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

ports, towns, cities and provinces now in oul
occupation, or which may hereafter fall into
our possession; that we should press forward
our military contributions on the enemy as may,
as far as practicable, defray the future expen-
ses of the war.
Had the government of Mexico acceded ia
the equitable and liberal terms proposed, that
mode of adjustment would have been preferred.
Mexico having declined to do this, and failed to
offer any other terms which could be accepted
by the United States, the national honor, no
less than the public interests, requires that the
war should be prosecuted with increased energy
and power until just and satisfactory peace
can be obtained In the meantime as Mexico
refuses all indemnity, we should adopt meas
ures to indemnify ourselves, by approprating
permanently portion of her territorv. Early
after the commencement of the war, New
Mexico and the CALIFORNIA; were taken DOS
session of by our forces. Our military and ma
| val commanders were ordered to conquer and
hold them, subject to be disposed of by treaty
of peace.
| The provinces are now in our undis puted &C.
| cupation, and have been so for many nonths:
all resistance on the part of Mexico having
ceased within their limits. | am satisfied that
they would never be surrendered to Mexico.-
Should Congress concur with me in this opin-
ion, and they should be retained by the United
States as indemnity. | can perceive no good
reason why the civil Jurisdiction and laws of
the U. S. should not at once be extended over
them. To wait for treaty of peace, such as
we are willing to make, by which our relations
towards them would not be changed, cannot be
good policy: whilst our own interest, and that
of the people inhabiting them require that a
staple, responsible and free government, under
- l.
tablished over them.
Should Congress, therefore, determine to hold
these provinces permanently, and they shall
hereafter be considered as constituting parts of
our country, the carly establishment of terrific
rial governments over them will be important
for the more perfect protection of persons and
property: and recommend that such territorial
government be established. 1t will promote
peace and tranquility among the inhabitants,
by allaying all apprehension that they may
still entertain of being again subjected to the
jurisdiction of Mexico. / invite the early and
favorable consideration of Congress to this i'm
portant subject.
Resides the New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;,
there are other Mexican provinces which have
been reduced to our possession by conquest
These other Mexican provinces are now gov
erned bv our military and naval commanders,
under the general authority which is conferred
upon a conqueror by the laws OF war. They
should continue to be held as means of coer-
cling Mexico to accede to just terms of peace.
Civil as well as military officers are required to
conduct such government. Adequate COM
mensaton to be drawn from contributions levied
on the enemy, should be fixed by law for such
officers as NAV be thus employed. What fur
Their provision may become necessary, and what
final disposition it may be proper to make of
them, must depend on the future progress of the
war. and the course which Mexico may think
proper hereafter to pursue.
With the views entertain, cannot favor
the policy which has been suggested, either to
withdraw our army altogether, or to retire to a
designated line, and simply hold and defend it.
To withdraw our army altogether from the con-
quests they have made by deeds of unparalleled
bravery and at the expense OF SO much blood
and treasure, in just war on our part, and one
which, by the act of the enemy, we could not
honorablv have avoided, would be to degrade
the nation in its own estimation and in that of
the world.
To retire to a line, and simply hold and de-
fend it, would not terminate the war. On the
contrary it would encourage Mexico to perse-
we're and tend to protract it indefinitely.
1t is not to be expected that Mexico, after
refusing to establish such line as perman-
ent boundary. when our victorious army is in
possession of her capital and in the heart of her
country. would permit us to hold it without re-
sistance. That she would continue the war
under the most harrassing and annoying forms
there can be no doubt. border warfare of
the most savage character, extending over a
Longtime would be increasingly waged. Itwould
require large army to be kept constantly in
the field. stationed at posts and garrisons along
such line to protect and defend it. The enc
nv. relieved from the pressure of our arms on
his coasts and in the populous parts of the inte
ror, would direct his attention to this line and
selecting an insolate post for an attack, would
concentrate his forces upon it.
This would be a condition of affairs which
the Mexicans pursuing their favorite system of
guerilla warfare, would probably prefer to any
other. Were we to assume a defensive attitude
on such line. all the advantages of such a
state of war would he on the side of the enemy.
We could levy no contributions upon him, or
in any other way make him feel the pressure OF
the war, but must remain inactive and wait his
approach, being in constant uncertainty at what
point on the line, or at what time, he might
make an assault. He may assemble and organ
ize an overwhelming force in the interior, on
his own side of the line, and conceding his pur-
pose, make sudden assault upon some one of
our posts SO distant from any other as to pre-
vent the possibility of timely succor or reinforce
ments; and in this way our gallant army would
be exposed to the danger of being cut off in de-
tail, or if by their unequalled bravery and pow
ers everywhere exhibited during this war, they
should repulse the enemy, their numbers sta
toned at any one post may be too small to pur-
sue him. If the enemy be repulsed in one at
tack. he would have nothing to do but to re-
treat to his own side of the line, and being In
no fear of the pursuing army, may reinforce
himself at leisure, for another attack on the
same or some other post. "A
He may too cross that line between our posts
make rapid incursions into the country which
we hold, murder the inhabitants; commit de-
predatons on them, and then retreat to the in
terror before sufficient force can be concen-
trated to pursue him Such would probably be
the harrassing character of a mere defensive
war on our part. If our forces which attacked,
or threatened with attack, be permitted to cross