Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-01-19

!: Offered BY the Mexican Government. Hconsent
10 Weld a territory five degrees OF latitude, OF
nearly three hundred anu nifty miles III breadIi
and extending from New N-Aico to the faciHc
Although the greater part of this is Guiie worth
less Vet the portion of California lying between
the Sierra N-veda and the Pacific, and Including
= the port Of san Francisco, Is certainly WORT.
mach more than the amount Oh ihdeinn''ies Jus.
ly due citizens. 1t Is only IN ORDER to sat
isfy thos. claims that accession of territory
may become necessary.
1t is no, believed that the Executive will favor
the " lid suggestions Of subJugaton, or annex
alton Of the Wole of Mexico or OF any OF ITS IN
terror provinces. And, If understand the terms
offered by Mr. Trist. there was no intention to
include within the cessIons required the province
of New Mckee, But the demand OF both Old
and New California, or OF "a seacoast OF more
than thirteen hundred miles in length latitude
% to IL : is extravagant and unnecessary
The peninsula is altogether worthless. and there
is nothing worth coh'ending for south Oh San
Diego. or about latitude - ,
In saving that, If oonqncs: IS not the object o {
the war, and ii the pretended claim of Texas 10
the Rio Gel Norte shall be abandoned, there can
not be any iusupr.uble obstacle to the rcs'ora-
ton OF peace ii l. 10y iEtr nded 10 assert
that tn. terms heretofore proposed by either
party at this time proper. And apprehend
that the different views of the subject entertain
Ell by those who sincerely desire speedy and
ust peace NAV create some difficulty. There are
the subject of subsequent: arrangements. FOR
the present nothing more Is strict required than
adopt tire principle stata ante beilum. or IL 9TH
er words ia u.tc the Mex lean territory, aud
pros Ie for the payment OF the indemnitcs due
to oaf citizens The scruple Of those VINO OBJ
! itct TO any cesson whatever of terri tory except
ON terms ccep;ablo to the Southern States
might be removed by provision that would only
pledge territory sufficient for the purpose, and
leave il in the possession of the nited States
Il, the indemuites had been fully paio.
Were to listen exclusively to my own feel
ings and opinions, would say that, II the propo-
siions which have attempted TO establish are
correct-if am not mistaken in my sincere
conviction that the unprovoked by the
Mexicaus, and has been one Of iuIquitous ag-
preston par:-It necessarily follows that ac-
cordng to the dictates OF justice the L. States are
bound to indemnify them for having invaded
tEl-ir territory. bombardcd their towns, and in
iictet all the iniscries of war people who
were fighting in defiance Of their own homes. II
al; this be true, the United States would give but
adequate compensation for the injuries they
have inflicted by assuming the payment Of the
Indernntics Justly due TO their own citizens.
Even if d fair purchase OF territory should be
convenient 10 both parties, il would be far pre-
f.rabie postpone it for the present, among 9TH
err reasons. iii order that it should not have the
appearance of being imposed on Ne Xico There
also important considerations to which
it may not be improper 10 call at this limo the
puhiiC attention.
Our population may at IRIS Tune lie assumed
amounting to twenty millions Although the
ratio of natural incre3.. has already been lessen
ed from ,hirtyth three to about thirty per cent. in
ton years, the deficiency has been, and will pro-
baby continue for while to he, compe nSutcd BY
the prodigious increase of immigration from for
eigu countries, An increase OF thirty per cent
would aid 10 population six millions within
ten and nearly fourteen millions IN twenty wears
That the fertile uncnltiyated land within the
limits Of the States adntic. or Immediately ad-
missible in the Union, could sustain three times
that nu n,bcr is indnbilab!e. But the indomitabe
energy, the locomotive PropensItics, and all the
that not even tie uIflted eIfor,s I'll SEES such
,nents can, CIR " ii prevent their occupying with
in twenty if not within ten years every district
as far as tn. Pacific. and whether within the
limits o: the Unitei States or Of Mexico, which
shall not have previously been actually aud bona
tide occupied and settled by others. 1t may be
SAID that this is lustiti,be by natural law that,
for the same reason which sets aside the ght Of
discovery, If not followed by actual occupation
within reasonable time, the rights OF SPAN aud
Mexico have been forfeited by their neglect or
inability. during period of three hundred years
10 colonize a country which. during the whole
of that period, they held undisputed by any 9TH
foreign nation. And II may, perhaps, be OBJ
served that, had the Government OF the United
States waited for the operation OF natural and r-
rrsstibie causes. these alone wonid have gwen
them, without u war, more than they wan; at
this moment.
However plausible all this may appear.
it is nevertheless certain. that 1t Will be an
acquisition Of territory for the benefit of the
United States and in violation OF solemn
treaties. Not only collisions must be
avoided. and the renewal of another illicit
annexation be prevented, but the two
countries must cooly consider their relative
position; and whatever portion OF terri
tory. not actually settled by the MeXicans.
and of no real utility TO them. they may
be disposed to cede. must be acquired by
treaty freely assented TO. and for a reason
able compensation. But this is not the
time for the discussion of proper final
arrangement. We must wait till peace
shall have been restored and angry feelings
shall have subsidized. At present the only
object is peace, Immediate peace. a just
peace. and no acquisition of territory. but
that which may be absolutely necessary
for effecting the great object in view. The
most simple terms. those which will only
provide for the adjustment of the Texas
boundary. and for the payment of the in
IDENTITIES due to our citizens. and. in every
respect. restore things as they stood be-
fore the beginning of hostilities, appear to
me the most eligible For that purpose
may be permitted to wish that the discus
sion of the terms should not be embarrass-
ed by the introduction of any other mat
ter There are other considerations. high
" important, and not foreign to the great
question Of an extension of territory, but
which may. without any inconvenience or
commitment. be postponed. and should
not be permitted to impede the immediate
termination of this lamentable war.
have gone further than int ~nded. 1t
is said that a rallying point Is wanted by
the friends Of peace. Let them unite.
boldly express their opinions. and use
their utmost endeayors in promoting an
immediate termination of the war. For
the people no other banner is necessary.
But their representatives in Congress as
sembled are alone competent to ascertain.
alone vested with the legitimate power of
deciding. what course should be pursued