Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-09-26
From the New York Express.

Upon whom rests the responsibility Of
the present stale Of things in the countryS
is question very we'll answered in
speech of Truman Smith of Connecticut.
That responsibility is thrown upon the
shoulders Of the Polk administration, the
head Of which insisted not only upon OBJ
tanning territory from Mexico, but as
much territory as possible. The war
with Mexico pledged the Government 10
the payment Of $ IL, 900, 900 indemnity for
territory, as we'll as to the payment of
$5,349,O24 additional, which was before
due from Mexico TO the United States
This is independent of all the cost Of the
war, in the employment Of troops, in the
use of munitions Of war, in the lands ap-.
propriated to soldiers, and in the increased
expenses of the civil service consequent
upon the war.
The Mexican war was prosecuted by
Mr. Polk, large amount Of territory was
insisted upon by him, and under his au-
spices treaty was ratified which left the
slave question, now the subject Of so
much discussion, an open one. Had he
made the boundary at The line of 36o go,
or short Of this, even, he would have 81
I fenced the South, and saved an issue
which many there are now disposed to
make, TO matter what the cost. But Mr.
| Polk was not a man TO care for conse-
quences. HE war cost the nation in
money,
One hundred and Fifty Millions Of DOL
lars, and in persons killed in battle, and
dying of accidental wounds,
One Thousand Nine Hundred and
7welve. To this add for ordinary deaths
in the army,
Ten thousand Nine Hundred and Sirty-
SIR, which is the number reported to
Congress.
Then there were discharged for disa-
bili,y, 9, ,749 most of whom, it is believed,
died either in Mexico, on their way home,
or after their arrival; but, not to make an
over estimate, say one half, which is.
-Four thousand Eight hundred and sev-
ty-four. Then there were mustered into
service, (officers and men, 1920
Mustered out of service, 50,573
I Difference, 22,es7
Returned as discharged, dead or
deserted, 2o,o72
The difference (supposed to be dead) is
Two Thousand Sir Hundred and Fifteen.
1t is we'll known that of those muster
ed out of service, many died of disease
contracted in Mexico. The whole num-
Der, as already stated, was 50,573; if we
suppose loss Of 10 per cent, (which is
moderately we have in this item 9. ia;
making total Of
Tuenty four Thousand -Four Hundred and
Eighty-one men
Besides this there were, during the war,
six thousand seven hundred and twenty
five deserters, many of whom persisted in
their efforts TO escape.
This has been the cost OF the war in
money and men but no man can compute
the decentralization consequent upon such
gains of territory upon the one side, and
sacrifices of life and of means upon the
other. The country was not ignorant Of
this cost when the leading measure Of the
war--the annexation of Texas-was pro-
posed. Of that measure Mr. Clay said, in
his letter from Raleigh, N. c., in 1874, at
the time he made his great speech in that
city:
Il consider the anne xation Of Texas, at
this time, without the assent of Mexico,
as measure compromising the national
character, involving US certainly in war
with Mexico, dangerous to the integrity Of
the Union, and nexpedient in the present
financial condition of the country"
! The whole locoioco party of the coun-
try hooted and rallied at him as false
prophet. They scofed at the idea that
there would be war, and that the integrity
of the country would be perilled. But how
! perfectly accurate has time proved his
, predictions.