Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-06-04
TIE MEXICAN WAR--GEN. SCOTT
--PRESiDENT-MAKiNG.

4 TIE MEXICAN WAR--GEN. SCOTT
4 --PRESiD ENT-MAKiNG.
Il We devote a considerable portion of our
4 columns this week, TO interesting details and
ii accounts of the two splendid battles OF the 9Th
and 9th Of May, on the Rio Grande, between
il our gallant little Army and the forces of Mex
Il leo. Some of these accounts thrill through
n every vein and fibre Of the heart; and while
n every one reloIces over the glorious victory
4 which has crowned our arms-yet they can
& not but be awed into silence and Amusement
II when they look upon the scene OF battle, and
Z follow the gallant TAYLOR and his devoted
4 band to the charge. One blunder--one mis-
4 takc---a single minute Of procrastination, and
all would have been lost--our men, many Of
them must have been killed--our wounded
and prisoners have fallen into the hands Of the
enemy; and the past history of Mexican war
fare. tells what their fate would have been no
barbanty that could have been practiced
/ upon them would have been left untried by
l the merciless foe. But the God of Battles de-
cided the day in our favor; and while in the
discharge Of their duty, our troops cut down
their enemies with terrible loss--they did not
forget, even in the heat and hour of battle, that
they were christian people; they gave the
dying water to drnk-generously treated all
prisoners, and buried the dead.
All who know us, know that we were vio-
lently opposed to the annexation of Texas to
this Union, and most especially to the manner
in which it was accomplished--by most pal
pable and bare-faced violation of the Constitu-
ton Of the United States. But it was done by
the constituted authorities of our Country, ac-
guessed in and sanctioned by all the forms
necessary to making her member of this
Union--and when this was done, the question
was shnt with us--she became part and par
Gel OF our common country, and from the mo-
ment of her annexation, entitled to all the pro-
lection, care and consideration of our Govern
ment and People that Virginia or Maryland or
New York or any other member OF the Con-
federacy is entitled to. If the annexation of
Texas TO this Union Were a question now be-
fore us, we should extend to the measure the
same opposition which we did IN lS44-but
that question, as we have before said, is done
with, and il is not now with the foreign Re-
public of Texas that we are to deal, but the
State Of Texas, one of the members Of the u.
States. When we annexed her to this Union,
we did not believe, nor do we believe now,
that there was an honest man IN the country
who did not believe that we were taking her,
and her debt land her war with her Yes, we
contracted with her for Texas--that Republic
which she called and declared by her act Of
Independence--he subsequent Act oil Con
gress, and, we may add, by the prowess of her
arms, to be Texas; and those acts, if we can
Judge at all from ''lhe lights before us" CARR
ed her to the Rio Grande-the battle fields
where now sleep many Of our gallant dead -
and whose plains are drenched with the blood
of an invading enemy. In this light we look
upon the question before us and we consider
every gun fired on the Banks Of the Rio Grande,
fired in defence of the rights of our county,
The conduct of our troops must stand appro-
we'd IN the eyes of the enlightened world; and
if Mexico has been rash enough to encounter
US, she must now put up with the bitter fruits
of her folly, and prepare herself to render JUS
,ice-full and ample justice, to our country ior
the many wrongs committed against US OF
TO sue at last for peace in the very gates OF hei
Capitol, with a large addition TO the loss OF hei
Army and her population. The war has now
commenced, and the voice OF our country de
mands that it be prosecuted with vigor and en-
prgy, with a view, and we trust and believe
with view alone, to the establishment and
creation of permanent peace between the tive
Republics. We believe this to be the desire
and wish of our own Government, and the
anxious desire Of the people of Mexico, who
are goaded and forced into this war by the
Military aspirants and tyrants who literally
,hrong and infest that unhappy Republic
We trust there is not man-certalnly not &
high .souled and chiyalrous man--in the Uni
ted States, who does not mourn over the ne
cessity which compels us to war against oul
feeble, distracted and impoverished Delghbors
We feel, deeply feel, for the people Of Mexico
and only wish we could visit merited punish
ment upon the tyrants and demagogues, in
stead of ''the rank and file.
we know. now lhai the dow Is sUuch. tn'
urgent and important necessity of following i
up until a permanent peace be established
peace which shall bring with it settlement o
all disputes between us, and an atonement-
as far as such atenement can be made-for thu
precious blood of RiNeGoLp, Brown ant
their brave compatriots who now sleep in tn
cold grave far from their "kindred and home
We feel proud of the tone of our Country
almost all rejoice in the victory of our Arms
while perhaps they may differ as TO the caus
es or necessity of the war. But one feeln
should now pervade the breasts of the peopl
of this Country Is it so? No!--'he shou
of JOY over the victory Of PALo Afro is ye
rising over the Countrywide hearts otthe pee
ME are 1-ei nlaL--h,lt the walls of the PaLac