The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-12-22

hu'b7obhS W dItit IhIl taNu oihSi
nothing short Of tho untrng vigliauce att
extraordinary energy of these olil :ors coulc
have enabled them 10 provide the army a
all points. and in proper season, with al
tina, was required for the most eihcIen
service.
II IS but an &C, Of Justice to declare, thu
the officers in charge Of tho several execu
tive bureaus, all under the immediate eye
and supervision OF the Secretary Ok War
performed their respective duties with ablll
~, energy, and efficiency. They have
reaped less Of the glory OF the war, moi
having been personally exposed to its peril.
IN battle, than their companions IN arms
bu, without their forecast. efficient, AID, and
Corporation, those IN tie field would mol
have been provided with tho ample mean,
they possessed Of achieving for themselve.
aud their country Tho un!ad,ng houofs which
they have won for both.
When al these facts are considered, /,
nav cease 10 be matter OF so much a'nez :.
men' abroad how It happened ,ha, our no
bic army in Mexico, rcgu'ars and volun
,cers, we're victorious uponcvery bilte.ii ID
however fearful the odds against them.
The wnr with Mexico has thus fully de.
veloped the capacity Of republican govern
mems TO prosecute successfully a Isl and
necessary foreign war vain all the vlgor usu.
ally attributed TO more arbitrary forms Of
government. II has been usual for writers
on pubic law to lmpu,e 10 republics want
Of that unity, concentration Of purpose. aud
ylgor OF execution, which are generally ad.
united 10 the monarchlcal aud arstocratic
forms; aud this feature Of popular govern.
mcnt has been supposed to display iiseli
moro particularly 10 the conduct OF q war
carried on IN an enemy's territory. The
sar with Gtea, Buiain, 10 l~l2, VAS TO q
great extent confined within our own limits,
and shed but lil'e light on th,s subj rct.-
Bot the war which se have JIs closed by
an honorable peace. evincrs hey oud oil doubt
hat q popular representative government
IS equal 10 any emergency 0hich Is likely
to arise III the ahufs of a patton
The var with McxlcD has dsse'oprd most
s,tkingy and consWcuously another feature
10 our institutions. It's, that without cost
to the Government, or danger 10 our llbcr
ties, We have IN the bosom Of our society
Of lreemen. available 10 ji-i and neccssa.
~ war, virtually standing army oil tso
millions Of armed citizen. soldiers, such as
Ought the battles Of Mexico.
Bot our military strength does not con
SYST alone IN our capacity tpf extended aud
success vi operations 90 land. The navy
san important arm OF the national defence.
Ii the services OF the navy acre not so bril-
liant as those Of The army 10 the late war
with Mexico, 1t was because they had 10
enemy 10 meet on their own clement
W hIle the army had opportunity Of perform
ing more conspicuous service. the navy
largely participated IN the conduct ofthe var.
Both branches Of the service performed
their aholc duty to the country. For the
able and gallant services Of the officers aud
men Of tho navy acting independently as
we'll as IN cooperation With our troops--;n
tho conquest OF the Ca'iiofnas, the capture
of Vera Cruz, and the seizure and occupa.
ton Of other important, positions on the
Gulf and Pacific coasts, The highest praise
is due. Their vigilance, energy, and skill
rendered the most effective service in eSclu.
ding munitions OF war md other supplies
from the enemy, While they secured a safe
entrance for abundant supplies for our own
army. Oar extended commerce was no.
where interfupted and for this immunity
from the evils Of war, the country is incebt-
cd 10 the navy.
High praise is due to the officers of the
several Executive bureaus, navy yards, end
citations connected with the service, all un
der the immediate direction Of the Secre.
tary OF the Navy, for the industry, FORE
sight, and energy with which every thing
was directed aud furnished to give etIlcien.
CIV 10 that branch Of The service. The same
vigilance existed 10 directing the operations
Of the navy az the army. There vas con.
cert Of action and OF purpose between the
heads OF the two arms Of the service. BY
the orders which wero from time to lime
issued, our vessels Of war on The Pacific and
the Gulf Of Mexico were stationed IN pro
per time and in proper positions TO coop.
crate efficiently with tho army. BY this
means their combined power was brought
to bear successfully on the enemy.
The great results which have been do
voloped and brought to light BY thus war
will be OF lmmeasursble importance in the
future progress Of our country. They viii
tend powerfully to preserve US from foreign
collisions, md to enable US TO pursue unln
terrup,cdly our cherished policy Of "peacc
with all nations, ontanglIng alliances with
none"
Occupying, as we do, a more command
ing position among nations than at any Tor
mer period, our duties and our responsible
ties TO ourselves and to pos,erl'y arc cor
respondngIy increased. This will be The
more obvious when we consider the vast ad
dilions which have been recently made Il
! our territorial possessions and their grea
Importance and value.
Within less than four years the annexa
ton of Texas to the Union has been con
summa,ed all conflicting title to the Orc
son Territory south Of the forty.nlnth de
gree Of north latitude, being all tina, wa
insisted on by any Of my predecessors, ha