Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-01-20

every thing indicates that the present appear
ance of financial improvement throughout the
country, is no illusion, and that a fair promise
is afforded, of its being substantial and perma-
nent. Nevertheless il should be remembered
that when the tide of prosperity is swelling to
its greatest height there is the greatest need of
caution. The irrepressible energy and love of
enterprise of the American people, are apt to
induce them, when fired with success, to over
leap the bounds of prudence and fall into ex-
travagant and ruinous speculations. The sure
and the only sure remedy against this threat
ming evil, is the observance of economy and
industry, and above all, to resist the allure
ments 0fcrcdit. Occasion was taken in for
mer communications TO expressm my serious con-
~victions that the observance of this caution
is essential to the continuance of our welfare
and prosperity. lmpelled by a filial regardfor
the State, which is the seat O my home and of
my attachments, and which has laid me under
deep and renewed obligations, | cannot omit,
in this crisis of ouraffairs to once more caution
my fellow citizens against a practice, which ex-
p~erience has proven to be fraught withruin.-
1t isearnestly to be hoped that while they in
dustriously and vigorously improve the advan-
tages that are now within their reach, they will
be sufficiently careful to avoid the evils into
which they have fallen from this cause on for
mer occasions.
The present war with Mexico is deeply to
be regretted, inasmuch as the consequences of
a resort to arms, are at all times seriously to
be deplored, and more especially by a people
blessed with a government and Institutions
like ours.-Nevertheles the Congress of the u.
States, vested by the constitution with the APP
propriate power having declared, by a vote
nearly approaching unanimity, that war exists
and by the act of Mexico, 1t becomes us as A
merican citizens, to uphold the rights, the hon.
or, and the laws of our common country, at all
hazards and in every emergency. The history
of our race has but too lamentably proved, that
how great soever may be its desire, peace is
not in the power of any nation. Unless the
pacific spirit and policy of one power is met
by { corresponding spirit on the part of others,
the questions in dispute are left in the last re-
sort to the arbitrament of the sword. Few in
stances, it is believed are to be found on the
page of history, ola war, more iustifiable By the
laDs of nations so far as the United States are
concerned, than that in which they are now
: engaged with Mexico. Not content with a
long series of aggressions, running back into
! the year 1921, which was the first of her as
; serted independence, against the persons and
property of our citizens, for which reparation
was promised by her accredited agents, only to
be followed by disappolntment-passing by the
patience and long suffering of our own gov
eminent, under the last six administrations
Mexico at last brought on the war, by striking
! the first blow and shedding the first blood.
Nor can it be successfully maintained, thai
r the advance of our troops beyond the Nueces,
: was the real cause of the war, when it is con-
f sidered that long before that advance, Mexico
: had distinctly and repeatedly taken the ground
i through her minister at Washington, her gov
= eminent at home and her generals in the field
Il thaf the ANNEXATION Of ToYaS Wac the tr1t
f cause and originof the war which has ensued
Before the advance of our troops, too, it wa;
repeatedly and formally published by dilferen'
o commanders of the Mexican armies, that theil
object and mission was to conquer and wres
from our possession, one of the States of thi:
Union-aS State which had been made such with
the due solemnities of law, and that too from
n territory acquired before The present admins
. tration of our government came into power.
: This war, then, it is true, was a war of con
+ quest, but it was SO on the part of Mexico
: Such certainly is the fact, ifany faith is to b'
placed in the solemn declaration of a nation
. made through its authorized functionaries, an(
& followed up by corresponding action.
1t is demonstrate then, that the war wa
: brought about by the unjustifiable acts and ag
g~ressions of the Mexican government; for 1t L
assumed as proposition that is incontroverta
bic, that whatever differences of opinion ma,
have existed in our own country as TO mer
policy or expediency of the acquisition of Tex
q as so far as the United States were concerned
4 yetthat Mexico had no reason to complain o
# chat measure. That territory was at the time
both by right and in fact, as independent O
Mexico, as was Mexico herself of the crown
Ne of Spain, against which she had already pre-
%viously rebelled, and it was SO recognized b
the principal nations of the civilized world
1t Under these circumstances, to have been de
1r tered from doing an act not improper IN Itself
ID clearly justified by the laws of nations, and cal
led for by the unanimous voice OF those inter
ested, by the threats of a party who was no
entitled to interfere, would have invited furthe
lie aggression from the same quarter, and lowere
the character of our country in the estimation
all other nations. In the progress of the wa
N thus forced upon us, far from being actuate
as by a mere spirit of conquest or rapine, the o.
of iye-branch has been uniformly borne in ad
he vance; anc the cruelty and faithlessness ola
o.. insidious foe, have been met on the part of OF
cd troops generally, with a forbearance, a kline
ness and a magnanimity rarely equalled. w
al have desired only to sustain the national dis
r. nity and honor, and to secure such results {
of would afford some guaranty for the peacefl
pr. conduct of an arrogant and falthiess race f(
he the future, and a full and just indemnity fl
the past. Being engaged in the war, human
IT. W llSGil WOulu Scem u iCquliO ia CHCISOt
prosecution, as well for the purpose of savin
nd the %effusion of blood by bringing it to a speed
,lv close, as to inspire that and other powers wit
he such a respect for our proves as will, for
in long period, it is hoped, save us from the n
we cessity of again having recourse to arms.
tic That the Indemnity to which we are ent
tied should consist of territory is manifest
view of the crippled resources and exhaust
oIe revenues of Mexico, the instability of heI go
eminent, the revolutionary character of h
ty. people, her fickleness in relation to her pa
be- moneyed arrangements, as we'll as from h
lch immense nominal possessions, which lie CO
ON terminous to our western boundaries, which
a great extent, are unreclaimed from the han
of nature and uninhabited, and which in t
hands of the present possessors are likely
the remain so for an indefinite period of time.
and while such an indemnity will it is belle
nix ed best comport with the interest and abili
ore of Mexico, it is the most desirable for the
States. Our numbers, which increase at a "a
led to which the history of the world scarcely
the fords a p%arrellel, and the unequalled enterpri