Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-10-23
THE sTORMING OF MONTEREY.

We surendcra large portion of our columns
to-day to thedetails of the late struggle at Monte
rey, which will be read with profound, though
painful interest. The galIantry of aur country.
men, the discipline and effective leading of our
army, have again been proudly vindicated. To
vanquish the half civilized, half armed, badly
disciplined Mexican masses on u broad plain like
Palo Alto was an easy achievement compared
with the storming of place of such natural
strength as Monterey, wherein the advantage of
numbers was strongly seconded by that of posi-
ton, and wherein undisciplined valor and inferior
physical force could be induced to stand on the
defensive behind walls far better than in the face
of steady volleys of cannon and musketrv, and
the ominous sheen of advancing rows of level
cd bayoncts. We trust the Mexicans are now
convinced that they have no chance to resist our
troops in open warfare, even behind entrcnch-
ments, and that the fortunes of war have nothing
in store for them but endurance and discomht-
ure. In this conviction only can we find any
explanation of the assent of Gen. Taylor TO an
Armistice for so long period as eight weeks. If
there is to be more storming, more bloodshod it
was surely unwise TO give the McXicans so long
u time in which TO recover from the effects ofIhis
blow.
/ That the MeXcans have made a more GAL
liant and obstinate resistance at Monterey, than
was at hrSt anticipated i'll this country, is GER
tam. The three day fighting the heavy loss of
our troops, obviously not exaggerated in the ac-
counts which have reached us,) and the terms of
captuaton, all testify that the badly armed,
worse fed, undlsciplined MeXicans have fought
better than the character they have borne a.
mong us would give reason to expect. True,
they fought for their hcarths, their altars, their
National integrity, their wives and children,
while our soldiers fought for-what! How stand
the accounts in the books of the Recording An
gel!
1t docs seem to us that no considerate man
who believes that the Universe has q Ruler would
willingly become responsible for the suff1rings of
One Thousand Human beings, the deaths of pro-
bably half that number, the ridding and ravag-
ing OF apopulous Christian city, with the innu-
mcrablc borcavements and agOnies herewith con-
nected, Tor all the power of Polk or the fame of
Napoleon. None can say that these Mexicans
at Monterey, have deserved death at our hands;
none can fail 10 sec they wer1 defending their
own soil; We think most would prefer to have fa'-
len with them in defeat rather than to have died
IN the arms Of victory among the exulting inva-
derS. And can any one believe that the respon-
sblllty OF all this horror is not charged some
where! Corporations are said to have no souls;
Nations often act as if they had none; but Di-
vine Justice is not thereby detrauded. Every
citizen Of the United States who has in any man.
nor chocrod on the chariot of War--who has
not done what he lawfully could to arrest its
TO some extent partakcr in the guilt of these
awful butcheres, and therefor responsible before
Heaven. ... ....
We trust the thirst for slaughter is now satia-
ted, and that our Government will make open
and favorable proffers of peace to Mexico-prof-
ters which the world will say she honorably may
and ought to accept. Mere professions of will
lingncss to treat are not sufficient. Let the terms
on which we will make peace be submitted TO
the impartial judgment of mankind and let us at
any rate refrain from farther slaughter except in
our own defence. We do not need the territory
of Mexico; we should hardly consent to incor.
porate her people with ours on terms of perfect
equality, and we have no right to subject them
to Government they have no hand in direct.
ing. We can gain nothing by farther invasion
and offensive warfare that we ought to desire.
Peace! Peace! give US Poaco Has there not
been enough of human slaughter in such cause
as ours!-N. Y. Tribune,