Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-09


serious effort on he part OF Mexico 10 reduce hef
IN submission; although she IN Unnamed diploma
tic relations with the principal powers oi NC
earth, and Mexico, herself, eI-fed 10 recognise
her il Dope ndenCe, but on condition wholly III
consistent with her sovereignty, the MeIlcan
minister al Washington declared that his Gov
crumenl would regard the measure as an ac' ol
war, demanded his passports aud leil Inc c"uh-
Try. ,.;,I
Firmly resolved on the performance OF his DID,
~. the late Pr sldrnt was No, frightened rom
his prcpriely, by the menacing attitude asSu~
Md, bot while he earnestly and faithfully deyo-
ted himself 10 hs execution ot The act oil Congress-
aid The honoIab BILE Accomplishment o! the annex
alton OF Texas, an object scarcely lniericr m ma
ionaj importance 10 the acquisition ni Louisiana,
with The mouths ollhe NJ ississippi,he adopted mea.
surcs with the Utmost solicitu II ur Their success
10 preserve our peaceful relations with The Me1i-
can Republic. History will record these meas
sures and their results. They were unsuccessful
and were followed by The war with Mexico, one
OF the most important Of The incidents of ffesi-
denl Pnik's evenllnl administration.
DO mol propose 10 enquire into The CAUSES OF
thai war II was declared 10 exist, win extTa"i>
binary unanimty, by Congress and was sustain
ed and prosecuted BY The American people WIN
The courage and patriotism with which American
| honor has ever been gloriously yindicacd
| | feel il 10 be my duty, however, on This occa-
sion, with line mos. ample opportunities oil KNOW
ledge, 10 aver, that il was never the purpose or
wish Of MIR Polk that the Two Republics shonld
be involved in war. An ardent lover Of human
| Liberty and OF republican institutions, The most
| cherished desire ui his hearl, next 10 the honor,
! happiness and prosperity Of his own country,
was, that every people who had entered on me
high duly OF self government and especially
i no nrI
dom oil republican institutions eqnal happiness
and success. He looked with NJ envy on MeY-
| leo, and with noiapacious spirit on her territory
H. did desire, and il was his duiy 10 enforce
them, to see the just claims Of American citizens
adjusted and The Injuries sustained by them re-
paired and indemnif d. But his earnest desire
was TO accomplish these objects, and the settle.
men OF all subjects OF dispute, without any in
corruption Of our peaceful relations: lie had
no passion Tor war. His deep conviction was,
thai Inc true policy OF his conniry was Peace
Peace with all nations, so long as II could be
ma nla ined without sacrifice oi The National
honor.
Bul he war came--and il was commenced,
continued Tor more tian Two years, and conclu-
| Jed during his Administration. lis incidents
and its results are Justly entitled To fill every
American heart with patriotic PRIDE. The p"o-
ple eagerly flew 10 the standard III their country,
and cheernly encountered The harishiFs and
privalions Of The camp in yintica'Ca II lis no,
nor displaying an aptitude for military service
which has aslnnishcd the world. No culumn III
our brave armies, or ship ui our navy, ever en-
counlercd serious reverse, and while our vic
| torious eagles were carried in triumph 10 he ca
| na vi the enemy, oar glorious hag was never
stained by all acl o. rapne. Of cfu lly o; upprts-
SION Clrmency. Ike most teauinl oil human
| virtues in war, distinguished our brave officers
and men wherever they conquered; am al every
| pause in the col 1ici the olive branch was ten
deIed, and honorable peace generously pressed on
| Mexico by our Government.
| There was no increase Of taxation, not
| merchant vessel was lnsl IL her owners by the
| aci q Inc enemy, no higher rate Of marine in
surance was eYaced 10 cover The risks III Stale
| II wal; in every loan negotiated ~ The Govern
menI The iull amount Of lis securities was reals
| lied, and in some instances coIsi .erabe pre-
MUM, and The growth AMI prosperity Of our
country advanced in is high career, without
even a momenlary cheek. The national honor
was unslained, The ,ionai character elevated
throughout the world, and fresh and abiding
confidence inspired in the strength and stability
| OF our Republican institutions.
But not less honorable 10 the American name
than these striking results was The sublime spec.
tacle presented, in The midst OF the war; BY the
benevolent aid sent to suffering humanity abroad.
| Out oil her abundance young America led lam
| ishing millions 81 The sutec,s OF one ol the most
powerful nations in Inc world, whose bourdess
wealth and mighty power Could az supply what
| our generous soil and hardy labor furnished
without diminishing The comforts Of our own
people.
The war was terminated by an honorable
peace-and, if any additional proof were reqair-
| Ell of the sincerity wi h which the America
Government had desired such termination, il
| will be found in The fact OF the adoption, by The
| President, OF toe Treaty. under the ctTcumslan-
ces attending It's negotiation. il secured 10 our
country additional territory, OF great national
| importance, while il did mol materially weaken
! Mexico; il furnished our sister Republic means
which were Of The greatest value 10 Ter, in The
| exhausted state o her resources, waile it sccuI-
ell 10 our ciliz-ns indemnify Tor their claims on
her, and il established the disputed boundary he.
tween The Two Republics, and, thus removing all
causes OF future irritation, laii The foundation Cf
a lasting friend. hip and commercial intercourse
! which cannot fail, if uninterrupted, to promote
The happiness and prosperity Of both.
| Win Mr. Folks habit u personal attention TO
the business OF his Office, il may we'll be imaein'
cd that his bors wee greatly Increased by The
Executive duties created by tho war. A most
| painful addition TO he anYieIIes which oppressed
|
| al all Times dangerous IL The peace and harmony
OF the STATES Of The American Union, and trans
! ccpdanIIy more dangerous when ,ohnrc.ed with
our Foreign Relations. In his anxious desire 10
| secure peaceful termination OF The hlexican
war, he had asked Of Congress TO appropriate
sum Of money, which lie nigh, use without the
delay of future legislation, il required by The
terms o a treaty oil peace. IL Was snown that
The purchase OF territory was con'onplalec.-
But il was proposed, and was earnestly urged
that The acl Of appropriation should be incumhef-
ell by provision prohibiting the introduction ol
| negro slavery inio any territory thereafter 10 be
| acquired The institution 81 slavery existed IN
| one bal OF the States ul The Union, and was It.
| coenizpd by the Federal Constitution, AMI The
! agitation OF questions concerning u had more
lEan unce threatened The peace II I The exist
encc OF he Union. i IN advance such restfc-
ton had been established by lay, Il vas Eol 10 be
expected that a treaty OF peace, OY which new
territory should be ceded, couli have been rail-
iet hy The Senate OF the United States Happily
the JIt did not prevail, and The treaty 10y which
the Uniled States acquired large territorial
extension, was ratified by The Senate. Bul The
question continued Ia aeiiate The county during
Inc rema indef vi Mr. Po.k's administration.
lam aware OF the extreme dclic,cy oi alluds
ing On The present OCCASION 70 this deeply interest
ING topic, involving most important rights oi Inc
States and ol tie people, tie peace and harmony
of Inc Union ilsell. But Iueem il an acI u Jus
lice 10 The memory oi The lale PIesidcn! TO pre-
Sent by references 10 his oNn pubic messages.
the views which he entertained and The course
which he pursued. shall do hi, in no conlfo>
versial spirit, but as Illustrative Vi his character,
and in tie sincere hope that his patriotic senli>
mems may yet all his country in adjusting the
only domestic qacsi ion which seriously threatens,
! a., a ba hNF-
mony and successful operation Of our system
'Tiough dead, hr yet speakrIh."
In urging on Congress The dnly OF proviting
Governments for The acquired territories, in his
last annual message, and abiding 10 the failure
oil measure Tor that otJrcI al the otmer session,
he said
"With the opening prospects ofiEcreasrd prosperity
and national greatness, which The acquisition " these
rich and extensive territorial possessions affords, how
irrational il would br To farcgo rrJsct those advan-
ages, by The agitation of domestic question, which Is
corva with the eIis,cEcc nf CIR government and 10
Itu.,t