The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-27

without involving us in perfect labyrinth of diff
culties from which we might find it almost impos-
sble to extricate ourselves. Nor aware
that any considerable humble: of the Mexican
people have ever yet expressed wish for the inter
position of the UNITED STATES and TO endeavor TO
extend our jurisdiction over territory having an
area of one million of square miles, and containing
a population of seven millions and a half without
the consent OF that portion CT its inhabitants whose
interests would be affected by a measure of SO much
Importance, partakes too strongly of the nature of
hlHbusterlng enterprise upon grand scale, TO
admit of justification any other plea than that
of necessity. There are, moreover, good reasons
for doubling whether it would be possible for us
''to rule such country, with its vast extent of
TERRITORY, It's confirmed habits of lawessness, its
population radically incapable Of being assimi-
''lated to AnglO-SaXondOm, and at the same time,
"divided among themselves by the most bitter and
Complex sectional hatred" We will not stop to
inquire whether we have any right to interfere in
the quarrels of our neighbors, further than by
friendly advice and prudent admonition, so long
as those quarrels do not seriously affect our own
internal tranquility, or our own material progress:
but leaving that point untouched we would
simply ask what advantages we should de-
rive from the immediate annexation of
Mexico? No foreign power threatens to reduce
that Republic to the condition of a colonial Deepen
dency. The Southern States do not covet the pos
session of a country where slavery has been abol-
ished, and system of peonage introduced in its
stead. A majority of the Northern and North
Western States are decidedly opposed to territorial
expansion beyond our present limits. We have
immense tracts ofwild land still open to settlement
even in the older States of the UNION, and now
that the tide of emigration beats at the foot of the
Rocky mountains, and transccnding those natural
BARRIERS has spread itself along the shore of the
Pacific, the period has been reached when the wave
Of population, checked in its Westward progress,
will flow over, and occupy, the vacant intcrspaccs
within present boundaries and, by this process
of concentration, will add to the strength unity,
and permancnce of the confederacy, and will bene-
fit, to corresponding degree the material interests
of the individual States. Why, then, should we
seek TO absorb the territory Of a neighboring Re
public while so much of our own domain invites to
cultivation and settlement? Our true policy with
respect 10 Mexico is neither to annex it wholly and
to wait patiently until we prepared to extend
the circle of our jurisdiction. 1t might be graft
flying to English bondholdcrs that the UNITED
STATES should guarantee the payment of the foreign
Indebtedness of Mexico and Cuba and of all the
South American Republics; but before we venture
to assume any such responsibilities it behoovcs us
to ascertain the real value of the territorial acqui-
sition, which would come TO us charged with
a turbulent population differing from us in
| language habits, manners, customs and far be-
meath us for the most part in the scale of civil
cation. If we were to eXteEd over Mexico our
code of laws and our political machinery, TO
what portion of that extraordinarily mixed up
! population should we limit the exercise of the
right of suffrage? If we restricted it to
Europeans and Creoes only, we should disfran-
chiSe three millions and u half of sem-civi-
lied Indians, and two millions and half OF
mixed breeds. If we conceded the privilege to the
Mestizoes-thc descendants of Europeans and In
dians-upon what plausible grounds could we
deny the same privilege to the Zambocs and the
Nlulattoes? But if we admit the latter to the
rights OF etizenship-to which they are clearly en-
titled under the present Constitution of Mexico
what becomes of the DRIED SCoTT decision2 In
view of these obstacles and of many others of more
or less moment which we have RETAINED from no
ting, we see but one way in which Mexico could
he safely annexed TO the UNITED STATES and that is
by the process of gradual absorption, by pecemeal,
and only after the prcdomnancc of the Anglo
Saxon clement over the races now occupying that
Republic, has prepared the way for the successful
introduction Of our institutions and form of gov
ernment