The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-27
Territorial Expansion


acquisition Of territory by the government of the
United States Against such acquisition the styled
conservatism Of the country both federal and whg has
invariably rallied. and rallied upon principle Iprocla
ed the acquisition OF Louisiana 10 be nothing less than
breach of the fundamental compact between the States,
and such actual dissolution of the Union 1t urged
the plea, almost in the words, against the
nexation of Texas Pending tho Mexican war, by SOL
emn vote in Congress il declared with great unanimity
that we wanted no Mexican territory; and with the
diving breath OF bis administration, Mr. Fillmore, true
to the traditions of his party, protested against the
evils and dangers necessarily involved in the acqui-
sition OF Cuba. The of Florida is only an ap-
parent exception to this unbroken current of conser-
vative sentiment; for then there was in fact no con-
sentative organization in existence; and besides, the
Florida treaty, giving up Texas, in fact surrendered
larger territorial claim than it established Each OF these
successive acquisitions OF territory the democratic party
fought through on the double ground: first, that each
separate acquisition itself desirable and secondly
that the expansion of territory, part Of our
onal growth, was entirely in harmony with the nature
of our Institutions, and element OF incaculable i'm
poance in our future national strength and prosperity.
Upon just this issue, the democratic party and the self
than fifty years stood opposed each other On other
practical quesiion-not excepting either bank or tariff
have party lines been constantly and deeply traced
Certainly other public question has been of greater
practical importance.
Now, suppose that there is no other single question
upon which the general mind of the country has made
such progress upon this Of territorial growth The
sentiment which batled against Louisiana, Texas, and
California is obsolete Even conservatsm-if we ex.
cept tina, OF the National lisig be
growing it, Wonderful as has been the working Of the
democratic tariff and fiscal system upon the pub
lie n,eres, and the public conviction, 1t is the long
cherished and openly avowed policy OF the democratic
party in regard territorial extension, involving part
OF itself the democratic policy between the North and
the South. which has done TO dtmocraii-e the pub
lie mind. The advent OF the present administration TO
power is marked the epoch which, for the FIRST time
10 our history the OF OF both the great par
ties have received with unanimy and enthusiasm the
true territorial policy for government, boldly and
frankly proclaimed in advance, and in its whole scope
and bearing, by the President of the United States
Always heretofore party traditions and commitments
have been strong enough TO band together the con
serlive party for the maintenance OF Now. the
truth is accepted; and its acceptance is the definite
capiulstion of the wing organization to fundamental
article Of the democratic creed In this fact more
clearly than in any other, may be read the extinction OF
the wing organization; for this fact Is pregnant with
consequences So capital and so far-reachng in its ul
mate bearings is th policy Of territorial extension thai
is impossible to perceive how conservative party,
der any name or in any FORM maintain its opposition
10 The democracy when il has accepted The true
democratic territorial policy part Of its con-
.ervatism In so doing, ii has abandoned s leading
idea of restriction, which, in last analysis, is
10 be at the foundation OF its whole restrictive
system. II has committed itself to the fundamental
poin, in the democratic theory of progress, and hence
forth its partisan struggle against such progress in any
Of its natural elements or incidents, must be no, only
blunder, but sef.conradieiion. In these views we
hnd the real principle involved in the present attitude OF
the two parties II is the political novelty OF our day
II explains the present whg aequ'eseenee. Peroevins
that only democratic policy suit federal Union
like ours when expanded and expansble according to the
democratic iaea the wing party, accepting that idea OF
expansion is forced TO unrhig itself TO escape seoon-
uadeton, and this process it styles acquesoenec. Its
real name is oapituIaon. Its meaning is that the whg
cause /. lost and that the conservative sentiment OF The
county, having up TO this time made fight under the
vhig banner, now and b.nceorth throws the whs or.
ganizadon aside antiqua,ed and broken weapon.
The extension OF the territorial jurisdiction Of the Uai-
ted States political fact, presents only two leading
aspects is, 10 the frat place, the extension OF the
principle Of local segovernment I, is IN The second
place. the substitution OF confederate relations instead d
diplomatic relaonsthat is, the substitution 81 system
of free commerce. and established pcaee in place IT sys
tenn Of restricted intercourse and contingent wau-ss
tween contiguous communities The policy, therefore
which favors such territorial expansion undet " croa~
stances is simply the policy which regards resee, se''
government and free commercial ip,erooase e rae's
benefits. Surely. then, it Is no, wohaertei thsa seeA
policy tested on the grsnaess .esis by 'Aree sreA'
| experiments in the course Of hfw sesrs. hA y
last prevailed with intelligent recpls ana feos''eu
their approval The only woadst is, that PARTISAN
organization rallied in opposition TO has NOT sooner
died out Yet i, 10 remarkable that While 'he Demo
cratic party has from the hrs proved IT'S oo"p'ene"
.ion Of our national position and destiny oy no'''ns
fast. in the face OF ali opposition, to the true territorial
policy Of our country yet each OF our greatest territorial
eou.itons has been actually made, u not N iscf rem
ld.red praccvble under contingencies and bY eombna-