Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-08

SO necessary 10 make il efficient The commend
, ,ion 10 which they are entitled. The credit d
10 this class OF our officers is the greater, when
is considered that no army in ancient or mode
times was ever better appointed or provided lhs
our army in Mexico. Operating in an enemy
country, removed two thousand miles from Il
seat OF the federal government, its different corr
spread over vast extent OF territory, hundred
and even thousands OF miles apart from eac
other, nothing short Of The untiring vigilance ar
extraordinary energy Of these officers could ha,
enabled them 10 provide the army at all point
and in proper season, with all that was require
for the most efficient service.
II is but an act OF justice to declare, that h
officers in charge OF the several executive br
Ieaus, all under The immediate eye and superv
sion OF the Secretary OF the War, performed The
respective dulles with ability, energy, and eff
cheney. They have reaped less Of the glory
the war, not having been personally exposed
its perils in batlle, than their companions
arms; but without their forecast, efficien, aid an
cooperation, those in the field would not hay
been provided with the ample means they pos
sessed OF achieving for themselves and lhei
country the untading honors which they hav
| won for BOTH
| When all these fncts are considered, il ma
| cease to be matter OF so much amazemer
abroad how il happened that orr noble army il
| Mexico, regulars and volunteers, were viclori
Gus upon every battlefield, however fearful tn
| odds against them.
The war with Mexico has thus fully developed
the capacity of republican governments 10 prose
cute successfully just and necessary foreigI
war with all the vigor usually attributed 10 more
arbitrary forms OF government. II has been usu
al for writers on public law to impnte 10 repub
lies want of that unity, concentration Of pur.
M Of oY uyhir In
admitted TO belong TO the monarchica and aristo
cratic forms; and this feature OF popular govern.
ment has been supposed 10 display itself more
particularly in the conduct OF war carried ON in
an enemy's territory. The war with Great Bri.
tain, in 1912, was TO great extent co fined
within our own limits, and shed bnt little light
on This subject. But the war which We have just
closed by an honorable peace, evnces beyond all
doub that popular representative government
is equal 10 any emergency which is likely 10 arise
in the affairs OF nation.
The war with Mexico has developed most
s'rikingly and conspicuously another feature in
our institutions. II is, that without cost 10 the
government or danger 10 our Liberties, we have
10 The bosom of our society OF treemen, available
IN JUS! and necessary war, virtually standing
army OF Two millions OF armed citizen soldiers
such as Tough, the baules OF Mexico
But our military strength does not consist alone
in our capacity Tor extended and successful ope-
rail- MS on land. The navy is an important arm
oil The national defence. II the services OF the
navy were not so brilliant as those OF the army
in The late war with Mexico il was because they
had no enemy to meet on their own clement
While The army had opportunity OF performing
more conspicuous service, The navy largely par
tcipaied in the conduct OF The war. Both branch
es oil the service performed their whole duty 10
no al nd lian cpt
the officers and men OF the navy-acting indepcn.
DENLY as well as in cooperation with our troops
in the conquest OF the CALIFORNIA;, the capture Of
Vera Cruz, and the seizure aud occupation OF
other important positions on the Cult and Pacific
coasts, the highest praise is due. Their vigilance
energy, and skill rendered The most effective ser
vice in excluding munitions Of war and other
supplies from The enemy while they secured
sale entrance Tor abundant supplies for our own
army. Our extended commerce was now here
interrupted; and tor this immunity rom the evils
Of war, The country is indebted to the navy.
High praise is due 10 The officers of the several
executive bureaus, navy yards, and stations con-
nected with the service, all under the Immediate
direction OF the Secretary of the Navy, tor The
industry, foresight, and energy with which every !
hing was directed and furnished 10 So. - no
y 10 that branch Of the service fefa.ons =, ac
,avv as oflhe army There was concert OF at
ion and OF purpose between the heads OF ine .Wo
arms of The service. BY the orders which were
rom time 10 time issued, our vessels oil war on
he Pacific and the Cult OF Mexico were station
d in proper time ard in proper positions 10 CO.
,pera,e ,fficienl9 win the army. BY 'Gis means
heir combined power was brought 10 Dear SUI
,essfully on the enemy.
The e,eat results which have Teen developer
and brought 10 light by this war, WIZ Dc ol 'ul
measurable importance in The future progress VI
our country. They will tend powerfully 70 pic.
serve Us from foreign collisions ana 10 enaoIe 70
10 pursue unin,enup;edy our cherisneo poncy y.
"oeace with all nations changing alliances
with nome"
f,ccu,v;no as we do, more commanding po-
ion among nations than al any former period,
onr dn,ies and our responsibilities 10 ourselves
and 10 poslerily are correspondingly lncreaSeo;-
This will be The more obvious when we cohsiuei
,hp vast additions which have been recently maze
10 our territorial possessions, and their great im-
porlance and value
Within less than four years Inc anneAa''o" =,
Texas 10 the Union has been consnmmatec; an
cor dic,ing lille to the Oregon Territory soutn o.
the fu,ty-pin degree OF North latitude being all
thai was insisted on by any OF my predecessors
has been adjusted; and New Mexico and upper
California have been acquired by treaty. Inc
area of these several Territories according 10
report carefully prepared by The Commissioner u
the General Land Office, from the most aulhennc
information in his possession, ana Whicn Is neie
with transmitted, contains one mlii'oh o"e nun
dred and pinetythree thousand and sixiy.ohe
sonare miles. or seven hundred and siXsy-lhree
million five hundred and flly-nine thousand ana
E,r,v acres: while the area OF the remaining tweh
whine States and the territory not yel ORGANIZED
into States East OF the Rocky mountains, contai hs
two million 6fty-nine thousand i've hunnleg auu
thirteen square miles, or thirteen hunorea anu
a;ah,een million one hundred and twenly-six
,honsand and ftly eight acres. These estimates
show that the territories recently acquired, anu
over which our exclusive jurisdiction and &c
miniou have been extended, constitute coun.ly
more than half as large as all mat @n'ch ma'
held by the United States before lneif aequ,.
sition. II Oregon be excluded from Inc es'i.ns o
,hala will st,Il remain within The limits OF
Tera. New Mexico, and California, eight nun
d,ed and fiily.one thousand five hundted AM
ninrtv.eioht SQUARE miles, or FIVE hundred anu
for,v-five million welve thousand seven hunGieo
and twenty acres; being an addition equai L
mere than one third of all the territory owned "
The Uniled States before their acquisiion, anu
including Europe, nearly as great an e.'en' y
territory as the whole of Europe, Russia ONLY
excepted. The Mississippi SO lately the i!on.ie.
of our country, is now only us cenue. 'in;.'
addition OF the late ACQUISITIONS, ,ne JIM aro'
States are now estimated 10 be nearly as la's'
as The whole Of Europe. 1t is estimated ., .,
The superintendent of The coas, survey in u. .h
accompanying report, that the extent Of III
ses.coas Of Texas on The gulf Of M Me soss .
Inner California, on the Pacific, OF nine hun
dred and seventy miles; and Of Oregon, IN
| clndino the straits oil Fuca, oil SIX hundfeo dn'
ifly miles; making the whole extent Of sea,coas
on the Pacific one thousand six huHdrea AM an
twenty miles, and the whole eA.en. Oh , IU ~.
and twenty miles. The length Of the coast OF
the Atlantic from the Northern limits oil Tn
limited STATES, around the Capes of FLORIDA
the Sabine, Oh the Eastern boundary Of Texas
;s estimated to be three thousand one huncre
miles; SO that the addition of sea-coast, includ'n
Oregon, is very nearly two-third' as great
all We possessed before; and excluding oreso s
| Ia:,;nn nc one thousand three hunQre