tory, ' $130,000,000 The above estimate, it is believed, is very moderate, and much below the estimates usually made. But let it be recollected, that it is an estimate only of the direct expenditures of the Federal Government, for the acqui- sition of the coveted territories.
For nearly two years, at least 140,000 men, as soldiers, teamsters, artificers, (fee, have been diverted from pro- ductive industry, and engaged in occupations, adding nothing to the real wealth of the country, or the comfort, happiness, and morality of its citizens. The time and labor of these men have therefore been literally wasted, and consequently what they would have added to the common stock in time of peace, is to be included in the cost of the war. Many of these individuals have, more- over, been brought to an untimely grave, and probably a still greater number disquahfied for future iisefulness by vice and disease. The operations of commerce have, moreover, been deranged, and enterprize paralyzed by a monetary pressure, occasioned by a drain of specie from our great cities, to be expended in Mexico—and wide- KEVIEW OF THE MEXICAN WAR. 243 spread bankruptcy only prevented, by an unusual and accidental demand for our bread-stuffs in Europe. When all these facts are taken into consideration, 'and when we recollect that interest is to be paid during many future years, on the money borrowed, and that large drafts are yet to be made on -the treasury for pensions and for indemnities for private losses and injuries, it will not be thought extravagant to assume, that the indirect ^ cost of the war will be little, if any less than the sum actually expended for its prosecution.
Dr. Franklin, long since remarked, that nothing was ever acquired by war that might not have been obtained at a less cost by purchase. For the territory of Louisi- ana, even more extensive and greatly more valuable than that we have wrested from Mexico, we paid $15,000,000. For Texas v/e offered $5,000,000, and at a previous day we had offered only $1,000,000 for Texas, wi|h a portion of California.