The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-15
Maxic0.


The Republic Of Saturday sums up the
whole course Of Santa Anna since his re.
tita 10 Aiexico, and concludes that "here
are all the prellminaries of war" We
trust aud believe that the conclusion, is
premature, and without adequate founda.
tion.s
II is no, 10 be disputed that the proce.
edure Of Governor Trias in taking military
possession Of the Mesilla valley is both in
solent and foolish. Grant all that can be
said Of the enormous blunder committed
by Mr.. Bartlett in running his boundary
line-grant all the additional complication
of the case growing out of the wholly un-
authorized and illegal approval of that line
by the late Secretary of the Interior-still,
tits not the less true that, under the treaty,
no tineshas been run which the government
of the United States can rightly recognise:
for this plain and conclusive reason--that
tho treaty makes the joint signatures OF
the surveyors and the commissioner an in.
dispensable condition precedent to the va
hdity or the recognition of the line. There
is no pretence anywhere ,ha, this condition
in the case Of MIR. Bartleit's line has been
complied with. Without touching, there
fore, tho merits Of his line, it is manifes,
that its recognition by our government
would be in defeat of the treaty. To this
must be added the undsputed fact that the
Congress of :he United States has formal.
ly aud fully repudiated the line as run by
Mr.. Bartlett. Aud beyond all this. and il
possible still more 10 the point, stands the
additional fact that the Mesila valley has
always belonged TO New Mexico, andwas
asa part of New Mexico, transferred to
the United States by the treaty. In thi:
State of facts. it appears that the armed
occupation Of the valley by the Mexican
troops is wholly in violation OF the right.
OF the United States and Of every princi
pie Of International law. 1t would be
insolence if perpetra,ed by any nation
When perpetrated by Mexico tits at once
insolence and folly.
Yet it by no means follows that ther.
must be war. Mexico-poor, weak, dis
Uacted, wholly at our mercy-a nation L
which war with the United States must b,
annihilalion-is in no position easily t.
provoke to ultimate measures either thu
government or the people of the Unitet
States. True, she may once more pass
sHO u uCIStoIoiS paSSeus tlc IiiHtS "
all reason able forbearance; but it is never
theless true that towards her the naiura
policy Of the United States is the policy o
forbearance and of peace. 1t is, there
fore, on oil accounts, to be hoped, and
as we believe, it is TO be expected, that il
response to such "a spirit, the Mexican au
thoritiesgwills upon due reflection, aban
don their purpose OF hokling the Mesill
valley by arms. The question at issue i
a.qucstion OF boundary under an existin,
treaty stipulation. tits on its face ques
lion to ba settled by negotiation. What i
known Of the ease tends to authorize, o
ne belieye, the conclusion tita. it may b
90 settled TO the advantage both Of Mexc
and Of the United States. Under sue
circumstances, it is not only criminal
II is absurd in the highest degree = 70
Trias or for Santa Aena to insist upol
settling the question by force.
While, therefore, we do not look for wa
with Mexico, itsis yet proper to say tha
we by no means regard the seizure OF tn
Mesilla valley by Trias as an admisslbl
procesdings We do not perceive no,
either the people or the government Of tn
United States can submit to it as perma
nent disposition of that territory. 1t
true that the question has been complica
tad by the errors Of the late administration
But, Be this as it may be, wesentertain n
doubt, from all that has been announce
ofthe foreign polioyaof this administration
that all suitable 4measures have alread
bean taken. and will in future be taken. t
plscsshe whole question, both before tn
Mexican authorizes md the people of III
! Washington Union.