Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-12-13

Tor writer's or law to lmpue to republics
q want of that unity, concentration Of pu
pose, and vigor Of execution: which ar
generally admitted to belong 10 monarch
chial and and aristocratic forms; and lhi
feature Of popular government has bee
supposed to display itself more particularly
in the conduct of war carried on in al
enemy's country. "
The war in Mexico has developed mos
strikingly and conspiculously another feat
ure in our institutions. 1t is. that withou
cost to the Government. or danger ,4te Gu
liberties. we have in The bosom Of our so
ciety Of freemen, available in just ane
necessary war, virtually a standing army
of 1000 600 of armed citizen soldiers,
such as fought the battles Of Mexico.
But our military strength does not con-
sist alone in our capacity for extended and
successful operations on land. The Navy
is an important arm of the national de-
fence. If the services of the Navy were
not so brilliant as those Of the army in the
late war with Mexico, it was because they
had no enemy 10 meet on their own ele-
ment. While the army had opportunity
of performing more conspicuous service,
The Navy largely participated in the con-
duct of the war. Both branches of the
service performed their whole duty 10 the
country. For the able and gallant servi-
ces of the officers and men Of the Navy
(acting independently as we'll as IN coop
Grafton with our troops,i in the conquest
Of the Culifornias, the capture Of Vera
Cruz, and the seizure and occupation OF
other important positions on the Gulf and
Pacific Coasts, the CHEST praise is DUE
Their vigilance, energy, and skill render
ed the most effective service IN excluding
munitions Of war and other supplies from
the enemy. while they secured safe en-
trance for abundant supplies for their own
army. Our extended commerce was ro
where interrupted; and for this immunity
from theevils OF war the country Is indebt-
ed to thsNavy.
High praise is due to the officers Of the
several bureaus. navy yards, and stations
connected with the service, all under the
immediate direction of the Secretary of
the Navy, for the industry, foresight. and
energy with which everything was direc-
led and furnished TO give efficiency to that
branch of the service. The same vigi-
lance existed IN directing the operations Of
the Navy as of the Army. There was
concert Of action and Of purpose between
the heads Of the two arms of the service.
BY the orders which were from time TO
time issued. our vessels Of war on the
Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, were station
ed in proper time and in proper positions
to cooperate efficiently with the army.
By this means their combined power was
brought 10 bear successfully or the enemy.
The great results which have been de-
veloped and brought to light by this war.
will be Of mmeasurable importance in the
future progress Of our country. They will
will tend powerfully 10 preserve us from
foreign collisions. and enable US to pursue
uninterruptedly, our cherished policy of
"peace with all nations, enlangling allan
ces with none."
Occupying as we do, more command
ing position among nations than al any
former period, our duties and our respon-
sibilities to ourselves and to poslerity are
correspondingly increased, This will be
the more obvious when we consider the
vast additions which have recently been
made 10 our territorial possessions, and
their great importance and value.
Within less than four years the annexa-
ton Of Texas 10 the Union has been con-
summated; all conflicting title TO the Ore.
gon territory south of the 49lh degree Of
north latitude. being all that was insisted
upon by any of my predecessors. has been
adjusted; and New Mexico and Upper
California have been acquired by Treaty.
The area Of these several territories. ac-
cording to n report carefully prepared by
the Commissioner Of the General Land Or
fee from the most authentic Information
in his possession, and which is herewith
transmitted. contains one million one hum
dred and ninety three thousand apd sixty
one square miles, or seven hundred and
sixty-three million. i've hundred and fifty
nine thousand and forty acres; while the
area Of the remaining twenty mine States,
and the remaining territory not yet organ
lied into States east Of the Rocky Noun
tains, contains two millions, ifiy-nine
thousand FIVE hundred and thirteen square
miles, or thirteen hundred and eighteen
million one hundred and twen,y-six thou
sand and ffty-eight acres. These esti-
mates show tha, The Territories recently
acquired, and over which exclusive juris-
dctiou and dominion have been extended,
constitute country more than half as
large as all that which was held by the
United States before their acquisition. If
Oregon be excluded from the estimate,
there will still remain within the limits OF
Texas, New Mexico, and California. eight
hundred and ffty.one thousand five hun.
dred an6 seventy-eight square miles, or
five hundred and forty-fve millions Twelve
thousand seven hundred and twenty acres.
being an addition equal 10 more than one
third of oil the territory owned by the Uni
ted Sfatesbefore their acquisition land inclu.
ding Oregon. nearly as great an exten, o.
territory as the whole of Europe, Russia
only excepted. The Mississippi. SO late
Ily the frontier Of our country. is now near
ly its centre. With the addition of the
late acquisitions. the United States are
now estimated to be nearly as large as tht
whole Of Europe 1t is estimated by tht
Superintendent of the Coast Survey, il
the accompanying Report that the exten
Of the Sea Coast Of Texas on the GuI
Of Mexico is upwards of four hundre'
miles; Of the coast of Upper California Of