Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-12-29
JOLIET ILLINOIS l,sF DECEMBER %, 1876

1t is subject of pride and satisfaction
that our volunteer citizen soldiers, who
SO promptly responded to their countrys
call, with an experience Of the discipline
of a camp efoniy few weeks, have borne
their part of the hard fought battle of Mon
terey, with consistency and courage equal
] to that of veteran troops, and worthy Of
/, the highest admiration. The privations
! of long marches through wilderness,
i have been borne without fnurmnr. By
rapid movements, the province Of New
| Mexico, with Santa Fe, its capitol, has
] been captured without bIoodshed.3 rs
4 The navy has co-operated With the ar
N.Y. and rendered important services; if
not so brilliant. il is because The enemy
! had no force TO meet them on their own
element, and because of the defences
which nature has iifterposed, in the diff
culties of the navigation on the Mexican
! coast. Our squadron in the Pacific, with
the co-oper ration Of gallant officer of the
army. and a small force hastily collected
in that distant country, have acquired
bloodess posse ssion of the Calif,rnias, g.
the American flag has been raised at every
iitsP14 P'ttIC tIeAt ptphihNDst
congratulate you on the success which
has thus attended our military and naval
operations. In less than seven months
after Mexico commenced hostilities, at a
time selected by herself, We have taken
possession Of many of her principal ports,
driven back and pursued her invading
army. and acquired military possession OF
the Mexican provinces New Leon. Goa
hula. Tamau,ipas, and the Calfornias, a
territory larger in extent than that EN-
| hraced in the original thirteen States Of
the Union, inhabited by considerable
population, and much of it more than
Thousand miles from the points from which
we had TO collect our forces. aud com
mence our movements. BY the blockade.
the import and the export trade Of the
enemy has been cut off.
| Well may the American people he
proud of the energy and gallantry of the
regular & volunteer officers and soldiers
| The events of these few months afford a
gratifying proof that our country can, uu.
der any emergency. confidently RELY far
the maintenance of her honor. and the
defence of her rights, on an effective force
ready al all times voluntarily to reliuquish
the conf .rts Of home for the perils and
privations of the camp. .........
| And though such force may be Cor the
time expensive. it is in the end economical
as the ability to command it removes the
necessity of employing large standing
army in the time of peace and proves that
our people love their institutions, and are
ever ready to defend and protect them.
Whilst The war was in course Of Wig
orons and successful prosecution. being
still anxious to arrest its evils, and con
| sidering that, after the brilliant victories
of our arms on the eighth and ninth of
May last, the national honor could not be
compromised by it. another overture was
made to Mexico. by my direction, on the,
9th July last, to terminate hosiilties by
pea,.e just and honorable to both coun-
tries. On the 3lst Of August following.
the Mexican Government declined to ac-
cept this friendly overture, but referred it
to the decision of a Mexican Congress. TO
be assembled in the early, part of the
present month. communicate to you.
herewith copy ofthe letter otthe Score
tary of State proposing TO reopen negotia-
lions, ofihe answer Of the Mexican Gov
erment, and Of The reply thereto of the
Secretary of State. !.
i The war will continue to be prosecuted
with vigor as the best means of securing
peace. It is hoped that the decision of
I the. Mexican Congress. to which our last
overture has been referred, may result in
/ speedy and honorable peace. With our
experience, however, of the unreasonable
course Of the Mexican authorities, il is the
part of wisdom not to relax in the en-,
4 ergy of our military operations until the
i result is made knawn. In this view it is
i deemed important TO l,old military posses
! sion of all the provinces which have been
taken, until a definite treaty Of peace shall
have been concluded and ratified by the
two countries.
The war has not been waeed with a
view TO conquest; bpt, having been com
menced by Mexico, It has been carried
I into the enemy country, and will be Wig;
oroEsly prosecuted there, with a view to
obtain az honorable, peace, and thereby
! secure ample indemnity for the expense
! Of the war, as well as to our much injured
\ citizens. who hold large pecuniary. de,
i mards against Mexico.
d By the laws of nations conquered
territory is, subject 10 be governed by the
conqneror during his military possession,
= and until there is either treaty ofpeace.
or he shall Voluntarily withdraw from il.
i The old, civil government being necessa:
rily superseded, it is The right and duty Of
the conqueror TO secure his conquest, and
to provide for the maintenance Of civil or
z del and the rights Of the inhabitants. This
4 right has. been exercised, and this, duty
performed, by our military and naval com,
fnanders. hY the esfa hlisnInenf of teIrlnn.