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

won against greatly superior mum
berS, and against most decided adj
vantaGeS, in other respects on the
part OF the enemy, were brilliant in
their execution, and cnti,Ic our brave
officers and soldiers to the grateful,
thanks Of their Countrywide nation
/ deplores the loss Of the brave Off
GERS and men WHO have gallant.y
fallen Wilde vjndicating and defend
ing their countries rights and honor.
II is a subject Of pride and salts
faction that our volunteer citizen
soldiers, WHO so promptly responded
to their country'S call, with an cX-
perience of the discipline Of a camp
OF only few weeks, have borne
/ their part in thc hard fought battle
Of Monterey with a conStancy and
courage equal to that Of veteran
troops, and worthy lie highest al-
miration. The privations 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 deren-
ceS which nature has inierposed in
the difficulties Of the navigation on
the Mexican coast. Oar 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 Galil'o.-
Mas, and the American flag Las been
raised at every important point in
that province.
/ ] congratulate you on tac success
which has thus attended our military
and naval operationS.-ln less than
seven months after Mexico common
ced hostililics, 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, Coaluila,
TamaulipaS, and the CALIFORNIA;, a
territory larger in extent than that
embraced in the original thirteen
/ States of the Union. inhabited by n
considerable population, and m&ch
Of itmore than a thousand miles from
/ the points at which we had to col
lect our forces and commence our
movements. BY tie blockade, the
import and export trade Of the enc
my has been cut off.
We'll may tie American people be
. proud Of the energy and gallau'ry Of
our regular and volunteer soldiers.
The event, Of these few months af-
ford a gratifying proof that orr GAL
liant co3nt,, can, under any cmcr-
gcncy. confidently rely for the main
taumoe other uonur, end the defence
OF her rights, ou an effective force,
ready at al times voluntarily to re-
Imquis,l the comforts of home for the
pcriIs and the privationS of the camp.
And though 'uch a force may be tor
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.
Whilst the war was in a course Of
vigorous and successful prosecution,
being still anxious to arrest its evils,
and considering that, after the bril-
liant victories Of our arms on the Sth
and oh 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
tilities by a peace just and honora-
bic to both countries. On the 3lst
OF August following, the Mexican
government declined this friendly
overture, but retired it to the de-
cision of a Mexican Congress, TO be
assembled in the early part o., IT,"
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
speedy and honorable peace. With
our experience, however, of the un-