Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-12-22

existing
differences between the countries. They may
have supposed that he would submit to terms
degrading to the nation; or they may have
drawn false differences from the supposed div-
sion Of opinion in the U. States on the subject
OF the war, and may have calculated to gain
much by protracting it and, indeed, that we
might ultimately abandon it altogether, with
ont insisting on any indemnity, territorial or
otherwise. Whatever may tie false impress
sions under which they have actel, the adop-
tion AMI prosecution of the energetic. policy
proposed must soon undcceive them.
In the future prosecution of the war the enc
my must be made to feel its pressure more than
they have heretofore done. At its commence
uent il was deemed proper to conduct it in
spirit of forbearance and liberality. With this
end In view, early measures we're adopted to
concIlliate, as far as state of war would per-
nit, the mass of the Mexican population; to
con vince them that the war was waged not a.
gainst the peaceful inhabitants of Mexico, but
against their faithless government, which had
commenced hostilities /; to remove from their
designing and interested rulers had artfully at
tempted to make, that the warson our part was
one ofcoaquest; that it was war against their
religion and their churches, which were to be
desecrated and overthrown; and that their rights
sed. To remove these false Impressions, our
commanders in the field were directed scrupu-
lously to respect their religion, their churches
and their church property, which were in no
manner to be violated; they were directed also
to respect the rights Of persons and property of
all who should not take up arms against US.
Assurances to this effect we're given to the
Mexican people by Major General Taylor, in
proclamation issued in pursuance of instructions
from the Secretary of War, in the month oil
June, 1916, and again by Major General Scott,
who acted upon his own convictions of the pro-
priety of issuing it in proclamation of the 18th
Of May, l747.
In this spirit of liberality and Cancellation,
and with view to prevent the body of tie
Mexan population from taking up arms against
Us, was the war conducted on our part. Pro-
visions and other supplies furnished to our ar
my by Mexican citizens were paid for at fair
and liberal prices agreed upon by the parties.
After, the elapse oil few months, it became
apparent that these assurances, and this mild
treatment, had failed to produce the desired ef-
feet upon the Mexican population. While the
war had been conducted on our part according
to the most humane and liberal principles OBJ
served by civilized nation, it was waged in a
far different spirit on the part of Mexico. Not
approaching our forbearance, the Mex can peo-
pie generally became hostile to the U. States,
and awaited themselves of every opportunity to
commit the most savage excuses upon our
troops.
Large numbers of the population took up
arms, and, engaging in guerrilla warfare, rob-
bed and murdered in the most cruel manner, in
dividual soldiers, or small parties, whom acct
dent or other causes had separated from the
main body of our army; bands of guerrileras
and robbers infested the roads, harassed our
trains, and, whenever it was in their power, cut
off our supplies.
The Mexicans having thus shown themselves
to be wholly incapable of approaching our for
abearance and liberality, it was deemed proper
10 change the manner of conducting the war,
by making them feel its pressure according to
the usages observed under similar circumstan-
ces by all other civilized nations.
Accordingly, as early as the twenty-second
Of September, 1916, instructions were given by
the Secretary of War to Maj. Gen. Taylor to
straw supplies" for our army 'from the enemy,
without paying for them, and to require con-
tributions for its support" if in that way he
was satisfied he could ''get abundant supplies
for his forces" In directing the execution OF
these instruction, much was necessarily left to
the discretion of the commanding officer. who
was best acquainted with the circumstances by
which he was surrounded, the wants of the ar
my, and the practicability ofenforcing the mea-
sure.
Gen. Taylor, on the twenty-six of October
1886, replied, from Monterey, that sit would
have been impossible hitherto. and is so now,
to sustain the army to any extent by forced
contributions of money or supplies. For the
reasons assigned by him. he did not adopt the
policy Of his instructions, but declared his read
mess to do SO, "should the army, in its future
operations, reach portion of the country which
may be made to supply the troops with advan-
tage." He continued to pay for the articles of
supply which were drawn from the enemy IS
country.
Similar instructions were issued to Major
General Scott on the third of April, lS47. who
replied, from Jalapa, on the twentieth of May, |
IS47, that, if it be expected that 1.-The army is
to support itself by forced contributions levied
upon the country, we may ruin and exasperate
the inhabitants, and starve ourselves" The |
same discretion was given to him that bad been
to Gen. Taylor in this respect. Gen. Scott, |
for the reasons assigned by him, also continued
to pay for the articles of supply tor the army |
which were drawn from the enemy.
After the army had reached the heart OF the
the most wealthy portion Of Mexico, it was
supposed that the obstacles which had before
that time prevented it would not be such as to |
render impracticable the levy of forced contri- |
buttons for its support: and on the first of Sep
TENDER, and again on the sixth of October, 1917,
the order was repeated in dispatches add essed
by the Secretary of War to General Scott, and
his attention was again called to the impor-
lance of making the enemy bear the burdens oil
the war by requiring them to furnish the means
of supporting our army; and he was directed to
adopt this policy, unless, by doing SO, there
was danger of depriving the army of the ne
cessary supplies. Copies of these dispatches
were forwarded to Gen. Taylor for his govern
mcnt.
On the thirty first of March last, caused an
order to be issued to our military and naval com
manders to levy and collect military contrl-
button upon al, vessels and merchandise which
migh enter any of the ports of Mexico In our
military occupation, and to apply such contri-
buttons towards defraying the expenses OF the