Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-02-24

divduals from the plough, the counting house, the
law-ofice, and the workshop, have taken the field.
Drawing inclement seasons and inhospitable climates
without murmur; and, though wholly unused to
arms, withstandng the most destructive fire. and
storming batteries at the point of the bayonet with
the GOODNESS, intrepldlty, and spirit Of veterans.
believe may safely say there has been no parallel
to these achievements by undsciplined forces since
the French revolution. am not sure that history
can furnish a parallel. As to the regular army, we
always expect it to be gallant and heroic and
never disappointed The whole conduct Of the war
In the field has exhibited the highest evidence of
military capacity. 1t confirms an opnun have al
ways hed-thaI soldier is formidable in ratio Of the
Importance he possesses the order of the political
system of which he is part. II establishes another
position OF vital Importance TO US: that, under the
protection Of our militia system, the country may at
the termination of every contest. lay aside the more
massive and burjensome parts of its armor, and be-
come prepared, with energies renewed by that very
capacity, for succeeding scenes of danger.
Mr.. President, the political condition of Mexico
has been gradually approaching a dissolution Of all
responsible government, and of the civil order which
constitutes her al independent state. This amenta-
BILE situation the fruit alone of military
cesses. The factions by which that country has been
distracted, each IN tur1 gaining and MAINTAINING
temporary ascendency, and often by brute force, lie
at the foundation of the social and political disorder
which has regned there for the last twenty years. To
of the abuses of the old colonial system of Spain
she has superadded the evils Of unstable and IRE
sponsibe government. The military bodies, which
have been the instruments of those who have thus in
succession gained brief and precarous control over
her affairs, though dispersed still exist ready to be
reunited and TO renew the anarchy which we have
superseded for the time being, by military govern
ment and this brings the first great objection
TO the proposition of Withdrawing our armies from
the field
have already said that no policy can deserve
support which does not hold out the promise of DUR
able peace Nothing seems to me more unlikely to
secure desirable result than the abandonment of
Mexico by at the present moment without treaty,
leaving behind strong feeling of amnesty towards
US. with party divisions strongly Marked and poti
cal anlmOsties rancorous, perhaps, as they have
been at any former period. Even when her capital
had fallen, humbled and powerless she was party
leaders, instead of consulting for the common good,
were seen struggling with each other for the barren
scepre of her authority. Our retirement enemies
would in all probability be the signal for intestine
conflicts desperate and sangulnary those in
which they have been engaged with us-conficts al
ways the most disastrous for the great body of the
Mexican people, for, on what side soever fortune
turns they certain to be the victims You know,
sir there are two great parties in Mexico, pass by
the minor divlsOns,) the "Federallstas' and "Cen-
tralistas." The former, as their name imports,
republican party With u.s. former times, the terms
Federal and Republican" designated different
parties in Mexico, they are both employed to desig-
nate the friends of the federative system. The Gen.
tralists are in favor of a consolidated Government,
republican or monarchial in FORM and are composed
of the army, the clergy. and suppose a small por
ton of the population believe our only hope of OBJ
tanning durable peace lies in the firm establishment
of the Federal party in power-the party represented
by Herrera, Anaya, Pena Pena, Cumplido, and 9TH
understand Herrera has been elected President
of the Republic and this is certainly favorable in
dlcatOn. But unfortunately, fear this party would
not succeed in maintaining ITSELF if Mexico left
TO herself at the present moment with imbittered
feeling of hostility towards The military chiefs,
who controlled the army and who might rally it again
for political USES if retire without treaty.
are for the part enemies of the federative sys-
TEN, and conservators of the popular abuses which
they owe their wealth and Importance. Nothing could
be unfortunate for Mexico than the re-esiabsh-
ment OF these men in power. Ii would bring with 1t
a hopeless perpetualon Of the anarchy and oppres-
sion which hove given a character to their supremacy
IN past years-a supremacy without a prospect of
ameoration in the condition of the Mexican people
a supremacy of which the chief variation has been
exchange of one military despOt for another.
Caamitous the restoration of this party to their
former ascendency would be for Mexico, it would
hardly be less So for Relying on military force
for their support, their policy would be to continue
the war pretext for maintaining the army in full
strength, at least, not to terminate it till peace
would ensure their supremacy. 1t is believed
that these considerations have been leading motives in
the resistance they have opposed to 1t is true, the
republican party has been equally hostile so far as
external indications show; but the fact is accounted
for by their desire to the continued until the
army and It's leaders, the great enemies of the fedora
tive system, are overthrown. Undoubtedly the obsti-
nate refusal OF Mexico TO make peace may be very
properly referred TO the natural evaporation of every
people whose soil invaded but there can be little
doubt that it has been Influenced, in uncomfortable
degree, by considerations growing out of party diys-
ions, and the jealousy and anmoses to which those
divisions have given rse My confidence in our abili-
ty 10 make amicable arrangement with the federal
party, if it in undisputed possession of the Gov
ernmen arises from the belief that their motives
honest that they have al heart the public welfare and
that they there is hope for Mexico but in
a solid peace with My utter distrust of the Gen.
tralis arises from the belief that their objects are
selfish and that, TO accomplish them, they would not
hesitate to sacrifice the liberties of the people and the
prosperity of the country. But whether err in these
views not, feel quite confident do not err in be-
levlng that IT our armies to be withdrawn from
Mexico, without peace, the flames Of civil discord
would be rekndled in that unhappy country and burn
with redoubled violence. l should greatly fear that
the military chiefs would succeed in re-establishng
their ascendency, and that probable limit could be
assigned TO the duration of the war. If | am right
true policy is to stand firm, and if POSSIBLE uni
ted, until wiser counsels shall prevail in Mexico, and
cond either the obstacles overcome TO the re-
Iatve strength Of the invaders The rumphs of Cortez
achieved by policy and by superiority discipline
and in the implements Of warfare. The Of firearms
until then unknown the inhabitants of MexiSo, was
sufficient in itself to make his force, small was
ssble. In the eyes of that simple aud supersous peo-
ba mod 81 uith