New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-29
RNrANGLEmKNT IN MEXICO.


If there be one line of policy clearer than an-
other, or more in accordance with the customs and
sanctions of the republican fathers of the country,
II ia uon.interference with the domestic affairs of
other nations, especially in not taking part IN their
civil wars or their beligerent alliances. 1t Is this
which has Kept us at peace with the world nearly
unnterruptedly from the time the Federal Consti-
tuition was adopted 1t is this which mas enabled
us. spite of drawbacks, of spurious iree-trade
aod genuine negro slavery to advance Win
rapidty hitherto unknown among nations
1t is this which, in a little more than
half a century has developed thirteen orig
inal States into thirty-two. While European
nations have been sc S :3;Sy . and oed tnTorsn
entangGng alliances ours has, thus far, kept free.
No argument, no appeals to sympathy no reminis-
cences of what was done for u.s. during the Revolu-
ton, by France, have ever availed to change this
policy. But We live in an epoch of changes. We
must not be startled. Above all, a majority which
could swallow the Ostend Manifesto and adopt
theoretically it's piratical arguments, without how
ever, the courage to put them in practice, cannot be
shocked at the project since put forth by President
Buchanan, that We must take part in the revolution
now agtating Mexico.
When that war which Mr.. Corwin characterized
as one of murder and robbery" was made
against Mexico, it was lightly entered into. The
President spoke jauntily of crossing the border;
nothing was simpler than reducing the enemy to
terms Immediately. But what was the result
Terrible battles were fought-victOrious to be sure,
but which were more, fatal TO the combatants than
even the most sangginary battles of the Peninsula
under Wellington, the recents conflict in Italy,
the proportion of troops considered. In so ne of
these encounters the havoc was so terrible to be
incredible Then, according to Mr.. Corwin, the
expense of the war with Mexico two hundred
and seventeen million dollars. This blood, this
treasure was expended for security for the past
80 and indemnity for tna future" Now, We have
| the same old song agaia. Mexico owes the Amer
leans small sum. Therefore we are to expend
hundred thousand dollars for hundred not count
ing the lives necessarily lost in war.
If we 90 into this conflict at ALL it cannot be par
tiaL 1t is very easy to say. give little assistance
to Jusrez at Vera Cruz, and march through the
country to the capital restore order, pay debts,
and so forth. We tried substantially the same
thing once before We invested Mexico, east and
west, and took the capital. We seized land for
payment and the South was frantic to make it all
slave territory, and might have succeeded but for
the accidental disclosure of the mines in California.
As for settling revolutions in Mexico, and getting
securities and ndemnites it is sheer 6llibustering
1t is mere bid to the South. 1t up
sets the moral and peaceful doctrines and
economic experiences Of the country. 1t
looks to annexation-to more slave territory-to
new difficulties between the North and South. BY
such interference or war, we add to the Army and
the Navy-to the despotic sentiment aud its incar-
nation; and lessen the republican or democratic
element to the same extent. We repudiate the
honorable claims of industry and art IN the same
proportion. We fill the cities with adyenturers
whose camp habits unfit them for work. and they
deal in disorder while they leeches on the treas
ury In every sense such wars nat onally de-
testible and Improbable; but mostly so to the free
workingmen of the country, whose policy and NOR
ality alike sustain "the thing, which make for
peace"