Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-12-20
Dec. 5. 1851.
For the Southern Standard
Joseph d. Cobb.
NUMBER TWO.

This gentleman, in his structures upon the ad-
ministrations of Jefferson, Jackson and Polk, re-
marks ssAll the agitation which ever distracted
the country or seriously threatened its peace, has
grown out of this principle and practice of terrific
rial ACCOMPLISHMENT Yes; on the behalf of the
great national democratic party, we claim the glo
ry of acquiring every acre OF territory that has
been added to the area of the United States. And
while Thomas Jefferson was the author of the dec
laration of American independence, of the reso
lutions of the legislature of Kentucky in 80, the
father of progressive democracy, he is also the con-
ceptor and originator Of the Falbuster principle.
But how can that be true Mr.. Cobb would
ask. We answer the question by quoting the fol-
lowing significant passage from his letter of the
Gath of October 1928 to Mr.. Monroe, then the
President of the U. States. ''Do we wish to ac-
quire to our own confederacy any or more Of
the Spanish provinces ? l candidly confess | have
ever looked on Cuba as the most interesting addi-
ton which could ever be made to our system of
States The control which with Florida point,
this Island would give us over the Gulf of Mexico,
and the countries and isthmus bordering on it, as
well as all those whose waters flow into it, would
fill up the measure of our political well being
And again, Mr.. Jefferson by means of his ener-
gy, forecast and diplomacy acquired the terrific
ries of Louisiana and Florida. In letter to Gen.
Gates shortly after the acquisition of Louisiana
he speaks of this territory having more than
doubled the area of the United States, and that it
was not inferior to the old part in SOIL climate,
productions, and important communications. How
strange it seems to men of the present day, that
the federal party, of whose political principles the
VIII party is heir, should have opposed the acqui-
son of the territories which compose the States of
Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida,
and originally of Texas. According to such poll
ticians as Mr. Cobb, the policy of the democratic
party has been continually running the country for
the last fifty years. Assuredy, there is a
mixture ofevil in all the good that comes along in
this world. The territory of Louisiana had to be
paid for in a round sum, and it has cost much toll
and human life to bring it to its present civilized,
wealthy condition, but now the single city of New
Orleans annually exports products to foreign coun-
tries amounting in value to eighty-seven millions
of dollars. Much misery has accrued to indivd-
uals by the acquisition of California, and many
gallant soldier died in the war by which it was ac
CURED yet that State in the short space of three
wears has added one hundred millions to the gold
currency Of the country, and in the next three
will add an hundred millions more,
Mr.. Jefferson supposed that the acquisition of
Louisiana would ultimately have the effect of con-
densng instead of scattering the people of the Uni
p,,+ IL I-o1,- l.
condensed before the whole of North America is
absorbed and settled by them. A great master of
the art of war has said, that he who has made no
mistake in war, had seldom made war. We would
add, that it is probably equally as true, that he
who has made no mistakes in politics, has never
had much connection with politics. We discover
by this opinion of Mr.. Jefferson that even minds
of the greatest power and experience entire
ly foresee the effects ola measure or of of
public policy Even now a revolution is progress
ing to separate the States of Tamaulipas, Nueva
Leon, and Coahuila from the central government
of Mexico, with view to their ultimate annexation
to the United States AS the author of these arti-
cles has been in every important town in each of
these States, and most of their territory, he
may have something to say of their resources, eli
mate, productions and people, before he has done
discussing the political heresies of his friend who
lives at Longwood.
Mr. Cobb is probably more bitter in his denun-
citation of what he regards Mr.. Jefferson's con-
duct towords Aaron Burr, than of any other ofthe
acts of the first great Fibuster Instance the fol-
lowing passage Throughout the whole period
from the arrest until the discharge of Burr and
his departure for England, the conduct of Jeffer-
son was obnoxious to grave criticism, and evinced
a want of magnanimty unworthy of his great fame,
and his exalted station. True taste sCould hare
suggested to him dignifed neutrality of action,
especially an veW Of has official prerogatire of par
don, should the accused be brought IN gully but
more than all in view of his past relations with
the distinguished prisoner. He chose to pursue
course less delicate, aided the laU by has personal
erert'ons, and mingled officially IN the prosecution
By employing eminent counsel to assist the District
attorney Of the United States. 1t is said that he
expendedmore than an hundred thousand dollars of
the pa6lic money, IN aiding this prosecution. In
his Presidential conduct on this occasion. he was
arbitrary, vindictive, and Enthusiastically bent ON
shedding the blood of Aaron Burr
The reader viii bear in mind that these co.,