Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-16
RICHMOND DAILY WHIG.



The following passage in this extraordinary doc
umoni:
1.-THE undersigned hereby absoves all persons residing
within the boundary OF New Mexico from further alegi.
10 tho Republic OF Mexico, and hereby claims them
cixens 1T the United States Those who quiet
and peseeabo will be considered good citizens
coive protection Those who found in arms
eating others against the United States will be considered
n TIA tors, and treated accordingly"
II has generally been said that there is nothing like this
proclamation in the history of this country but this lie
eerony mistake. II nearly resembles that OF Lord
Cornwss when left in command OF the army which had
Just taken Charleston, the citizens Of South Carolina
that orbear thinking the English General must
have served a model own. The proclamation
OF the latter first discharged from their parole, all persons
taken in except the garrison Of Fort Moulrie
and Charleston that they might return to their duties
good subjects. 1t left doubt tho nature of
the Of duties required Of them, informing them that
they expected assist in settling and securing His
Maestys Government, pain OF being treated rebels
and enemies thereby, of absovng them from all
allegiance to the American Government, and reducing
them to tho condition OF conquered ya.sa who had
beed against their lege lord. This proclamation far
from having tho desired effect stimulated the people Of
South Carolina to vigorous efforts in the cause OF in
dependence. They discovered that they would be sub
Jeeied TO danger from both parties in the and if
they TO perish, they believed honorable to
fall with in their hands, fighting by the side of their
countrymen, in defence of their affairs and their heaths
than die by the hands of those countrymen, while
sisting impose upon them the yoke Of yrant whom
they abhoued
The bloody which this proclamation led have
LETT deep stain upon the fame Of the British leader, and
s deeper upon that of his successors Rawdon and
Baour Every writer who has touched upon this portion
Of history, foreign has consigned the authors
and executors OF this shocking scheme the execaon
Of all lutare ages But British officers had this excuse
which, poor it is, they nevertheless might plead with
some shadow of Justice in mitigation of their conduct
They regarded those against whom their measures were
directed, the undoubted subjects OF their Prince,
gagged in open rebellion against authority under which
hey had lived for century, and which alone, from the
establishment Of the colony they had acknowledged ODE
dence. To this il be added that in civil war; while
the passions OF highly stimulated, but too
mon TO forget in the heat of parry luminosity, alike the
qulrements Of justice and the dictates of humanity. In
Spite however, Of this apology, the author of this proca
nation, and those who carried into execution have been
regarded by every succeeding generation Of Americans
monsters stained with crime which pollue
kind, when least elevated above the brute creation.
In respect, alone, does the proclamation Of Corn
wallis oustrP in teroc,y that of the American General
The latter docs not, it is true, call upon the citizens
Mexico TO assist IN settling the American government; but
places them in the very predcamen in case of an
attempt the part Of the Central Government 10 recover
the lost province, in which the South Caronians were
Il
prize, the Commander OF the Mexican forces would be-
yond all doubt call upon the inhabitants TO arm in defence
ofthcir country; OF the under which the
iorty OF them born; which they had all acknow
LEGGED allegiance; whose lave they had been laugh, to
consider the rule Of their conduct they
certainly prefer any imposed upon them by deSpotc
power OF foreign INVADER and whose inhabitants they
regard their brethren and friends From all these ties
those Of kindred of early associations and OF habit they
ruITI ku -,
and the penalty Of disobedenee the doom OF traitor
We ask readers ii any thing be conceived more
nuoccus in the inception and calculated produce more
horrible consequences, carried in the spirit in which
IT is cohceivedl
Imust be borne in mind tbat the province Of New Mex
icois not small territory, which army of five or
ak thousand men exercise successful supervision
IL is On immense country-yery thnly seted-and the
American fer learn is possession Of
only of IT, II is fair presume that large
portion Of the inhabitants have heard Of this proca
mauon and yet in the event of their taking up
s their countrymen, they subject themselves TO the same
penalty though they had heard read by the general
IN person. man who is five hundred miles from General
kcarney and his army and whose actions he can ex
ercise control than he those of brahim
Paeha tie Ottoman Porte, required to yield the same
degree Of obedience with before whose house COM
pany Of artillery is qulrered, with their guns pointed d.
reedy at the door
In this point, the American General has greatly the ad
vantage OF tho English. The latter took plant mi.
tary posts ell the lilte State Of South Carolina in
order be Of the enforce his hghhanded
measures before nc promugaed them.
The latter portion Of this document not less eSrnor-
binary than the first. The blessings Of American govern
mcnt promised to the people Of New Mexico, in OK
change FOR the very indifferent system under which they live
whether they wish The wishes indeed Of the new
deemed worthy Of the slightest attention
They commanded be free the peril of their lives
with hand Gen. Kearney offers them tho inestimabe
boon Of civil liberty and with the other he presents ma
ked sword. This the very language and the very con-
duet of Revolutionary France when her armies were over
running Europe, and creating desolaoD which they Dig
n6ed by the sacred names Of Liberty and Peace You
unite with us, says he. You have the Same
degree Of freedom which enjoy, whether you are fl for
not whether you prefer alliance differing AZ we
do in language in manners, in opinions and race II
you refuse will your fields hang you up by the
neck until you Dead destroy your sources Of susten
anee, and leave your towns in smoking runs-a striking
monument Of the spirit Of American freedom, aud Of the
justice and knanmity Of the American arms
a.