The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-17
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, APRIL IL, 1858.


ton upon the estate of the defunct. He has given
notice in the Senate, THAT on Monday he will
move for protectorate over Mexico" The idea is
not original with the General 1t has been aired
in the columns of the Exchange, and has of late
been much discussed by some of the New York
papers. The London Times having an eye to the
interests of British creditors of Mexico, whose
chances for getting their money Just now look
rather blue has more than once intimated that
the establishment of an American protectorate over
that unfortunate country would be an excellent
arrangement for both parties, and perfectly salts
factory to England. The last part of the PROPOSE
ton we do not doubt. Neither do we doubt that
SUCH an arrangement would be very good thing
for Mexico. 1t is the converse of the proposition
which gives us pause;''-to question whether it
would beequally desirable for ourselves. "Charity
begins at home and though is not necessary that
1t should end there still the obligation of Senators
10 consider the best interests of the Republic must
outweigh the desire to do an act of kindness for orr
neighbor. What do we want with Mexico. or
what could we do with her mongrel millions of
Ignorant and degraded people? This is the true
question to be considered, for although the terms
OF General Houston's proposition may only con-
template IA protectorate,'' everybody knows that
"a protectorate' would be but the prelude to an
neXation. We could only ''protect'' Mexico by
assuming into our own hands the government of
the conntry and that could not be done without
admitting Mexico into the Union Our Constitu-
ton contemplates no such thing as the establish
inent OF vlcc-regal or proconsular governments
over foreign or colonial dependencies. Only by
,l,,,,t+
admitting the Mexican people to the rights of
American citizenship on terms of perfect equality
with the rest of the Union can a door he onened
Tor the exercise Of those benevolent functions Of
guardianship and protection over orr unbonnv
nelghbor, which General Houston is so desirous
that we should assume. Are we prepared to make
thls concession? Has the day yet come when the
acquisition OF Mexico can be SAID to be either a
physical or political necessity for this government?
We think not.
While benevolently providing for the wants of
MEXICO, General Houston may as well turn his at
tention to another ''sicl man, +" whose case seems
to us equally deserving of his kind consideration
NE" Grenada, according to the recent report of
Senior Florentino Gonzales, the New Granadian
Attorney General, on the proposed Federal Consti-
tuition, is in very bad way, and not at all likely
to recover. She too would like ITO become q mart
OF the American Union" Senior Gonzales saws
SO. Why not extend the t'protectorate', which
General Houston proposes, over that country also
view GRANADA lies right upon the great roadside
OF trade and travel between our Atlantic and
Paclhc States. She holds the key of the most i'm
portant commercial highway in the world She
possesses great natural advantages of soil and
climate, and abundant IA &C.
one mas urea the experiment of sef-government
anu l'tlled' ana wants somebody to take care of
her. why does not General Houston propose to
take this responsibility also Hear what the Senior
Gonzales says in his report submitting the now
Federal Constitution TO the New Granadan Con-
grcss Tor It's approval In the event of the rejection
OF mat constitution by the Congress, he saws:
Let us become part of the American Union
ana the States of New Granada will find Them
serves IN the same condition as are the States of
I've" OH pennsylvania, and the other States of
tne confederation: enjoying externally the nrotac
uon the power of that great people can insure nc
anu preserving our government and the means of
oet'erng our internal condition without risk from
thoSe vandalc lncursions with which we are ot
present threatened CIV "'
nHe resources which our country has to fulfill its
oollgatlons, will acquire an immense value he
cause we shall be rid of the fears that our nracar
Gus position ought naturally to inspire and which
ulscourages agriculture and commerce. Our public
lahds VIII be IN great demand for cultivation orr
rivers will be improved and our commerce he mo-
alglously extended. The income from our wild
laiuS, from the customs and from all the national
properties will give the Government of the Union
more than means sufficient to paw the public debt
mat presses so heavily upon us at the same time
tlilt INDIVIDUAL prosperity will increase in most
notable degree " iiA'''
Our public lands will be in demand on which to
eSt'oilSh an agricultural population, because then
e se.,etS can count upon that security in working
mem That cannot be guaranteed to them in tbc SIT
uatlon IN which we are at present placed
we lack security, because the constant threats
VI european nations make us fear for the inter-
Iuplloh OF tlat commerce, which would result from
the products OF the soil; and because they make
US rear th'Ct our lahorers must be turned into
soldiers and our earnings must 90 TO nav the ex
penscS of war. F' VIZ ga
incorporate the Granadian States into the Amer |
lch unIon and the respectability of that great ma
uon will preserve us from all these inconyeninncns
VIII give rs all the Importance which they pos
sCSs ana END the insecurity which lessons our bon
uilnon and paralyzes every business
we shall lose nominal nationality. 70 ocmire n |
the world VII nou'
Our race will gradually mix with the ANGLO
Saxon race ''0 ''s'o-
But all this will in nothing diminish our pros
Periy neither prejudice the future of our children
nor cause any possible evil
We shall preserve the same internal rovcrnmont
ohat we now possess, while we shall be relieved
from external affairs which will all be transferred
to the government of the Union.
inns new condition will be, without doubt. bet
Ter than That we now in, and the critical cond
loii we may hnd ourselves in if the country shall
rest some years longer without reconstructinp itself
IN a sold manner, that shall give well funded
hopes OF our becoming great nation.
inns is remarkable language coming from an
ofhclal OF the rank of Senior Gonzales-wbose nre
Iudlces of race, nationality and religion must have
strongly pleaded against the plan, in favor of which
ne argues with so much fairness and good sense
Let General Houston therefore, not do the work
which he has undertaken, by halves only, but
make complete job of it. If we are to begin LET
US continue, the career of illimitable expansion
and absorption-of universal annexation and ANAL
to which, in his opinion, the present
STATE OF MEXICO invites US. Let us go on, until the
'rcumpolar seas shall alone limit the confines of
our empire, and the EXTREMIST verge of Patagonia
De the southern extremity of the Republic. Then.
When the whole Western Hemisphere shall be en-
oraced within the arms of the Union, it will he
lime for. some future Senator to ssmove for q nro-
ectorate" over the nations of the old world
A statement was recently made in most of the
'apers, that Marshal Herring had determined
m and after specified day, to enforce the law,
prohibiting minors from running with fire engines S
" nile the thanks of our citizens are due to tbe !