Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-03-01

propositions to negotiate with him; tina,
they are anxious for peace, and would be
willing to obtain it even at the price Of the
which the President says he au-
Nr. Trist TO receive. II is appa-
rent, however, that the Administration has
no desire 10 make peace, even upon those
terms. The most violent abuse has been
visited upon Nr. Trist. by his own party
friends, for remaining III Mexico, or for
suffering any thing 10 be said to him about
peace by t',c Mexican authorities. 1t is
said, also. upon the authority of various
sources Of Information, that Gen. Scott is
ardentlv favorable 10 peacc, and anxious to
promote it with all the influence Of his
name and position. This may. perhaps.
in some measure. account for the hostility
of the Administration towards him.
should be glad - ascertain what connec-
zion there may be between this and the
late extraordinary movement Of the Adj
in removing him from the
command of the army, and subjecting him
to a trial before board Of inferior Off
GERS. The truth is, the Administration
neither expects nor desires peace. Any
hopes Of an early peace which may be
entertained by the people will be disap-
pointed. The ignis .fa.uus Of peace. so
lconstantly held up before them, will still
|elude their grasp. No peace need be ex-
pected, unless the people shall express
their desire for it in such terms as will
compel the administration to abandon
their designs Of conquest
If the Administration really and sin
,ccrcly desired peace, it would be an easy
task TO obtain it. believe that peace. an
'honoraolc peace may be obtained in
!siAty days-a peace Just TO Mexico and
honorable to ourselves--a peace which,
would testify TO the world our magnanimi-
|ty and sense OF justice. as our brilliant
victories have already shown our heroic
courage and skill in war Let the Presi-
dent appoint commissoners-not one of
|,hc clerks Of Department-but men Of
high standing and character, no matter TO
is nat political party they may belong
linen known to the country, and whose
character as statesmen would furnish a
guaranty Of the upright and honorable in
tentons Of the Government. Let the Ad-
rcnounce its wild schemes OF
conquest, and through such men as these
propose terms Of peace. ,lst and honora-
bile, and, my word for it. we shall have
peace at once. Let us demand from Mex
|ico all that we have a right. in truth and
Justice, to demand, and nothing moro
l.etus not insist on the cession of terri
tory which the President himself tells us
lis more than "our just demands.'' Let
ms not insist on demands which our own
Govcrnneut admits are I'm Just.
Mr. SAWYER here intcrposed, and asked
Mr.. SMITH what were the terms we ought
TO offer.
Mr.. SMITH replied. it is for those who
have the control Of the Government to-
propose the terms The Administration
should inform the country explicitly upon|
what terms it is willing to make peace
I have already stated, in general terms.
what propositions we should make. re-
pudiatc entirely the pretence set up. that
we should demand Of Mexico the expenses
of the war The House has decided that
the war was unnecessarily and iElcon-
commenced. If this be
true. upon what pretext can we claim that
Mexico should pay the expenses of its
This hiygling with Mexico
for the cost of the powder burnt in bonn
harding her cities is disreputable to the|
war begun! We insisted upon having
Texas, with such boundaries as she was
fairly entitled to. Mexico was indebted to-
us. by treaty. some two millions of dollars
Besides this. there were unliGuidated
claims for spoliations, the preciseamount of
which has never been asccrtaned. Thesc|
constituted all our claims before the war
We setupno claim then to any ofthe terrific \
~ Of Mexico beyond Texas. All we them
asked was that Mexico should acquiesce|
in the annexation Of Texas. settle and de-
fine her boundary, and pay the claims
which we held against her. Has the eN-
lstence of the war increased our Just de
nandS! If the war was commenced as
we have decided. by an aggressive move
nent Of the President, it is very cleartlat
it has not Our rights now arc no great !
er than they were before the war began
IT, however. the Administration Intends
10 hold and retain permanently New Mex
leo and California acknowledging at the
same time that they constitute a larger
inst RIGHT 10 de,nand-whv not hold those:
provinces. and Withdraw our forces front
he other portions of Mexico! Why shallI
We keep an army Of fifty thousand men|
in the heart of Mexico. preying upon tn"
ytals of the country. when with ten thous-
andm we can hold all that the Admins
ration prctends it wishes to retain! Five)
troops in New Mexico. and AMI
equal number in Upper California. would
hold those provinces against all the force
which Mexico can bring into the field.
There must be Interior designs beyond
The mere acquisition of those Provinces
If that. in truth. is all that the Administra-I
ion desires or intends to acquire, there
IS wisdom and sound policy in the course
marked out by the distinguished SENATOR
rom South Carolina, Mr.. CALHouN.) ByI
that policy. three-tourths of the|
immense expense we are now incurrin g!
night be avoided, and the further etfusionI
IF blood might be stayed.
fear there is but one remedy for these
evils. and that is in the hands Of the peo-|
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