The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-21


mcnt Mexico commenced the war, prior ~
that time, to adjust our differences y ilh her,
we shall ultimately fail, then we shall have
| exhausted all honorable means in pursuit
| OF peace and must continue 10 occupy her
country with our troops, taking the full
measure Of indemnity with our own hands
and must enforce the terms which our hon
or demands.
10 net otherwise, in the existing stn,e Of
things in Mexico, md TO withdraw our army
wi,hou, a peace, would not only leave all
the wrongs of which we complain unrcdrcs-
sed, but would be tho signal for new nnd
fierce civil dissentions and new revolutions,
all along hostile TO peaceful relations With
the I. s., besides, there is danger, il our
troops should be Withdrawn before the
peace should be concluded, that the Mcxi.
can people, wcaricd with successive rcvo-
Iuiions, and deprived Of protection. for their
persons and property, might he inclined IN
Weld to foreign influence, and 10 cas-, them
selves upon some European monarchy for
protection, from the anarchy aud suffering
which would cnsuc. This, Tor our own
safety, and in pursuance Of established
policy, we should he compelled 90 resist.
We could never cnnscn, that Mexico
should he thus converted into a mona rchy,
governed By n loreign prince.
| Mexico is our next ncighbnr md her
boundaries are colcrmno,is with our own,
though the whole extent ncrosc the North
| American continent, from ocean IL ocean.
Both politically and commercially, we have
the deepest interest in her regeneration
and prosperity; indeed, it j. impossible, that
With just regard to our safety, We eau be-
come Indifferent To her fate. Ii nny be
that the Mexican people and government
mIsconccived ar misconsirnctcd our Tor
bearance and our objects, in desiring Ia
conclude nh amicable adjustment Of tho cx-
lsting difficulties between the two countries.
Tiny may have supposed that We would
submit 10 terms degrading 10 the nation, or
they MA" have drawn false intcrcnccs from
ibc supposed division OF opinion in the l..
States On the subject of the war, and may
have calculated IL obtain much by pro,rac,-
ing il; aud, indeed. that we might uiii.
matcly abandon it altogether, without ans
indemnify --terriiurial ar otherwise. What
ever una, bc the false impressions under
which they may have nctei, the adoption
and prosecution 81 the energetic policy
proposed mast undccc,e them. in the
future prosecution 81 tie war, the enemy
must he made 10 feel lis pressure more than
they have dnnc. AT lis commencement II
was declared proper - conduct il in u spirit
al I,,rl.a nd as,I Il.
this end in view, early measures were a.
d"picd, 7" aohvncc, rs fur rs = state 81 war
would pcr.uii, the mass OF the Mexican
population that The war was waocd, mol
against the peaceful inhabitants Of Mexico,
bat against their .aiihlcss government
which had commenced hos,lltics.
To remove from their minds false impressions.
which their interested rulers had arfiullv NJ
tempted 10 make. that the war on Our part was
one al compassionate il was against their reIi-
@iof, and their churches, winch were Ia he d.
strostd aud osorihrogn, and that the rights 81
persons and property WOULD be violated ito re-
move these false Impressions, our commanders in
the field were directed s,rupnlously 10 respect
Their religion, their churches, AM their church
| property, which were IN no manner ID he s!aa-
ted They were directed also 20 respect the
rights OF persons and property, and all who should
not take up arms against The L. States
Assurances, 10 THIS effect, were ets.n To tie
! NeAcans hv Major Gen. TaYlor, IN u procaaa-
ton lssacd IN pursuance Of Instructions rom tlte
Secretary OF Was, III the moath ut June. 1876.
and again ht Major Gen Scott, who acted u.ton
his ~ convictions nj the praffcif u Isau!ng 4,
IN proclamation OF the 18th ui Mas, i3iT. III
this spirit ri liboralts and Cancellation. and with
4 view 10 pfeycn, the hody oil the Nexcan pop
ulation from taking up arms against t., the VII
Was conducted OH our part. rostsons aud 9TH
| or supplies, furnished ~ our army hy Nexicnn
citizens, We're paid for nj fair and liberal rriees.
| agreed upon b, parties. After Inc lapse VI q sea
months, II became apparent, ia. these assuraa-
ces, aud this mid treatment. had failed Ia pT,-
due. the desired c.c. upon the Mexican popn-
lation. The war Inns h,on conducted upon our
part according 10 the most humane and liberal
principles observed by civilized nations. Ii WAS
"aged N lar different spir, on the part OF Mex
leo. No. approaching our iurhearance, the Mex
can people generally became hostile 10 the L.
States, and asailcd themselves oil the opporiuni-
y u commit the most savage exccss.s upon our
troops. Large numbers OF the population took
NJ arms, and engaging IN nerflla warfare, rob-
bed, and murdered IN ihe most cruc! manner, in
ditdna soldiers, 81 small parties, whom accl-
dent or other causes had separated from the main
bod ri the army. Bands oi the guerras and
robbers infested the roads, hafrasscd our trains,
and, whenever II Mas III their power, cit off our
supplies.
The Moxicans having thus shown themselves
10 he wholly incapable oi approaching our for
bcarancc aud libcr.a.ts, II Was deemed proper To
change the manner OF conducting the war, ma
hing them isel lis pressure according To the usa-
gcs observed under similar circumstances in all
other civilized nations.
Accordingly, as carly ms the 2od Sept, 1916,
instructions were given by the Secretary OF War,
70 Gen. Taylor, TO draw supplies Tor our army
from the enemy, without paving for them, and
10 require contributions Tor It's support ii in that
way he was satisfied he could get abundant sup
plies for his forces. In directing the execution
OF these instructions, much was necessarily lett