the country Honest and patriotic
gallant officers and citizen soldiers may be- it is but natural
that they will form attachments the country which has been
the scene OF their glory and desire its consolidation with their
native land. We have already evidences Of this feeling
IN the letters and speeches of gallant officers in the
uy Ihey too are but men like ourselves, with all our pas
slons and separate interests While Mexico continues to be
The seat OF war; they may expect to win laures in the
service Of their country. The ambitious among them who
have not yet reached marked distinction will desire
sons for the display of heroic vaor And when all Mexico
shall be subdued 10 dominion and fields of
a distinction shall be presented they may still expect to find
employment congenal to their habits.
There another greater and formidable influence to
be looked to in the settlement of this question There is
great and powerful party in this counya party which, for
the last twenty years. with the exception of slight interval
has held the rens of and enjoyed the hono and
luments of the civil service The result of the late elections
have shaken their secuy and they be expected to put
forth all their energies maintain their ascendency If the
President persists in his present policy few months longer
the issue must be, the conquest of all Mexico"
do not suppose that every member of the party will yield their
settled convictions this subject for party considerations far
otherwise We have already heard the voice of opposition
to this policy from the other side Of this chamber The dis
ngushed Senator from South Carolina has led the way and
trust many others will follow But party is tyrant. DE
Tocquese right when he said that in few countries of
the world political opinion less free than in this free
try of Who that has been in public life has not felt
the party lash What CALLING the feelings OF in
genuous mind and patriot find himself compelled to
renquish his station, yield to the behest dctaoD,
often OF inferior minds who by superior chances to be
makes fatal blunder.
Sir in calculating the advantages which the supporters Of
the policy of conquest possess and the chances Of aveng
such issue in the coming political conflict, there is Of
peculiar character which deserves be considered II
from the dilemma which the President placed in partly
himself and his friends and in part by the Wing opposition
The President very early IN the progress OF the war; declared
his purpose Of retaining New Mexico and California But
his friends Of the North and East said him. You shall not
take those territories but upon the condition Of the Wmot
proviso The Wings of the South became alarmed, and
united with the North in the noerrtory policy Thus
the President checmated both by his friends and opponents
This his dilemma how escape from it the ques
ton He had way escape but by frankly retracing his
steps, acknowledging his and making treaty without
the ceson Of territory; but that few in high station, and
who aspire TO the rank Of statesmen, afford TO do re-
ques great man, very great man. do this not mean
speak Extensively of the President Iconser the ebaass
under which he thus placed in reference the concu
sion Of the great and serious. he treated with Mexico
without the territories nothing but the military glory achieved
in the would remain, after all the sacrifices OF the country
the prosecution OF ii. From this embarrassment nothing
could relieve him but the Intervention Of Congress by declar
ing the objects Of the Hence he tempted continually
line of pocy and the refusal Of the Government OF
Mexico with Mr. T with the brilliant conquests Of
Gen. Scott the encouragement TO the and extended
objects Of the which constitute his aSowed policy
And the which produced this determination must still
embass the President in any attempt close this war un-
less Congress will relieve him. He is still impeed by dire
moral necessity either degrade himself from the rank OF
statesmen by the voluntary confession Of 10 take the
hazard Of eeyaing himself still higher fame, or Of losing
all, by involving his country in fatal enterprise
But the friends and supporters Of the President and his
administration embarrassed by the causes they are
like dilemma with himself and in which they involv-
ed both him and themselves Hence the temptation to them
TO adopt and boder policy extend their views far
beyond New Mexico and California A whole party, power
full in Of Skill talent and patronage thus placed
circumstances strongly urging them issue which at
bound clears every barrier-recves them from oil past
embanassments, Wlmot povso and aand II they should
FAIL they will fall in the execution Of bold conception but
IT, the other hand they should be successful and carry out
the daring project Of uniting all Mexico TO our Union, the
leaders Of the enterprise will leave in history OF no
half way of dishonor The fame OF the
authors Of the rise with the increasing glory
OF still free country their names will be execrated amid
the broken and crumbling ruins Of the republic
Such, sir, the dangers and temptations 10 which the
country stands exposed and the party IN power shall
determine make the issue have supposed who can est
mate lis force in the decision which the country must declare
And what, sir the resources Of power and influence
which the opponents Of this scheme have at their command
Where the high official stations what paonageto upholdthe
public press-to stimulate the zeal Of partisans None sir
They must rely alone upon the moral influence and