It is contary to our policy because
I there is no principle in our republican
governnmeilt that provides for our as
suning a joint intcrest; in any other
government. If we were to Tnder
take the protectiou of the Mexican
authorities the American troops would
necessarily have to obey the local offi
cers of the Mexican government or
they would have to disregardland dis
obey them, which would be submis
sion instead of protection. If they
obeyed they would be called upon to
force every citizen to take off his hat
in presence of catholic processions
and to quit work on the hundred
and sixty religious holidays that
are enjoyed by that devout but
rather thievish people. This is the
first oljcction. Our soldiers would
have to be given great latitude of
judgment in their actions, and this
they would take advantage of against
the Mexicans, thus creating a wider
scope of hatred towards Americans
than now exists. Their pay would be
drawn from the United States treas
ury, for if Mexico cannot settle with
her own soldiers at forty cents per
day out of which they are re
quired to feed and clothe themselves,
we do not see how she could pay ours
at the rate of one dollar per day, to
gether with their tranportation and
other expenses. We should have a
set of officers down in Mexico who
would owe a sort of divided allegiance
whi(ch would be settled by their not
being faithful to anything or any an
thority. In fact we should have on
our own hands a British East India
Com)pany or a Spanish Provincial
Viceroyalty out of which the captains
would make fortunes and the privates
would make bullies of themselves. If
there is any feature in our Constitu
tion that provides for such a piece of
deviltry Mr. Brooks has not favored
the public with its publication so far.
