Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-02-24
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
SPEECH OF
Hon. John A. Dix, of New YORK.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, JAN. 70, lS45
On the Bin reported from the Committee on Military
Affairs to raise, for hmitsd time, an additional
Military Force.
Concluded
pass over the doctrines put forth in the speech of
Lord George Bentick, and sanctioned by Lord Pal
merston, though believe it perfectly clear that
they can be maintained to the full extent by appeal
TO any well established principles of international
law. You know, sir, that we have sometimes found
British statesmen, even those holding places nearest
TO the throne, at fault, both respect to matters of
principle and matters of fact though il is certainly
but justice TO concede to them the possession Of more
enlarged views of policy combined with greater prac
teal talent and TACT than is often be found in the
councils of European sovereigns. | pass over also
an offensive alUsion to the failure Of two three Of
the States of this Union to pay their debts. ''as
stain upon the national character" Il use his own
laDguage.) when it is we'll known that the suspension
of payment was temporary, and from overriding pe-
cesslty that IN most instances resumption has taken
place; and that, in ALL the most earnest efforts have
been made to resume the discharge of their obga-
tons. This imputatiUn was cast upon us at the mo
ment when people, with one heart, were sending
abroad their agricultural surplus to feed the famished
population of Ireland merely in the way of COM
mercal exchange, but in the form of donations, in
ship-loads public and private. And so far the
commercial portion is concerned, believe our mer-
specie, TO send abroad to meet their pecuniary
obligations, while for a time at least they were
bic draw their debtors in England for the pro-
ceedS of the breadstus by which her subjects had been
fed But pass by all this, and come 10 the impor-
tant fact that Mexico was among the indebted for
eign States enumerated in report, on which the mo-
ton of Lord George Bentick was founded. What is
the extent of her Indebtedness do not know, but
understand about seventy millions of dollars-and
believe il was but recently that the public domain in
California mortgaged the creditors for por-
ton of this amount though the lien is now said to be
discharged.
appeal to honorable Senators to say with these
facts before them-with this public and official asser
ton of principle, which, according to Lord Pal
merstOn, the British Government has only abstained
from practically enforcing through considera-
tons of pOllcy-whether, if our forces were with
drawn from Mexico, and that country should become
prey the anarchy and confusion which has reign
ed there so long, and which, if renewed, would in all
probability become universal and hopeess-whether |
say, there would not be temptation strong be
resisted to reduce the principle thus proclaimed to
practice whether some portion of the Mexican ter
ritory might not be occupied guarantee for the
payment of the debt due British Subjects and thus
another principle be violated, which we are committed
10 maintain do not mean to say that this consid
eraon if stood alone, should absolutely control
conduct. But as auxiliary to the graver considera-
tions which have referred. it appears that it
may properly be allowed some weght-enough, sir,
perhaps TO turn the SCALE If it already balanced
though, think. there is sufficient without to in
cline decislvey to the side of continued occupation.
Besides, British subjects have other extensive Pc
cuniary interests in Mexico; they have large CON-
mercial establishments and heavy investments of
capital in the mining districts. If the political af-
fairs of that country should fall into inexricabe
fusion 1t Is not to be supposed that these great inter-
ests will be abandoned by Great Britain and yet is
hxy, bor
part they could be secured without the danger of COL
lision between her and us.
Mr.. President in what have said in respect TO the
danger of foreign interpostiOn, have not relied up
on the ephemeral opinion of the day, or opinions
expressed in public journals abroad, however init
maey those journals may be supposed to be connected
with governments, the organs of the views which
1t Is deemed advisable throw out, from time time
for the public consideration or guidance. have re-
sorted to no irresponsible have presented
opinions and declarations proclaimed with more or
less OF official SANCTION and for the most part with
the highest mean the declarations of ministers,
speaking for their governments to the popular body,
and the responsible representatives Of sovereigns
holding In their hands the authority to enforce,
or TO attempt TO enforce, what they proclaim. How
far these declarations, taken in connection with the
acts referred to. should influence conduct, is
question on which we may not all agree. But it ap-
pears to me that il would be great error in states
consideration. Jealousy of our increasing power,
commercial rivalry political interests, all combine to
give them importance. 1t is the province of a wise
forecast TO provide far possible, that these ad-
verse influences shall find theatre for their exer-
else. To abandon Mexico would it seems to me,
throw wide open all the for their admttancc
-one power for commercial monopoly and the other
for political control-and perhaps impose on US the
difficult and dangerous task of removing evils which
proper vigiance might have prevented.
1t may be, Mr.. President, that shall have an
early peace. | sincerely hope SO. In this case, we
must withdraw from Mexico and it may perhaps be
said that the dangers have referred to likely to
result from our absence at the present moment NAV
possibly be realized These dangers, whatever they
may be, must incur whenever she shall tender US
peace, which we ought to accept But there is wide
difference between retiring beligerents and ene-
mics without treaty. and friends under an AMIGA
bic arrangement, with solemn obligations on both
sides to keep the peace In the former case, proba-
bly, Of the first acts Of Mexico would be to reas-
sembe her army, and her government might fall un-
der the control Of her military leaders. In the latter
amlcabe relations being restored, and military forces
being unnecessary, at least to act against u.s. the
peace party would have better hopes of maintaining
themselves, Of preventing the army which is now re-
garded responsible for the national disasters, from
gaining the ascendancy. and also of excluding inu
from abroad, which would be hostile her in.
terests and fatal to the common tranquility of both
countries.
In the references have made to France and Great Br
tain, have been actuaed by no feeling Of unkndness
hostility TO either. Rapid and has been
progress OF the latter, have sought TO inerfen
with it. she holds third Of the North American con
tinent She has established her dominion in the Bermu
da the West Indies and in Guans on the South Amer
can continent. She holds Belize on the bay of Yucatsn
in North America with district of fourteen thou
-