The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-09

Tranquility ut hone, ana Peucc'u'
abroad, constitute the true. permanent PoHcy
of our country. War, the scourge of nations
sometimes becomes inevitable, but Is always
10 be avoided when il can be done consistent
" with The rights and honor OF the nation
One of the most important results oil inc
war into which we were recently iorcec WIN
u neighboring nation, is the demonstration !
has afforded of the military strength OF our
country, Before the late war with MEXICO
European and other powers entertained i'm;
pcrfect and erroneous views OF our physlcal
strength as n nation, and of our ability TO
prosecute war, and especially war waged out
of our own country, They saw that our stand
inn army on peace establishments u'a "o' ca
ceed ten Thousand men. Accustomed them
selves TO maintain in peace large standing ar
mics for the protection ofthrones against their
own subjects us well as against foreign enc
mics they had not conceived that it was pos
sble for nation without such an army wen
disciplined and of long service, to wage war
successfully They held in low repute our
militia, and were far from regarding them as
an effective force, unless IL might be for tenn
porary defensive operations when invaded on
our own soil, The events of the late war with
Mey ico have not only undeceived them, put
have removed erroneous impressions whlch
prevailed to some extent even among portion
of our own counttymcn. That war has dem
onstrnted, that upon the breaking out OF hos
tilties not antic pnted, and for which no pre-
vious pre paraton mad been made, volunteer
army of citizen soldiers equal to veteran troops
and in numbers equal to any emergency, can
in a short period be brought into the held
Unlike what would have occurred IN any oth.
or country, we were under no necessity OF
resortinp TO dranghts or conscriPtIons' On
the contrary such was the number OF Volun-
teers who patriotically rendered thcr serVi-
ces that the chief difficulty was IN making
selections and determining who should De u's-
appointed and compelled TO remain at nome
Orr citizen soldiers are unlike those drawn
from, the population of any other county
They are composed mdiscriminately oil all
professions and pursuits; Of farmers, lawyers
physicians, merchants, manufacturers, me-
chanics and laborers; and this, not only among
the officers, but the private soldiers IN inc
ranks. Our citizen soldiers are unlike those
of any other country in other respects ihey
are armed and have been accustomed from
their youth up to handle and use hrenrns; ana
a large proportion of them, especially IN the
western and more newly settled states, are eA-
pert marksmen. They are men VINO nave
reputation to maintain at home by tnelr eooa
conduct in the field They are intclligrnt,and
there is an individuality of character which Is
found in the ranks of no other army. In pat
tie. each private man, as well as every ON or,
6ghts not only for his country, but for glory
and distinction among his fellow cIt'zehs
when he shall return TO civil life
The with MEXICO nus 'ON
only the ability of The Government to organ
ize n numerous army upon sudden call, nut
also to provide it with all the munitions and
necessary supplies with dispatch, convenience
and ease, and to direct lis operations wan en-
cheney The strength of our institutions mas
not only been displayed in the valor ara skili
Of our troops engaged in active service IN the
field hut in the organization of those execute
branches which were charged with the gener-
nj direction and conduct OF the war. WINE
too great praise cannot be bestowed upon the
officers and men who fought our onllies, IL
would be- unjust to withhold from those officers
necessarily stationed at home who were chnrg-
ed with the duty Of furnishing the army, IA
proper time, and at proper places, WIN all 'he
munitions of war and other supplies SO ncces-
sary SO make il efficient, the commentator 10
which they are entitled. The credit due TO
this class of officers is the greater, when IL Is
considered that no army in ancient or modern
times was ever better appointed or PROVIDED
than our army in Mexico Operating IN an
enemy's country, removed two thousaho hiies
from the sc at of the Federal Government, It's
different corps spread over vast exten: OF Ter
rItory, hundreds and even thousands Oh miles
apart from each other, nothing short OF the
untirinp viuilance and extraordinary energy
of the officers could have enabled them to pro-
vide the army at all points, and IN proper seq
SON with all that was required Tor the most
efficient service.
It's but an act of justice TO declare, that the
officers in charge of the several executive bu-
reaus, all under the immediate eye and super,
vision of the Secretary of War, performed
their respective duties with ability energy and
efficiency. They have renpcd less OF The
glory of the war, not having been per
sonally exposed in its perils in battle, than
their companions in arms; but without the''
forecast, efficient aid, and corporations those
| in the field would not have been provided with
the ample means they possepsed of achieving
| for themselves and their country the untading
honors which they have won for both.
When all these facts are considered, 1t may
cease to be matter of so much amaZemen
abroad how il happened that our noble army
| in Mexico, regulars and volunteers, were VIC
torious upon every battle field, however fear
full the odds against them .n ....
The war with Mexico has thus fully devel
oped the capacity Of republican government
TO prosecute successfully II just aud necessn
sary foreign war with all the vigor usual.
n,,ribited to more arbitrary forms of govern
mcn,. 1t Inns been usual for writers ON pub
lie law TO impute to republics want OF tha
unity. concentration OF purpose, and vigor o
execution. which ure generally admitted 4
belong TO the monarchical and arIs'ocra'i
forms;and this feature Unpopular government
has been supposed 10 display itself NOR
particularly in the conduct OF a war carrie,
On in nm enemies territory. The war witt
: Grea, Britain, in 1912, WINS 10 great exien
confined within our own limits. aud shed b,
Gule light on this subject; But the wa
which we have Just closed by an honorable
peace, evnces beyond all doubt that u POI
uIar representative government is equal I
. any emergency which is likely to arise in tn
affairs Of a nation.
The war with Mexico Inns developed mos
s,rikngly and conspicuonsly another tentur
in our institutions. 1t is, that without cost I
the government or danger to our !ibertie
g ,,,,. .<>,..,y e fra.