Sof intemperate propositions and more intem-its part to compromise on the 49th degree, perate speeches were made. But the South the reserving the possessory rights of her did not generally participate in this spirit. people in Oregon, obtaining the whole of Her more reflecting Statesmen could not see Vancouver's Island and the free navigation of the utility of a doubtful and bloody War with the Columbia "to the Hudson's Bay Comthe Nation possessing greater means of assail-pany and all British subjects trading with ing us than any other on the earth-a nation them," without limitation of time. This prowhich buys three-fourths of our Cotton-crop-ject of a Treaty Mr. Polk submitted privately to enforce a questionable claim to a few thou-to the Senate for its judgment thereon, which, sand square miles of mountainous wilderness being favorable, (as he well knew it would) in the far corner of our Continent. A stand be before he went through the farce of askwas made in the Senate by Messrs. Calhoun, ing it,) a Treaty was promptly signed by Haywood and others; the resolution which Mr. Buchanan, approved by Mr. Polk, had passed the House authorizing the Presi- ratified by the Senate, and is now the su dent to apprize Great Britain that the long-preme law of the Land. (See it on page 28.) (standing Joint Occupation of Oregon would We rejoice that the difference has been setSterminate at the expiration of the stipulated tled, even on such terms; but what must the twelve months' notice, was modified in the Country think of those who, to subserve al (Senate, and, after a disagreement and confer-party end, pushed the Nation recklessly to Sence, passed both Houses in a modified and the very brink of a desolating War, and then Zinoffensive form. This being communicated backed out so ingloriously and utterly? Can to the British Government, led to an offer on they ever again be trusted?

TEXAS AND MEXICO.

In his Annual Message of Dec. 2d, 1845, Mexico, it was notorious, had uniformly dethe President boasted of the Annexation of clared that she would regard Annexation as Texas as one of the great events of the age, War upon her, and resist it accordingly. Now and adds: suppose the weakness and fears of Mexico

"The accession to our territory has been a blood-had sufficed to overbear her resentment, so less achievement. No arm of force has been raised as to prevent any actual resistance to our abSto produce the result. The sword has had no part in

the victory. We have not sought to extend our terri-sorption of Texas, would not the essential Storial possessions by conquest, or our Republican in-falsehood of Mr. Polk's boasts been still palstitutions over a reluctant people. It was the delibeSrate homage of each people to the great principle of Sour Federative Union."

pable? When the troops of Napoleon overran Portugal and captured Lisbon unresist"If we consider the extent of the territory ined, driving off the Royal Family to Brazil) volved in the Annexation-its protective influence on America-the means by which it has been ac-amid the tears and wailing of their subjects, complished, springing purely from the choice of was it true that the sword had no part' in (the people themselves to share the blessings of our Union, the history of the world may be chal-the conquest, because the Portuguese dared (lenged to furnish a parallel." not resist the power of their colossal invader?

All this boasting was not merely premature When the highwayman obtains your purse -it was false from the outset. Mr. Forsyth, without a struggle by merely putting his pisas Secretary of State under Mr. Van Buren, tol to your breast and demanding 'your mo-> had in 1837 declared that the Annexation of ney or your life,' could he truly proclaim Texas to this country, prior to the recognition that no arm of force has been raised to proof her Independence by Mexico, would be duce this result?'-But events were fast riSan act of War on Mexico. Mr. Van Buren, pening calculated to put to shame the boast Mr. Silas Wright, as well as Mr. Clay, Mr. and the boaster.

Gallatin and nearly all the Whig Statesmen The original, uniform, well-defined Southin the land, took the same view of it in 1844. Western boundary of Texas as a province of

Mexico was the river Nueces from its mouth mouth, is to be deemed an exception. Mr. to its source, thence Northwardly along the Benton in 1844 denounced the pretence of Scrests of a chain of mountains so as to include extending Texas to the Rio del Norte as "an no portion of the valley of the long river act of unparalleled outrage on Mexico," of Sknown by the Mexican names of Rio Grande, aggression and unjust war. Yet Mr. Polk Rio Bravo or Rio del Norte. There is not, was resolved from the first to maintain this Snever was, any dispute about this. The lower atrocious claim. By his own order, without portion of the Valley of the Rio del Norte a word of authority from Congress, our Army (formed the province of Tamaulipas, of which was sent to Corpus Christi, across the Nueces) Matamoros, lying on that river, was the capi-immediately upon advices that Texas had (tal; above this was New Leon; then Chihua- consented to Annexation. This not sufficing, Shua; then New-Mexico or Santa Fé. On in the feeble and distracted condition of Mexeach side of the river, but mainly on the ico, to provoke hostilities, our troops were or West, Mexican towns or villages were thinly dered by him, without consulting or even in scattered, but no settlement of Texans, no forming Congress, to march to the Rio del Selection under the authority of Texas, no ser- Norte, over 100 miles beyond the well-device of civil process under her laws, was ever fined boundary and the farthest settlement of (made in any part of the region watered by Texas, driving back the Mexican Corps of Sthe Rio del Norte and its tributaries. When Observation at the Sal Colorado, causing them John Quincy Adams, in negotiating a Treaty to abandon and burn their Custom-House, &c. of Boundaries with Spain in 1818-19, set up at San Isabel, and taking post directly oppoa claim that Louisiana extended to the Rio site Matamoros, the capital of the Province, (del Norte, he gave no intimation that Texas planting a battery of cannon so as to comhad that extent, nor any color to the pre-mand it. All this while Mexico had commitStence. So notoriously fraudulent is the ted no act of hostility against us, nor in any Sclaim that Texas extends to the Rio del manner molested a settlement of Texas Norte, that it may be abundantly refuted by The result was War, as everybody foresaw it Texan authorities alone. We have before must be-and what a War for a civilized and) us a Map of Texas, prepared by STEPHEN F. Christian People! Give all the force you AUSTIN, (well known as one of the pioneers can to the pretexts set up in its justification of Texas and leaders in the struggle for her-say that Mexico owed us for Spoliations, (Independence,) published by H. S. Tanner, and had withheld a part of the stipulated InPhiladelphia, in 1837, the year after the in-demnity-that her poverty and the fact that) dependence of Texas was established by the she had once provided for its payment are no Battle of San Jacinto. This Map bounds excuses-that she agreed to receive Mr. SliTexas on the south-west by the Nueces, ex- dell as Minister Plenipotentiary, (though she Sactly as we have stated above, and gives not did not) and then (a revolution having meanthe least intimation of a claim that it should time occurred) refused to do it—and what mis extend farther. There Texan settlement, ju- erable apologies are they all for invading her Srisdiction and authority have uniformly stop- unquestioned territory, and slaughtering her ped, save in occasional and usually unsuccess- feeble, barbarous, wretchedly armed People! ful forays upon the Mexican villages on the [The History of the War, so far as it had transRio Grande, unless the little settlement of pired when this work went to press, is given in Corpus Christi, just across the Nueces at its another part of the Almanac.]

OUR BRAVE DEFENDERS.

The merits of a War always challenge the justly in bloodshedding, and to resist, by all) Sscrutiny of every free citizen-he is bound to constitutional means, every attempt to do so take care that our rulers do not involve us un- If one nation makes war on another, it is ob

vious that there must be great blame some ever can be swallowed must be taken withSwhere-the guilt of every death, every pang, out scruple. Lying down on the ground, as must fall heavily on the individuals who pri- a repast for musketoes instead of having any (marily caused it. It is every man's duty to dinner or supper yourself, after marching all take care that it rests not on his soul. But day through swamps which take a model of the Soldier has no discretion in the premises, your legs at every step, is inconvenient; but consequently no moral responsibility beyond these are only the accessories of successfull that of being a soldier; he must march as he campaigning. If there is any fighting, you (is ordered and fight whoever opposes him. get that extra, and in case of a reverse The injustice of a War detracts nothing through ambush or famine, then look out for from the merit of those who, being already a bullet from every rod of chapporal, and for Soldiers when it commenced, fought gal- the sick, way-worn or wounded there is the lantly in its prosecution. Honor, then, to deadly Spanish knife to shorten their misthe Heroes of Palo Alto and Resaca de la eries. Such is a rough sketch of campaignPalma! honor also to those who, prompted ing in Mexico.

by a sense of duty-mistaken though we Now for this service, Mr. James K. Polk, must believe it-have volunteered to upbear who wantonly created the necessity for it, our National Eagles even in their predatory has never hinted that our fellow-citizens flight to the Halls of the Montezumas.' We whom he has sent there ought to be paid could not fight in an invading army, unless more than the seven dollars a month which to open a passage homeward to our own is the pay of private soldiers in our Army, soil, but many think differently, so far as they while his supporters in Congress have steadallow themselves to think at all. And, ily voted down every proposition to increase whether any allowance should be made for that miserable stipend! While he takes his wear and tear of conscience or not, it must ease on some Sixty-eight Dollars per day, be palpable to every man willing to live and his very slaves would loathe the fare and let live' that the wretched pittance of which American soldiers in Mexico must seven dollars per month, now paid to our subsist on, his supporters in Congress voted Regulars and Volunteers, is shamefully inad- down (May 12th) a proposition to increase equate as a recompense for the toils, privations, the pay of privates in the regular service to and perils of a soldier invading such a Country Ten Dollars a month: vote 119 to 50. Again as Mexico. An army finds little food there but on the 20th of May, when it had become evisuch as it carries along, consequently detach- dent that a heavy Volunteer force would be ments must often be without for days together, required for a protracted and difficult sereven when provisions are wholesome and vice, Mr. Andrew Stewart of Penna. moved abundant, owing to the inability of the bag- that the rules of the House be suspended to gage wagons to make their way through the enable him to offer this Resolution : ragged defiles, over the sheer precipices and Sthrough the swampy valleys of that singular country, where roads are bridle-paths, springs as scarce as mines, and internal navigation Sunknown. Mouldy bread and tainted meat The said resolution was read. And the quesare not to be reckoned unpalatable there; a tion being put, Shall the rules be suspended? It biscuit that the insects within do not walk was decided in the negative, (two-thirds not voting in favor thereof, Yeas 70, Nays 75.) off with ranks A No. 1. Swamp-water is a The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of luxury often to be obtained only at intervals the Members present, were taken as follows: YEAS.-Abbott, J. Q. Adams, Ashmun, Barringer, of two and three days; and he who is so Bell, Blanchard, Bowlin, M. Brown, W. G. Brown, (nice as to strain it through his shirt to take Campbell, Carroll, C. W. Cathcart, J. G. Chapman, R. Chapman, Chase, Cocke, Collamer, Crozier, CulSout the larger insects before drinking, will lom, Darragh, Davis, Dixon, Edsall, Ewing, Foot, Gentry, Giles, Graham, Grider, Grinnell, Harper, soon be cured of such finical folly. What-Hilliard, Holmes, Houston, Hubbard, Hunt, Inger

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report a bill increasing the month, and granting to those who serve to the pay of Volunteers from seven to ten dollars per end of the war, or die in the service, one hundred and sixty acres of land.

soll. Jones, D. P. King, T. B. King, Lewis, W. B. fight our battles. Now the men who refused) Maclay, R. McClelland, McHenry, McIlvane, Martin,

Miller, Morse, Moseley, Parish, Payne, Relfe, Rock- this small installment of justice to our Soldiers well, Root, Rusk, Schenck, Seaman, T. Smith, A. were themselves receiving Eight Dollars per Smith, R. Smith, Stephens, Stewart, Thibodeaux,

Thomasson, Thompson, Tibbats, Trumbo, Went-day for service far less arduous and perilous; worth, White. [All Whigs but the 17 in Italics.] NAYS.-Adams, Atkinson. Bedinger, Benton, with Eight Dollars for every twenty miles Biggs, Black, Boyd, Brinkerhoff, Brockenbrough, travel to and from Washington-many of Broadhead, Burt, Clarke, Collin, Cranston, Cunningham, Daniel, Dargan, Davis, Dobbin, Dockery, them receiving over $100 for one day's riding Dromgoole, Ellsworth, Erdman, Ficklin, Fries, at an expense of $10 or $15. The pay of the Garvin, Grover, Hamlin, Holmes, Houston, Hun

gerford, Hunt, Hunter, Ingersoll, Jenkins, J. H. Members of Congress for this single Session) Johnson, J. Johnson, King, Lawrence, Leake, Lev

in, J. J. McDowell, J. McDowell, McGaughey, Mc-amounted to Two Thousand and TwentyKay, Marsh, Morris, Mott, Moulton, Norris, Owen, four Dollars each, beside Mileage, which to (Phelps, Price, Reid, Rhett, Ritter, Roberts, Sawyer,

Ought)

Seddon, A. D. Sims, L. H. Sims, Simpson, Stanton, some was over $1,000. For the same term Starkweather, Sykes, James Thompson, J. Thompson, Tredway, Vance, Vinton, Williams, Wood, of hard service in Mexico a citizen soldier Woodward, Woodworth, Yancey. [All Loco-Fo-receives less than Sixty Dollars! cos but the six in Italics.] not this to be reformed? Yet a bill retrenchThe payment of three dollars more per month to privates would have amounted to ing somewhat the enormous allowance to but $75,000 per month or $900,000 a year for Members for traveling to and from Congress, an army of Twenty-Five Thousand men; not (which is now practically twice as high as it Sequal to the cost of the California Expedi- was when the present rate was fixed, owing) tion alone. It is in Provisions, Munitions, to the great improvement in facilities for trav Transportation, pay of Officers, &c., that the eling,) was lost in this present Congress.Sexpensiveness of War consists. Of the ag-Eight Dollars per day for Congress, seven gregate cost of this Mexican War, not an dollars per month for the soldier-this will Seighth part will be paid to the soldiers who have to be corrected.

THE SUB-TREASURY.

When nearly or quite all the Banks in the him and his party. The succeeding Congress Country suspended Specie Payment in May, promptly repealed the act. It has been re(1837, owing directly to commercial bank-enacted in substance by the present Conruptcy and a heavy demand for Specie to go gress, by a strict party vote. It is a long bill, abroad, but primarily to the mischievous pro- providing for new officers to be styled · AsSjects and measures of the Executive with re-sistant Treasurers' at New-York, Boston, gard to Currency and Finance through seve- Charleston, (S. C.) Detroit and St. Louis, beSral preceding years, Mr. Van Buren called a sides devolving similar duties on the TreasuSpecial Session of Congress, and recommend-rers of the Mints at Philadelphia and New(ed to it a total 'Divorce of Bank and State,' Orleans, who are to receive and keep the Sby collecting, keeping and disbursing the Public Moneys, with each a retinue of Clerks, Public Moneys entirely independent of &c. to handle and count the coin. The As Banks. A majority of this Congress was sistant Treasurers' salaries will amount to but composed of friends of his Administration, $15,000 a year, the cost of refitting the old (but they refused to sanction this scheme.-Sub-Treasury vaults and safes is limited to The People declared against it in the Elec- $12,000, and the Clerks will cost a good deal tions; even his own State, so long faithful, more. There are in the bill very minute was swept as by a whirlwind, and returned directions for making deposits, drafts, ex100 Whigs out of 128 Members of Assembly. changes, &c. of funds, penalties for exchangHe pressed the measure upon Congress ating the funds actually paid in, &c. but the each succeeding Session, encountering defeat gist of the bill is all comprised in these two) after defeat, until at last it was carried in sections:

$1840, when the People speedily overwhelmed SEC. 19. And be it farther enacted, That on the

Sfirst day of January, in the year 1847, and there-the Custom-House, there counted out and Safter, all duties, taxes, sales of public lands, debtsSand sums of money accruing or becoming due to accepted; thence conveyed to the Assistant Sthe United States, and also all sums due for post- Treasurer, who counts and accepts it; when ages, or otherwise, to the General Post Office Department, shall be paid in gold and silver coin it is put away in vaults, ready to be counted out to the next man who presents a Treasury § 20. And be it farther enacted, That on the first day of April, 1847, and thereafter, every officer or draft for payment. Allow one man to count) agent engaged in making disbursements on ac-sixty dollars a minute, with but another to count of the United States, or of the General Post observe that he counts right, and suppose) Office, shall make all payments in gold and silver

only.

coin only; and any receiving or disbursing officer the Specie is counted out four times in taking or agent who shall neglect, evade, or violate the it from the Bank to the Custom-House, provisions of this and the last preceding section

of this act, shall, by the Secretary of the Treasu- thence to the Sub-Treasury, thence out to (ry, be immediately reported to the President of the the drawer, and back to the Bank, and the (United States, with the facts of such neglect, eva(sion, or violation; and also to Congress if in sesmere counting of Thirty Millions per annum sion: and if not in session, at the commencement will engross 6,666 days' work of 10 hours of its session next after the violation takes place. each. And for what?

This is the pith, the essence of the Sub- The exaction of specie at all Post Offices) Treasury. Hitherto Collectors, Receivers will be a more general annoyance. A man and Postmasters were authorized to accept hears that a letter has arrived for him at his in payments to the Government the notes of Post Office, some miles distant, and he sets such Specie-paying Banks as they chose to out to obtain it. He arrives at the Post Office (receive on their own responsibility, being re- late at night, and, handing out the only kind quired to pay over at all times in Specie or of money he has, says, 'I want my letter.'(its full equivalent. Or, practically, the Col-"I can't give it," replies the law-abiding Postlector took such Bank notes, and such only, master; "to take a bank note for postage as the Bank in which he was directed to de- would subject me to the loss of my place, if posit his receipts would accept and credit nothing worse."-But, Mr. Postmaster, isn't as the equivalent of coin. the Bank just over the way? hasn't it paid

Probably of the Thirty Millions collected its notes promptly these many years? Are in a year by the Government, not One Mil- you not perfectly certain you could get spelion is ever received in coin. Hereafter no- cie for it at 10 to-morrow morning?'-"Yes, thing but coin is to be received. The Post-sir; but it is my sworn duty to obey the laws, master who takes a good bill in payment for and I must do it!" So the man must trudge Scarrying a letter will be guilty of a violation home with his bill instead of his letter, unless of law, from and after the 1st of January, he can find some friend to change the former (1847, and subject to removal if not to more for him. Is this worthy of the Nineteenth positive punishment. The money of the Century?

Government is thus to be exclusively Specie We believe the effect of a rigid enforce(its own Shinplasters excepted;) nothing ment of this law would be to wind up or else received after January; nothing paid break down every Bank of issue in the coun(out after April, 1847. The merchant who try, as its originators intended. The moment has $100,000 to pay at the Custom-House the Sub-Treasury is fairly in operation, Bank now sends a check on the Bank where his Notes will lose the character of currency. money is deposited, certified to be 'good' by That is not practically money which one man) (the Cashier or Teller; the Deposit Bank will accept as such, the next one reject, and Scredits the amount to the Government and so on. A Bank Note is truly currency so) charges it to the Bank on which it is drawn, long as every one, understanding its character, (and the whole business is dispatched in a readily accepts it as the equivalent of the twinkling. After January he must draw the dollars it calls for. Let one man in ten reject Specie from his Bank, have it conveyed to it, and, though its intrinsic value is unchang