Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-10-07

Placihg al army lnere 10 guard against the
threatened invasion of Texas. And Para
des, the successor of President Herrera
was the first to declare war, and his troops
the first to commence hostilities,
There is another view Of the subject tc
Justify this war on our part, We war MOI
against the people of Mexico, but only. a,
gainst what may be properly termed the
Rotary Military despotisn which their su.
pineness suffers to tyrannize over them.
In proof Of this, as evidence that the Mexi.
can people have Little partially for their
government, observe the great difficulty
\ that our army has to find an enemy in their
marches through the provinces since the
first introduction. Gen. Kearney, with O
small army, has just marched through the
province Of New Mexico to Santa Fe, its
capitol, and although the province is said
to contain eighty thousand people, he found
no enemy, and quietly took formal posses.
sion Of the country without firing a gun
except the signal gun on raising the Stars
and Stripes in Santa Fe. He marched
from village to village, hearing only of en-
emies ahead, but all kept themselves out Of
sight, while the municipal officers, wher-
ever the American troops marched, were
ready to swear allegiance to the United
States and agree to administer office under
the U. s. government. And many hailed
our troops as their deliverers. Does that
look like injustice to the Mexicans? JUS
tice to the Government of Parades, and
justice to the people of Mexico, are quite
different matters; Justice is, no doubt, what
Parades has. most reason to fear. r, g,.
For the benefit of Mr.. T. and others who
take the part of the Mexican government
in this war, have written this much, and
for the further benefit Of such as have not
the opportunity, or do not choose to read the
documents through, have selected from
the Documents accompanying the Presi-
dents Message Of May lth, ls4e,a part Of
two letters of Mr.. Slidel, who was the last
Minister sent by our Government and re-
jected by two successive Mexican admins
trations The first, (page 80 of Documents)
directed to Mr.. Pena y Pena, Minister Of
President Herrera, written Immediately af.
ter his rejection; and the second, (see page
50 Of Documents) directed to Castillo Y
Lanzas, Minister of President Paredes, ant
also written Immediately after his rejection
by Paredes' administration. These extracts
at least I hope will be read and duly weigh
ed. They contain a. concise summary o
facts, and should determine you in favor O
your own Government and country. @
Your friend, JOHN HARMON.
Mr.. slidel to Mr.. Pssa g Pena, dated
Mexico, December "a, ls45. TIL
T '@@''''2'' Ertract. .Et
'sMexico considered herself aggrieved by
the course which the United States had pur.
sued in relation to Texas, and this feeling
tits true, was the immediate cause of the
abrupt termination of all diplomatic rela
tons; but the United States, on their part
had causes Of complaint, better founded
and more serious, arising out of the claims
of its citizens on Mexico. ai--taa h..aa!
1t is not the purpose Of the undersigned te
trace the history Of these claims, and thu
outrages from which they sprung. Tht
annals of no civilized nation present, in Sc
short a. period Of time, SO many wanton at
tacks upon the rights Of persons and proper
j ty as have been endured by citizens Of th'
United States from the Mexican authori
'ties-attacks that would never have beer
tolerated from any other nation than ,
neighboring and sister republic. They
i; were the subject of earnest, repeated, ant
kunavailing remonstrance, during a long Sc
ries of years, until at last, on the l1th o
April, 1889, a convention was concluded TO
their adjustment. AS, by the provisions o
that convention, the board of commissioner
organized for the liquidation of the claims
was obliged to terminate its duties within
eighteen months, and as much of that tim
was lost in preliminary discussions, it onl.
acted l6nally#upon a small portion Of thu
4 claims, the amount awarded upon whicl
amounted 10 $2,O26, l39, 1.-TWO million
: twenty six thousand one hundred and thirty
nine dollars; claims were examined AM
awarded BY the American commissioners
amounting to 1928, ,e27, (nine hundred an
twenty eight thousand six hundred an!
twenty-seven dollars, J upon which the UNI
pire refused. todecide, alleging that hi
authority had expired, while others, to tn,
amount Of So, 3,s36,ss7 (three millions thre
hundred and thirty-six thousand eigh: hun
Fdred and thirty y-seven5 dollars, remained al
q together unacted upon, because they ha,
been submitted too late for the decision 0
the board. In relation to the claims whicl
had been submitted to the board Of CON
missioners, but were not acted on fol. wal,
Of time, amounting to, $4,265,464, (lou
millions two hundred and sxty-five thous
ond Enur hundrad n nd, ei vi tyr fur dollars \