The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-04


and on which mistaken course OF policy may lead "a
the most unpleasant consequences Whatever 1alth
may entertain in the soundness OF the opinions have ad
vanced certainly should have II they were not
totally at variance with those of gentlemen possessing,
from longer experience, much higher claims than my
sell public confidence But have not this account
thought proper to withhold them, knowing as we do,
that from the very conrarety and conflict of thought
and conviction, valuable deductions may sometimes be
drawn
Mr. President feel that have already respassed too
long on the indulgence of the Senate butt am unwilling
to close without asking its attention for very few
mens TO some considerations connected with our future
growth and progress and with the influence must
spite OF ourselves, exert over the destinies of Mexico
They are no new oplnions they have been expressed
years ago, both in public and private.
Sit, no one who has paid moderate degree OF aten-
ton TO the laws and elements of increase doubt
that our population destined TO spread itself the
American continent, filling up with or less com
pleeness, according to attractions OF soil and climate,
the space that lntervenes between the Atlantic and Pa
chic oceans This eventual, and perhaps IN the order
OF time, this not very distant extension of our settlements
over tract OF country with diameter, as go west
ward greatly dlsproporhoned to It's length, becomes
subject OF the highest interest to On the whole
tent OF our northern flank, from New Brunswick to the
point where the northern boundary of Oregon touches
the Pacific, we are IN contact with British colonlss hay
ing Tor the most part, the common origin with our
selves but controlled and moulded by political influences
from the Eastern hemisphere, il not adverse certainly
can be relied on to bind to mutual offices of friendship
and good neighborhood, is that of and this
as we know, apt TO run into rivalry, and sometimes
becomes fruitful source OF alienation.
From northern boundary, turn TO our southern.
What races TO border here, what is to be their
social and political character, and what their means OF
Are our two frontiers, only parallels
of latitude apart when we pass Texas, TO be anked by
settlements having no common bond OF union with ours !?
Our whole southern line is conterminous throughout It's
whole extent, with the territories of Mexico, large por
ton of which is nearly appropriated The geographical
of Mexico about 900 square miles, and her
population about 100000 souls The whole northern
Al ,1ls1D
latitude as the dividing line, containing more than iooo
600 square miles, has about 100000 nhabtants-abou
two inhabitants to three square miles, The southern
portion, with less than SOC, 900 square miles, has popu
laton of nearly six and half millions of souls, thir
teen inhabitants to one square mile The aboriginal
races, which occupy and ovenun portion OF California
and New Mexico must there, as everywhere ese
give way before the advancing wave of civilization,
either TO be overwhelmed by it, TO be driven upon per
petuay contracting areas, where, from dlmnu,ion OF
their accustomed sources of subsistence, they ult
matey become extinct by force of an inyncbIe law
We the operation of this law in every portion of this
continent We have no power to control II If we would
1t is the behest of Providence that ideness, and igno
rance and barbarism, shall give place industry, aad
know ledge, and civilization The European and mixed
races which possess Mexico, not likely either from
moral physical energy become formidable rivals
enemies. The bold and courageous enterprise which
and conquered Mexico appears not 10 have de-
scended to the present possessors of the soil Either
from the influence of climate the admixtue OF races
the fusion of castles, to use the technical phrasethe
conquerors have, in turn, become the conquered The
ancient Cashlian energy is in great degree subdued
and has given place, with many other noble traits oi
the Spanish character TO peculiarly which to
have rked the race in that country, under whatever
combinations it is founda proneness to civil discord.
and suicidal waste of s own strength.
With such territory, and such people on our south
ern border what is be the inevitable of empire
1t needs powers OF prophecy to forete Sir, desire
to speak plainly Why should we not, when we are dis.
are beyond our controls AS population moves west
ward on our own territory, portions will cross south
ern boundary. Settlements will be formed within the
and sparsely- peoped territory of Mexico
Uncongenial habits and tastes, differences of political
opinion and principle, and numberless other elements Of
diversity, will lead to separation OF these newly formed
They will not endure to be held in subsection to sys-
which neither yields them protection offers any
incentive to their proper development and growth. They
will form independent States on the basis OF constitutions
IDENTICAL all their leading features, with own; and
they will naturally seek TO unite their fortunes to
The fate OF California Is already sealed can never
be reunited to Mexico. The operation of the great
causes to which have alluded must, at distant day.
detach the whole OF northern Mexico from the southern
portion of that republic 1t is for the very reason that
she incapable of defending her possessions against the
elements of disorder Within and the progress OF better
from without, that | desire TO see the mevita
Bile political charge which is TO be wrought in the
don OF her northern departments brought about with
out any improper interference on our part. do not
speak OF our military movements. | refer to the time
when difficulties with her shall be healed and when
she shall be left to the operation of pacific influences
that she is deenceess, If Tor other should be
opposed all schemes OF conquest Acquisition by force
the vice of arbitrary governments desire to
it the reproach of ours For the sake of the national
honor as well the permanency of political insti
tutons desire not to see it. The extension OF free gov
this continent can only be arrested, arrest
ed at all, by substituting for the arts of peace
Leave it to ITSELF and nothing can prevent the progress
of our population the continent MIR. Jefferson,
with his prophetic forecast foreold this result forty years
ago He prophesied the peaceful progress of people
to the Pacific. He foresaw them forming new settle
ments, and when strong enough TO maintain themselves,
organizing Independent societies, and governing them
selves by constitutions and laws analogous to our own.
IT is true he believed the OF freedom might be
larged advanageously ourselves and others, without
extending to the same broad limits the OF uris-
dction. 1t was the progress and the triumph OF great
mind insncGvey turned TO the legitimate ann and
boundary of our ambition and desires Since his day,
the public mind in this country has greatly outrun his
anicipations Of progress 1t looks to the extern
sion of our constitution and laws over regions which
were formerly considered beyond our reach as int
grail portions of the system OF government Mod
ern Improvements have given great strength to this
sentiment 1t Is possible by steam power if
we can succeed in making the proper application of it
over broad urtace TO reach the Pacific from
lake Michigan, or the Mississippi, in eight nine days
period of time less than that which required to
travel from Boston to Philadelphia, when the Congress
of the American colonies first assembled in the latter city
Ender these circumstances the extension of our political
boundary to embrace all territory may Justly
call our own, longer to be considered ques-
tionable policy. II other Districts not within the
territories of the Union shall found independent govern
mens and shall desire to unite themselves to terms
mutually acceptable, question which concerns only
to ntrude When the time for the settlement OF
any such questions, they will doubtless be considered