Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-08-06

N"ooi'y VI tHe press, ueSPolieu you VI
!your arms, and reduced you to state
OF absolute dependence upon the pow
er OF military Dictator. Your army
and rulers extort from the people BY
g'ievious taxation, by forced loans, and
military seizures, the very money
which sustains the usupers in power.
Being disarmed, you were left defence
less, an easy prey to the savage Cam
anches, who not only destroy your
! lives and property, but drive you into
captivity, more horrible than death it.
! self. your wives and children.
! 1t is your military rulers who have
reduced you to this deplorable condi-
ton. 1t is these tyrants, and their
corrupt and cruel satellites. gorged with
the peoples treasures, by whom
you are thus oppressed and impover-
ished: some Of whom have boldly ad.
vocated a monarchical government,
and would place European Prince
upon the throne of Mexico. We come
to obtain reparation for repeated
wrongs and injuries; we come to OBJ
tain indemnify for the past, and seca-
rity for the future; we come to over
throw the tyrants who have destroyed
your liberties but we come to make no
war upon the people of Mexico, nor
upon any form offree government they
may choose to select for themselves.
It's our wish to see you liberated
from despots, to drive back the savage
tCamanches, to prevent the renewal OF
their assaults, and to compel them to
restore to you from captivity, your long
lost wives and children.
Your religion, your alters and chur-
ches, the property of your churches
and citizens, the emblems of your faith
and its ministers shall oe protected,
and remain inviolate. Hundreds of our
army, and hundreds of thousands of
our people, are members of the Ca,ho-
lie Church. In every State, and in
nearly every city and village of our
Union, Catholic Churches exist, and
the Priests perform their holy func
tons, IN peace and security, under the
sacred guarantee of our constitution
We come among the people as friends
and republican brethren, and all who
receive US as such, shall be protected,
whilst all who are seduced into the ar
my of your Dictator, shall be treated as
enemies. We shall want from you
nothing but food for our army, and for
This you shall always be paid in cash
the full value.
( 1t is the settled policy ofyour tyrants
to deceive you in regard to the policy
and character of our Government and
people. These tyrants fear the exam
pie of our free institutions, and con-
stantly endeavor 20 misrepresent our
purposes, and inspire you with hatred
for your republican brethren of the A.
merican Union. Give US but the OPP
portunity to undeceive you, and you
will soon learn that all the representa-
tons Of PAREDEs were false, and were
only made to induce you to consent 10
the establishment of despotic Gov
eminent.
! In your struggle for liberty, with the
Spanish Monarchy, thousands of our
countrymen risked their lives and shed
their blood in your defence. Our own
Commodore, the gallant PORTER,
maintained in triumph your flag upon
the ocean, and our Government was
the first to acknowledge your indie
perdence. With pride and pleasure
we enrolled your name on the list of
independent Republics, and sincerely
desired that you might in peace and
prosperity enjoy all the blessings of free
government.
Success on the part of your tyrants
against the army of the Union is i'm
possible, but if they could succeed, it
would only be to enable them to fill
your towns with their soldiers, eating
out your substance, and harassing you
with still mo:e grevious taxation. AL
ready they have abolished the liberty
of the Press, as the first step towards
the Introduction of that Monarchy,
which it is their real purpose to pro-
claim and establish.
Mexicans, we must treat as enemies
and overthrow the tyrants, who whilst
they have wronged and insulted us,
have deprived you of your liberty, but
the Mexican people who remain neu-
trail during the contest shall be protec-
ted against the military despots by the
Republican Army of the Union.
Z. TAYLOR,
Brevet Maj. Gen. U. S. A. Comd'g.