The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-25

won against greatly superior mum
bers, and against most decided adj
vantdges, in other respects on the
part OF the enemy, were brilliant in
their execution, and entitlc cur brave
officers and soldiers to the grateful
thanks of their country.--Tac nation
deplores the loss of the brave Off
GERS and men who have gallantly
fallen while vmdicating and defend
ing their countries rights and honor.
II is subject Of pride and salts
faction that our volunteer citizen
soldiers, who 50 promptly responded
to their country'S call, with an cX-
pericnce Of the discipline Of camp
Of only few weeks, have borne
their part in the hard fought battle
of Monterey with conStancy and
courage equal to that Of veteran
troops, and worthy the highest adj
miration. The priyations Of long
marches through the cnemy's coun-
try, and through a wilderness, have
been bourne without a murmur.-
by rapid movements the province
Of New Mexico, with Santa Fc, its
capital, has been captured without
bloodshed. The navy has cooper
ated with the army and rendered
important services: if not so bril-
liant, it is because the enemy had
no force to meet them on their own
element, and because of the delen-
ces which nature has intcrposed in
the difficulties of the navigation on
the Mexican coast. Our squadron
in the Pacific, with the cooperation
of gallant officer of the army, and
a small force hastily collected in
that distant country, have acquired
bloodless possession Of the Calico
MAS, and the American flag Las been
raised at every important point in
that province.
/ congratulate you on the success
which has thus attended our military
and naval operatious,--Iu less than
seven months after Mexico commcn-
ced hostilitics, at a time selected by
herself, we have taken possession Of
many of her principal ports, driven
back and pursued her invading ar
my and acquired a military posses
sion Of the Mexican provinces of
New Mexico, New Leon, Coahuila,
Tamaulipas, and the CALIFORNIA;, a
territory larger in extent than that
embraced in the original thirteen
States Of thc Union. inhabited by a
considerable population, and mech
Of itmore than a thousand miles from
the points at which we had to col
lect our forces and commence orr
movements. By the blockade, the
import and export trade Of the enc
my has been cut off.
Well may tic American people be
proud Of the energy and gal!autry Of
our regular aud volunteer soldiers.
The events of these few months af-
ford gratifying proof that orr gal
liant country can, under any cmcr-
gency. confidently rely for the main
tauonce other homer, end the defence
OF her rights, on an effective force,
ready at all times voluntarily TO re-
linquisa the comforts OF home for the
peri,s and the priyationS Of the camp.
And though 'uch a force may be for
the time expensive, it is in the end
economical, as the ability TO COM
mand it removes the necessity Of
employing large standing army in
time Of peace, and proves that our
people love their institutions, and
are ever ready to defend and pro-
tect them.
Whist the war was in course Of
vigorous and sue cesSiul prosecution,
being still anxious to arrest its evils,
and considering that, after the bril-
liant victories of our arms on the Sth
and 9th of May last, the national
honor could not be compromised by
it, another overture was made to
Mexico, by my directions, on the
9th of July last, to terminate hos
tilitics by a peace just and lonora-
bic to both countries. On the 3lst
OF August following, the Mexican
government declined this friendly
overture, but retired it to tie de-
cision of Mexican Congress, TO be
assembled in the early part o.. tie
present month. | communicate to
you herewith copy of the letter Of
the Secretary Of State, proposing to
reopen negotiations, of the answer
of the Mexican government, and tho
reply thereto Of the Secretary Of
| State.
The war will be continued to be
prosecuted with vigor as the best
means of securing peace. It's hop
ed that the decision of the Mexican
Congress, to which our last over
ture has been referred, may result in
a speedy and honorable peace. With
our experience, however, Of the un-
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