The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-17

tie army of regulars, prepared TO meet them on the
as 10 the commencement OF hostes there can be NONE
TO the skill and energy with which the was prose-
cued after II commenced. The summons to arms
was responded TO with aaerty and enthusiasm which
characterize none but reemen; Army after army was
raised concentrated organized and marched from the
emotest quarters OF the Union TO different points oil the
Mexican territory with 50 much rapdiy and in 90 short
space of time that we al a loss which most 70 adj
mire the energy and ptoptude OF the executive officers
OF the government or the courage, skill perseverance
and patriotism Of the officers and soldiers OF the several
divisions Of the gereral army nauek succession n.
ter the first brilliant victories in the valley OF the Rio
Grande, village after village town after town. city after
sy province after province surrendered 70 The hs
plee CONQUEST OF all Of northern Mexico was c0nsu.
mated IL The evefg glorious victory won the field OF
Buena Vista.
1t was hoped and believed that the signal display of
power and prowess in oveunning the northern provin
ces OF Mexico in the first campaign would humble the
ae o. ns stubborn apS enemy ana naaee
and the necessity Of striking decisive blow he very
heart Of Mexico became apparent To Mr. Polk himself
arranged the expedition which q strike this decisive
blow His plans met the approval OF his cabinet and the
general chief, and were executed with prompness,
energy and skill, which challenge the admiration Of the
world The march OF our troops from Vera Cruz to the
city Of Mexico was marked BY series OF had- fought
battles and splendid victories which scarcely finds par
alle IN ancient modern warfare With the fall Of the
capital fell the pride and power and spirit Of Mexico.
She was subdued peace was conquered and along with
il treaty which recognised our tile to Texas and trans
fered to us the vast territory embraced BY New Mexico
and California.
This is but meagre sketch of the more important
measures which were crowded into the four years during
which President Polk sat at The helm Of the government
Time alone develop their influence upon the future
destines OF our country and Of the world We may be
permitted, however with becoming didence lift the
curtain that wells the future and look for moment down
the vista OF time to how some Of these measures will
probably affect the future history Of our beloved country
In glancpg the eye over the eyentful administration OF
President Polk the mind i arrested BY two features IN t.
which stand Out in bold reef-the Mexican war and the
immense acce6sons of territory to our national domain
Need stop TO calculate OF measure the amount Of ma
tonal glory won by our gallant armies the battle fields
OF Mexico! The voice OF an astonshed world has al
ready pronounced our eulogium. What corner OF the
earth, or what isle OF the ocean, is remote that it has
not heard OF Monterey-of Buena visa-of Vera Cruz
Of Cerro Gordo.of Contreras-of Chepultepec- Mo.
limo del Rey' Each one Of these names is tower of
strength Respondent with the halo OF victories on
which the eyes of freedoms votares throughout the
world are gazing with longing admiration, whilst iyrants
many lofty bulwaks OF national defence, whose bright
beacon fires proclaim to crowned heads that our sacred
honor can never oe ,nsled with mpunity The exhbi-
lions OF moral and physical power displayed by our
countrymen have dspeled delusion under which
foreign powers had long abored They were ready TO
concede that, on our own soil and in defence OF our
homes and family affairs OUR power could invasion
al defiance, but they denied to the capacity or the
Willingness 10 redress our wrongs to avenge insults
and TO vndlcate our national honor by seeking enc
mics and meeting dangers in a foreign land. Hence
forth they will concede that although patient
long suffering people, slow to anger and devoted to peace
yet that N vlndlcatng our national honor, our power
IS as terrible In prosecuting as in resisting inya
sion This conviction fastened upon the foreign mind by
the memorable events Of the Mexican war, will in future
constitute shied and buckler against insult or ag
gresson, even more efsctua than strong walls or frow
ing batements As the mind OF the patriot runs over the
long catalogue OF glorious achievements his heart beats
his bosom swells with loltier pride in being an Aner
citizen, He feels that in all the elements of national
strength; national grandeur. and national glory, his
try stands upon an elevation which il before
pied. Whilst he sheds tear TO the memory OF the gal
liant dead, whose bones Wondering in distant land
his heart overows with gratitude TO the patriotic wisdom
OF the statesman and to the heroic courage and chvay
Of the officers and soldiers who accomplished much for
their country.
But this is no more than the beginning OF our national
destoy-the mere rosy tlns OF the early dawn bespeak
ing the transcendent eugence OF the rising OF day
When Mr. Polk assembled the executive CHAIR the march
OF freedoms empire westward was bounded by the Rocky
mountains There sat the genius OF Liberty the caggy
summit Of this lofty baiement OF nature, gazing down
upon the broad Pacific and anxious TO battle her feet in
its smooth and peaceful waters. To the northwest lay
Oregon, subject only to the laws Of savage Indians and
Of usurping Briions To the southwest lay New Mexi
co and California, in which Mexican despotsm maintain
ed precarons dominion over the semi barbarous tribes
OF mixed nations To the southeast lay Texas, where
freedom had erected her altar but where Mexican inat
uaton was threatening 10 carry ndscrminae destruction
and determination -Four years roll away, and how
changed the scene BY the magic operation OF two lrea
ties, these four empires OF territory born into the re-
publican family What an acquisition Give wings to
your minds and trace around its boundaries See IL
tending along the Gulf OF Mexico from the Sabine the
Rio del Norte-then westward spanning the continent,
and looking out upon the Pacific through seventeen de-
grees OF north latitude, embracing the entire western
slope OF the Rocky mountains, and enclrclng with
pre Of wealth and power the mouth OF the great Msss-
spp Throughout this vast region nature has deposited
IN abundance the means OF agricultural mineral and
commercial wealth. but there they were yalueless for the
great purposes for which God created them until they
brought within the influence OF the enterprise and
industry OF free people under the wise policy of our
late iusrous ex President Already the tide OF emgra-
wealth which reach by every arrival has commenced
the work OF peoping and retaining this immense terri.
tory We may well pause 10 look with establishment
upon our stupendous structure Of repubcanism, when
this vast empire shall be filled with an industrious popu
aton, when its unbounded shall be deveo
when State after State shall have knocked and received
admance into Union until our mighty republic shall
States, spanning the continent from ocean 10 ocean.
What nation upon the face OF the earth viii then dispute
our pre- eminence IN moral and power national
grandeur and happiness
But the picture OF national destiny is not vet fully
drawn In securing the long line OF Pacific coast with
its noble harbos, President Polk has snatched the scep
ire OF from the Old World and transferred 10
the New He has laid the foundation OF total reyolu.
ton in the trade OF the world Henceforth we command
cured the key that will unlock the boundess treasures Of
the East When the ndomitable perseverance, and en-
teprse OF conntrynen shall have connected the AT.
lanc with the Pacific by railroad communication land
who now doubts such connexion) we become at once
masters OF The commerce Of the world Our position will
insure 10 us virtual monopoly OF the vast oriental trade
and IN all ages this trade has carried along with il
xuoo nd rosutro dtsf,u HI ri