The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-10
The Crisis in Mexico.


our sister Republic says the National Intett'-
gencer, instead of exciting generally the sym
pathies OF the people of the United States,
seems only to have the effect, upon no incon-
siderable portion of them, Of infaming their
lust of acquisition, and squirting their ingenuity
to devise the most rapid means of Selling upon
and annering that distracted territory. Even
thus early political speculation has been in
dulged, on the occasion of Santa Anna's ab-
dicaticn, to an extravagant extent.
The subject is too important in its bearing
upon the future destiny Of the United States
to be lightly or hastily treated; and we are
not yet in possession of facts sufficiently au-
thenticated to justify Us in prophecy of what
is to be. We have too often avowed our sent
iments as to the policy Of national aggrandize-
ment by territorial acquisition, to make it
necessary that we should repeat them on this
occasion. 1t may become expedient for us
hereafter to take part in the discussion of
the various questions which the present state
of Mexico has called up. In the meantime,
we are content to listen to what our contem-
poraries say upon the subject.
In commenting upon an assertion of New
York paper, that there is no other future for
Mexico but annexation to the United States,
and the further speculation that the day is not
distant when the stars and stripes will float
over the whole of that magnificent land, even
to the Isthmus of Panama, the Philadelphia
Ledger says:
"These are brilliant visions, and eminenHy Sc
ductiye especially TO young and excitable natures.
It is a fine thing to believe that one belongs to
race aud nation whose destiny ia to conquer the
world; and it is even more intoxicating if one can
delude himself into the notion that the area of free
dom and civilization will be simultaneously extended.
The Spanards seized Mexico under this idea three
hundred years ago. At that time they were to the
rest Of the world what the Anglo Saxons are now
Their nation was at the head of Europe, their in.
fantry was the best in the world, their energy was
proverbial Nor was it only the temptation of ad-
vancing the material interests Of Mexico which
influenced them to the conquest; but the desire of
converting heathens to christianity was prominent
impulse with CorteZ, and one as sincere as it was
prominent. Yet, we see the consequences. The
victors instead of elevating the vahquished, have
only degraded themselves few fakes of snow
cannot change the ocean into ice; neither can a few
colonists transform population interior in charac:
ter, but vastly superior in numbers into a commu.
nifty equal TO themselves. T.
1t is wise to look this problem in the face If
Mexico is annexed to the United States, either the
Anglo Saxon invaders only must be allowed to VOTE
or an ignorant, demorazed population, one-quarter
Creole and three quarters Indian, must exercise
the franchise. The former plan would be directly
opposed to the spirit of our republican institutions
the other would place our liberties at the mercy the
Aexicans. Human nature is such that, when the
balance OF power is possible to be obtained by party
the most enormous bids will be made to secure IT,
Now the States which would be formed cut of Mexico
would hold this balance of power. Moreover, in
exercising the supremacy they they might obtain
the Mexicans could not be expected to favor what
consider freedom but the REVERSE for their customs
and institutions VIGOROUSLY different from those
existing in the United States and peoples social
and political opinions are so VIGOROUSLY determin.
ed by those in Influences. Mexico, in fact, is per.
ishng because her people have not those healthy
notions of liberty which alone can avert anarchy
and dissolution.
Are we prepared for this? Does wise man,
when he hears that person has pestience thRk to
Improve his own health by making the infected pa
tient his bedfeow? Ii Mexico was uninhabited
country, or inhabited only by few rowing Indians,
it might be of value TO US. But what can we do
with its worthless population? Reduce the poor
CTedlurtS 10 SidVeryF surely thot would not De TO
advance progress. Admit them, D1GSSe, to voteP
The existence of our institutions might be imPvr-
lied by such act. Limit their right to the
franchises This would DO once to lay bounty
dissatisfaction and to violate the spirit of our
publicanism. In whatever way we turn, the an.
nexation of Mexico, under existing circumstances,
is surrounded with perils Let pause, therefore,
before we allow dazzling visions of manifest desti
ny to involve US in a bunder from which we might
never be able to recover"
We beseech our readers to ponder well upon
these views, and compare them with the prin-
cipies which governed the great Founders of
our Republic throughout the whole course of
their political life: and then to endeavor, as
far as the influence of each may extend, to i'm
press the moral they convey upon the minds
of all with whom their personal intercourse
may bri ng them into contact.