Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-17

"Fiuioh IN Tue Ohited Sates 0a the subject OF m.
war, aud may have calculated 10 gain m, Oh ~
protracIing il, and indeed that We migh ,ul;,ns,.
ly sbandon il altogether, without IT, sis,ing on any
mdemni'y-teriIOral or other. Use. Wbareyrr
may have been the false iup-essions undsr which
they have acted, the adaption and prosecution of
me enerse"c policy proposed mus, soon uude.
~ The future prosecution Of the war, the ene-
my must be made TO feel its pressure more than
they have heretofore done. Al It's commence
ment, Il was deemed proper to conduct Il in a spi-
mt Of iorbearance and liberaliJy. With this end
IA view, early measures were adopted to concili-
ate. as FAR as a slate Of war would permit, the
mass Of the Mexican population to convince
them that the war was waged not against the
peaceful inhabitants of Mexico, but against their
failhless government, which had commenced hos
uinics; 10 remove from their minds the false inn
preston, which their designing and interested ru.
iers had arIiully attempted to make, that the war
on our par was one of conqueSt-that il is a war
against their religion aud their churches, which
were 20 be deSecraled and Overthrown, and that
Their rights OF person aud private properly would
be violated. To remove these false impressions.
our commanders in the field were directed scrll.
pulously 10 respect their religion, their churches
and their church properly, which were in no
manner 10 be violated. They were directed al
50 TO respect the rights of persons and properly
OF all who should not lake up arms against us.
Assurances TO this effect were given TO the
Mexican people by Major General Taylor, in Il
proclamation issued in pursuance of instructions
from the Secretary Of War, in the month o.
June, 1916, aud again by Major General Scott,
"a lp tbt,. ,r,.
priely Of issuing it in proclamation of the llh
OF May, lGl7. In this spirit of libcraliry aud
cancellation, and with a view TO prevent the bo.
dy Of the Mexican population from taking up
arms against us-was the war conducted on uur
part. Provisions and other supplies furnished to
our army by Mexican Citizens were paid for al
fair aud liberal prices agreed upon by the parties
After the lapse Of a few months it became appa.
rent that these assurances aud this mild treat.
mepl bad failed to produce the desired effect up.
on the Mexican population, While the war had
been conducted on our part according to the
the most humane and liberal principles. observed
by civilized nations, it was wagcd in far differ.
rnt spirit on the puu of Mexico.
Not Oppreclaling our lorbearance, the Mexican
peoplo generally became hostile TO the United
States, aud availed themselves Of every oppor.
tunIty to commit the most savage cXCcssGs upon
our troops. Large numbers Of tho population
took up arms, and engaging in Guerilla warfare
robbed and murdered in the most cruel manner
individual soldiers or small parties whom ucci.
dCnt or olher causes hpd separated from the main
body Of our army. Bands of GucriIIas aud rob
bcrs infested the roads, harrasscd our trains, and
whenever il was IN their power cut of our sup
plies.
The Mexicans having thus shown themselves
to be wholly incapable Of approaching our for
bcarancc and liberuity, it was deemed proper to
change the mauncrof conducting the war, by ma
king them feel It's pressure according to the usa-
gcs observed under similar circumstances by all
other civilized nations. Accordingly, as carly as
the 22d ot September, 1916, Instructions were
gwen by the Secretary Of War 10 Major Genera
Taylor, to draw supplies for our army from til,
enemy, paying for them, and to require conlribu
ilons for its support, it in that way ho was salts
nod he would gel abundant supplies for his for
ccs. In directing the execution Of these nstruc
ilons much was necessarily left to the discretion
OF the commanding officer, who was best acquan
ted with the circumstances by which he was sur
rounded, tn wants of the army, and the pracl
cabllIty Of enforcing the measure.
General Taylor, on the 26uh of October, | 84G
replied from Monterey that it would have been
impossible hitherto and is SO now to sustain the
annyto any extent by forced contributions of mo.
ney or supplies. For the reasons assigned by
him he dldnoI adopt the poicyol his Instructions
buI he declared his readiness to do so, should
the army in its future operations reach portion
Of the country which may bo made to supply
the troops with advantage. lie continued to pay
ha nG "a IA
the enemy 5 country.
Similar instructions were issued to Major Gen.
erM scott, on the I'd of April, l847, who replied
from Jaapa on the 2Olh of May, l8l7, that, il
it be expected that the army is 10 support ilse
by forced contributions levied upon the country
we may ruin aud eXaspcrate the inhabitants aud
starve ourselves. This same discretion was civ.
en- TO him that had been to General TAYLOR in lhi,
respect. General Scot, for the reasons assigned
by him, also continued to pay for the articles o.
supply Tor the army, which were drawn from the
enemy.
After the army, had 70 lchcd the heart, the mos
wealthy portion of Mexico, il was supposed lha
the obstacles which had before that time preycnt
cd il, would not be such as to render impractical
bic the levy of forced contributions for its sup
port, aud on the lsI September, aud again on til,
9Th ofOcIober, l847, the order was repeated il
dispatches addressed by the Secretary of Wa
TO Gen. Scot, and his auenton was again callct
10 the importance Of making the enemy bear III,
burdens Of supporting our army, aud he was di
rected to adopt This policy, unless by doing 5,
there was danger Of deprying the army of tn,
necessary supplies. Copies of these dcspalchc
were forwarded to General Taylor for his GOV
0rumenI.
On the 3lst Of March last, caused an orde
10 be issued TO our military aud naval comman
'.rs, TO lcvy and coIIccl military contributor
on all vessels aud merchandise which miuh
r any of the pors of Mexico, in our milrlar,
1nnLinn- md 10 nnnlN Aurh cnnlrLhn1iuua L.