New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-06-16
MEXICO.

Inc great problem at present proposed to this
country undoubtedly is wrapped up in the fate
of Mexico. 1t more pressing and more impor-
tant-fraught with greater possibilities of good
and evil than any other with which we have t
.do--except perhaps that which regards the safe
ty and permanence of the Union.
There is o general conviction in this coun-
try-penetrating all parties, classes, ranks and
sects-that Mexico, from Chihuahua to the 18th
mus, and perhaps even the territory beyond
Yucatan, including Central America, is destined
ultimately to form portion of this Republic
With this opinion, openly expressed by our
statesmen, and this belief encouraged by the
public journals, it is not at all wonderful that
the attention Of our citizens should be directed
towards the land soon to be theirs towards the
events that increase the probabilities, and to-
wards those incidents which hurry on its accom-
plishment. Our first difficulties with Mexico
resulted in the annexation of Texas and the
annexation Of Texas resulted in the annexation
of New Mexico and California. They were both
long strides toward the realization of popular
belief. And now the question is Will the pro-
gress of absorption be FASTENED by another war :
The answer to that question can only be found
in the conduct of the people and Government of
Mexico, or rather of Santa Anna, who is in fact
both people and Government Even supposng
our own present Administration to insist upon
retaining the Mesilla Valley against any pro
posed arbitration or ompromise-which we are
hardly prepared to think they would dot is
in the power of Santa Anna, by Cancellation and
concession, to avoid an open rupture and all the
entailed consequences. Such course would
cost Mexico the Mesilla Valley, but it is a small
and unimportant territory and would cheaply
purchase peace On the contrary, it is in the
power of Santa Anna to resist all the PROPOSE
tions of our government and force an immediate
war.
We are justified, therefore, in looking with
interest to the developments of the new policy
by which the Mexican General hopes to reach
and retain the position which his ambition has
80 long coveted which he has 80 often nearly
attained, and from which he has so often been
suddenly and ANONYMOUSLY hurled We wish
to know whether his present Government has
the elements of stability and permanence
whether it is likely to increase in strength with
the increasing years and be power as well as
name; or whether it is to be only another of
those ephemeral compounds of duplicity and |
tyranny which have heretofore grown upon that
soil in day, and in day been destroyed We
wish also to know what will be his probable pol
icy when throned; whether it will be likely to
benefit Mexico, develop her resources and en-
tighten and educate her people, or whether it
will be but an liberation of the past-continued
exactions, continual reyolts, despotism, tyrany |
and war with u.s.
These are numerous and complicated oues-
tions but as it seems:tossus questions which may |
be answered with very considerable exactness |
and close approximation to the truth The |
Mexican people are like no other people on earth,
and Santa Anna is a Mexican Motives Of poll |
cy and rules of conduct that would hold good |
elsewhere are valueless and to be rejected here
The history of the people as we'll as the history |
Oh their chief assure us Of this. and supply the
only evidence by which an opinion can be formed |
Searching that history from its commencement
70 the deposition and tight of Arista, and the
election and Inauguration of Santa Anna, we
ask what instance can be found where IA liberal
lenient, and moderate Government has not been
destroyed by provincial pronunciamentos, and |
the lawlessness of the masses, or where des
potic and tyrannioil administration has not
neen oyerthrown by revolt and instruction
A certain degree of stability and strength was
attained by lturbide, by Bustamenta, and bv
Arista, out 1t was delusiye and temporary. The |
same elements exist to-day that existed then
unchanged and but slightly modified, Santa
Anna is perfectly acquainted with the Mexicor
character, and is an able and crafty ruler But |
he was all that before, and was nevertheless
deposed and chased out of the country T.l,;ro
all these things into consideration. We arc :,
clined to believe that he will build up n polticol
edifce of much seeming strength and ue,mo.
nence, and one that will explode Just when II
appears to have reached completion. We donot
believe that during its existence it will prove
beneficial to the country or the people 1t has
commenced despoticolly and with the annihila
Of every form Of federal Government-with
forced conscriptions and ruinous exactions--and
80 1t will continue unto the close
With regard to the probabilities of war, we
are ready to avow our belief that it is inevita
BILE. If the Mesilla Valley is not sufficient to
produce it--and we think that question contains
germs ripening to such result daily--there arc
great sufficiency of other matters which NAV
at any moment afford casus JeW The char. !
aeter q Santa Anna, aud the hclliroren, tone
e his issssr II ssssrtsass, roth shsw tAs. la, |