The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-26
Total in 1912

Total in 1912 7,Ol5,5O9
Nineteen of these States. it will be seen, have
the requisite amount of population for States
of this Union. They wol Id add thirtyeight
Senators and about eight Representatives to
the Congress of the Unite States. But each
of these States is aOnslG ,ehoIdiag and, ac-
cording to the favorite doc cine of Mr.. Calhoun
and South Carolina, each tate must determine
and regulate its own peculiar institutions,
Hence, the question of slavery, as raised ty tie
lodr, would be settled at once, satisfactorily to
the free States, to the advantage of the cause
of Human Rights, and in such way as not to
offend the State pride of II slave States.
| Two questions would REL aain to be disposed
of-that relating to the Pp bic Lands, and that
relating to the Public d, bt. Both could be
united and settled, by the assumption of the
Public Debt by the Fedelal Government and
the cession to it, as an equivalent, of the Pub
lie Lands. The details Of this arrangement
could be attended to in due time, so as at once
to satisfy all creditors, AMI not impose upon
our present States.
Some might object, that this wholesale ad-
mission of Mexico would give to Catholicism
an undue influence in thl country; but they
forget that Professionalism ks no aid from leg
isJdtion. 1t demands ent5e liberation, di-
vorce of State and Church., as it regards the
General Government, and that the rights Of
conscience shall never be abridged--this is all.
If, in the open field of controversy, without
Governmental interference-on one side or the
other, it cannot maintain itself against Catholi-
csm, it is not Of God, bu. of man-it is not
Truth, but Faisehood. va cannot apprehend
danger from the free COLLISION of mind with
mind, opinion with opinioa, system with sys-
tenn the Truth, in the long run, will commend
ITSELF and Lie, as Carlyle has it, cannot live
forever.
Others may object, tina, the population of
Mexico is heterogeneous, ignorant, untitled for
republican institutions. 1t is no more hetero.
geneous than the hordes of Immigrants who
are pouring in upon US elary year, but whom
We find becoming rapidly tssimilated and ele-
waited, under the predomin iut influence Of our
strong native population ard regenerating in
stitutions There will be enough intelligence,
and virtue, and master energy, in this country,
to maintain the ascendencSin the Federal Leg
islature. 1t is true the population Of Mexico
is comparatively uneduca3ed; but statistics
show that, number for number its inhabitants
are as generally educated, 1T least, as those of
South Carolina and some other Southern
States, which are nevertheless deemed capable
of maintaining republican Institutions.
We can see but one alternative worthy of
moments consideration. either back out of
the controversy bring bact; our armies with
draw all our posts within the Nueces leave
Mexico to recover from tn anarchy to which
we have reduced to her; %, make use of our
present position TO save he, from anarchy, and
ourselves from dishonor, b giving her States
the privilege of becoming equal members of
our own political family. 5rue, they might at
first regard the overture with dstrust; but let
patience have its work. By uniform kindness,
and forbearance, and every. demonstration that
could inspire confidence, convince them that
the proposition was made in good faith, and
that the decision of each State for itself should
be respected or, if the Central Government
should be in existence, address the proposition
to it. If this alternative De rejected, if the
small policy of taking portion of Mexican
territory be adopted, then, 5ve say, it will be
burning disgrace to refuse to apply to it the
guarantees of personal freedom contained in the
ordinance of 1887.
The annexation of the Mexican States on the
plan proposed, always, of course, toith their o,cR
free aoiU and consent, would complete our con-
tinental boundaries South, secure us basis of
1000, 900 of square miles for our empire es-
tablish Freedom as the fundamental and un.
changeable Law of the North American cont.
nent, and give Republicanism the perpetual as
tendency over all other forms Of Government
The United States would appear then before
the world, not as the robber of sister Repub-
lie, but its greatest benefactor; not as the Foe,
but the Friend of Christendom. Can the Ad-
ministration rise to the full height Of this idea
Will it have the magnanimity to disdain all
petty efforts to dismember Mexico, to abhor all
bloody schemes to coerce Mexico, to trample
under foot all base conspiracies to extend Sla-
very, and embrace the grand conception which
would really enlarge the area of Freedom, by
the fraternal offer to free Mexico of name
and place in our Union, which would then, in-
deed, be the glory of the Earth.