Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-06-19
GEN. SCOTS PROCLAMATION.

show how skilfully it could seem to deny thing
in the very breath that il admitted it, declared that
",the Government had no more to do with it the
I" Proclamation than the Editors of the National
I" Intelligencer themselves; and, again, that the
i" Proclamation written by Gen. ScoTT, with
I" out any instructions from the Administration
{" without any suggestion of thers-without their
/" knowledge"
T That the Proclamation was Uritten by Gen.
ScoTT we have no doubt: il bears its face evil
dence of the fact That il was issued without any
immediate direction from Washington is possible.
That It's contents are not founded upon limitations
to Gen. SCOTT before his departure hence, or upon
authority since impaired by the Executive, we do
not believe. The contrary has been directly aver
red, and has been heretofore stated in this paper,
upon authority on which we are obliged to rely
more than upon the statement which the " Union
has been on this occasion induced to put forth ;
especially since, only this day two weeks, the
{" Union" gravely assured the Public that :. whe-
" Their Gen. ScoIT does or does not possess diplo-
ma'ic powers, &c. is haoaon 10 no persons In the
United States beyond the President and mem
bers Of his Cabinet, and one confidential clerk
/" IN The Department." How is it, then, that the
Editor fine" Union' pretends to know what are
Gen. ScoTT's Instructions!
But there is much stronger evidence than merely
circumsantial on this subject. 1t has been stated,
we repeat by one who does know in letter from
this city published in paper with which he CORE
spends, that Gen. ScoTT, in issuing his Procama-
ton, has done no more than carry out the full
views of the Administration in manner perfectly
approved by it," Nay the fact that the Admins
tration does not disapoaO the Proclamation, or any
part of it, even when raising controversy about
Its authorship-as if it were of any consequence
by whose pen it was committed to paper-is tanta-
mount to an admission of its being effectively the
act of the Administration itself.
But why the Administration should thus seek, by
representations through its organ to evade respon-
sibility, either present or future, for Gen ScoTTs
statement to the Mexicans of the motive of the Go
vernment in precipitating this War with Mexico is
what puzzles us. Does the Administration sup
pose, like the ostrich, that, by hrusting it's head
into the furze, il can escape thepublic penetration
More silly than that bird, if such be its object in
repudiating the only principle in Gen. ScoTr's
Proclamation to which we have taken exception
that principle being, however, the gangrene spot Of
this. War--t forgets that Immediately after this
war broke out, the Administration incorporated the
same principle in an elaborate Proclamation, which,
in print, in both Spanish and English languages,
il transmitted to Gen. Taylor, and ordered him to
" sign and circulate" Our readers have more than
once had spread before them the entire Proclama-
N xub rafp nd tn bof Ua w
say of the substantial correspondence between the
Manifesto written for Taylor, and that written By
Scott, and to establish common origin for all that
is essential in both, it is necessary only now to
present to them the following extract from the Pro-
clamation forwarded to Gen. TAYLOR from the War
Department on the 4th of June, 1896 with orders
TO adopt and circulate the same
EXTRACT FROM GEN TAYLoR's PROCLAMATION.
" Your Government is IN the hands of tyrants
and usupers. They have abolished your State
Governments they have overhrown your Fede-
raj Constitution they have deprived you of the
right of suffrage destroyed the liberty of the press,
despoied you OF your arms, and reduced you TO a
state ofdbsolute dependence upon the potCer Of a
| military dictator. Your army and rulers exort
from the people by grievous taxation, by forced
| loans and military seizures, the very money which
| sustalns the usurpers In power. being dlSarmed
| you were left defenceless, an easy prey TO the
savage Cumanches, who not only destroy your
lives and property, but drive into captivity more
horrible than death itself your wives and children
III is your military rulers achO hare reduced you
10 this depiOrable condition. IL IS THESE Ty-
| RANTS, and their corrupt and cruel satellites,
gorged with the peoples treasure, by whom you
are thus oppressed and impoverished, some Of
whom haze boldly ADVOCATED a monarchicn 60
Uernnaent, and would place European prince
upon the throne Of IHerico. We come to obtain
reparation for repeated wrongs and injuries; we
come to obtain indemnity for the past and security
| for the future WE COME OVERTHROW THE Ty-
RANTS WHO HAVE DESTROYED YOUR LIBERTIES ;
| but we come to make no war upon the people of
| Mexico, nor upon any form Of free government
| they may choose to select for themselves. III IS
| our Dish 10 see you LIBERATED FROM DEsPoTs, to
drive back the savage Cumanches," &c. &c.
What more indelensible purpose could be avowed
for marching an army into the territories of a
neighboring nation, hewng down its defences, and
reducing its population to the most CALLING submits
sion, than simply, that of overhrowing their actual
Government of releasing them from all allegiance
to it, and Che Proclamation did not add, but very
clearly intended at that time) replacing its ruins
the rule of the very man whom, because of his
tyranny, the People themselves had but just before
deposed from power and expelled!
/ Liant Col Cu,prps Nav of tho IT nra