The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-21
WHOLE NUMBER 327.

would be accepted by the L. s., the national
honor, no less than tho public interests, ~.
qnire that the war should be prosecuted
with increased energy and power, until .
lust and satisfactory peace can obtained.
In the meantime, as Mexico refuses all
indemnity, we should adopt measures 10 in.
dcmnIv ourselves. by nppropria,ing per.
maneniy n portion of her territory.
Early inter the commencement Of tho
war, New Mexico and California wcro ta-
ken possession of by our forces. Our mil.
tary mud navy commanders were ordered
to conquer and bold them, subject to be dis.
posed Of by treaty ofpcacc.
These provinces are now in our undispu.
ted occupation, and have been so for many
months. All resistance on the part OF Mex.
leo having ceased within their limits, am
satisfied TINT they should never be surrcn.
dcred to Mexico. Should Congress concur
with mc in this opinion, and that they should
bc retained by the L. States ms indemnity.
| can perceive no good reason why the civ.
u jurisdiction and laws oi the y. s., should
unt nj once be extended over them.
To wait for treaty Of peace, such NJ We
arc willing to make, by which our rclntions
Ia them would not be changed, cannot be
good policy, whilst our interests md that Of
the people minimizing them, require that a
stable. responsible aud free government,
under our authority, should be-. US soon 40
possible, established over them. Should
Congress determine to hold these provinces
permanently, and that they shall hereafter
Inc considered constituent parts ofour coun-
try. the early establishment of territorial
government over them will be important
tor the more perfect protection of persons
and property, and rccomme I'd that such
territorial governments he established. Il
will promote peace md tranquility among
the inhabitants by ALA; ing all npprchen.
sion that they may cniertnin Of being sub
jcctS again 10 the jurisdiction of Mexico
invite the early and favorable considera.
ton Of Congress 10 this important subject.
Besides New Mexico aud California,
there nrc other rrurinrcs which have been
reduced to our possession by conquest
These other Mexican provinces arc now
governed by our military or naval comman-
dcrs. under the general authority which 10
conferred upon conqncror by the laws Of
war. They should continue 10 he held a
n means of cocrcing Mexico TO ncccdc to
just terms Of peace. Civil, rs well as mill.
Iary officers nre acquired 10 such gov.
crnmcnf. Adequate compensation, 10 bs
drawn from contributions levied on tho
cneE,y, should he fixed by law for such Of.
iicers ms may he thus employed. What
further NAV become necessary, and what
final disposition il may be proper 10 make
OF them. must depend on the future pro-
gross oithe war md the course Mexico may
think proper hereafter 10 pursue.
With the views entertain, cannot IN.
vnr the policy which has been suggested.
either 10 withdraw our army altogether, or
la retire To designated line mud simply
hold and defend It, To withdraw our mr..
ms altogether from the couqucsts they hayo
made, hy deeds Of unparalleled bravery.
aud n, the expense of SD much blood and
tears. IN war jast on our part, and ono
which, by tho net Of the enemy. We could
not honorahly have avoided, would be 10 de.
grade tho nation in its own cstimstion md
in TINT Of the warld r. retire 10 n line.
aud simply hold aud defend il, would mot
terminate the wnr. On the contrary. Il
would encourage Mexico to persevere, and
tend topro,ract il indefinitely.
II is MT TO he expected, that Mexico. nj.
ter having refused to establish such a line
rs boundary. when our victorious armies
arc IN possession 81 her capital md heart Of
her country, would permit us 10 hold Il
without resistance. That she would con.
time the wnr, and TINT IN the most harras.
sing aud annoying forms, there can be no
| doubt. A border warfare Of most savage
character, extending over long line, would
bc increasingly wagcd. Il would require
a large army TO be continually in the field.
stationed ut posts and gnrrsons along such
line 10 protect and defend il. Tho enc.
my relieved from tho pressure of our arms
on his coast aud in the populous parts Of
he interior, would direct the operations.
and, selecting M isolated post Tor attack.
would concentrate his forces 10 il. This
would be condition Of niIairs which tho
Mexicans, pursuing their favorable system
ofguerrilla warfare, would probably prefer
ionn, other Were we 10 assume defen.
sive attitude, on such line, oil the sdv.n.
tages Of such stntc Of war would Be on
the side ii the enemy. We could levy no
contributions upon him, or In any other
why make him feel the pressure Of tho var;
but must remain inactive aud await his M.
proach, being in constant uncertainty a
what point Of the line, or At what time, h
might make the assault. He may assem.
BILE and organize an overwhelming force 10
The interior. on his own eide ofthe line, and
concc sing his purpose, mako o sudden q.
aault upon some of our posts, 10 distant
from any other as 10 prevent thu nnes;h;,;a.,