Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1847-12-25

Besldet New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;, there
are other Mexican provinces which have been re.
dueed to our possession by conquest These other
Mexican provinces are now governed by our mill.
tary and naval commanders, under the general al.
thority which Ia conferred upon Il eonqueror by the
laws of war, Thoy should continue to be held as a
means Of GoerGtng Mexico to accede to justtermB OF
peace. Civil as well as military officers are required
TO conduct such a government. Adequate eompen.
sati0n to be drawn from contributions levied ON the
enemy should be fixed by law for such officers as
may be thus employed. What further provision
may become necessary, and WhHttinal disposition II
rnay be proper TO nuke 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, | cauat favor the poll
cy 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
urmy altogether from the eonqussts they have made
by deed OF unparalleled bravery, and at the Ok.
peHse Of so much blood and tFeasure, In a just war
on our part, and one which. by the act OF the enemy,
we could not honorably have Avoided, would be to
degrade the NATHAN in IT'S own sstimatian and In that
of tho world.
TO retire to a line and, eimply hold and defend it,
would not terminate the war. On the contrary, 1t
would encourage Mexico to perseqere, and tend to
protraGt it indefinitely.
It ID MOTTO be expected that Mexico, after refusing
to establish Bueh O line as a permanent boundary,
when our victorious army are In possession of her
capital, and IN the heart Of her country, would per.
aAA Us W AHAtt IL " tlBAt 6tr A nat AIb NOAll
continue the war, and in the most harrassing and
noying forms, there can be no doubt. A border
warfare of the most savage character, extending
over a long line, would be INCREASINGLY waged. II
would require n large army to be kept constantly in
the field, stationed at posts and g~arrisons aiongsuch
n line, to protect and defend it. Th6eneny, reliev-
edtrom the pressure of our arms on his coast and
in the populous parts Of the interior, would direct
his attention to this line, and, %aelecting an isolated
spot for attack, would concentrate his forces upon
IT. This would he q rOudifi0nk nf affairs ugficb the
Mexicans, pursuing their their fayOIite system Of
guerrilla waftarC, would probably prefer to any
other. Were We to assume q defensive Httitupe on
such q line, al the advantages ofsueh Il state Oliver
would he on the side ofthe enemy. We could levy
no contributions upon him, or in any other way
make him feel tho procure of the war, bft must raa
main inactive and await hig approach, being in con,
stRnt uncertainty ut what point of the line, or at
whit time, he might make afI assault. He may as
semble and organize an overwhelming force In the
interior, on his own side ofthe line. and, cencealing
his purpose, make a sudden assault upon some one
Of our posts ss distant from any other as to prevent
the possibility Of timely suec0r or re-inforGements
and In this way our gallant army would be exposed
TO the danger ofbeing cut off in detail; or if by their
unequalled bravery and prowess everywhere ex-
hibited during this war, they should repulse the
enemy, their numbers stationed ut any enc post
may be too small 10 pursue him.
Ii the enemy be repulsed in ne attack, he would
have nothing 10 do but to retreat to his own side of
the line. md, being in no fear Of a pursuing army.
may reinforce himself at leisure, for another attack
on the same or some other post. He may, too cross
the lire fetween our posts, make rapid incursions
into the country which we hold, murder the inhab.
itants, commit deprcdations on them, and then re.
treat to the interior before a sufficient force can be
concentrated to pursue him. Such would probably
be the hArrassiHg character Of q mere defensive
war on our part. II our forces, when attacked, or
threatened with attack, be permitted to cross the
line, drive back the enemy, and conquer him, this
would be again TO invade the enerny's country after
having lost all the advantages OF tue conquests we
have already made, by having voluntarily abandoned
them. To hold such a line successfully and In Sc.
Gurity, it is far from being certain that ii would not
require rs large an army as would he necessary to
hold ali the conquests we have already made, and
to continue the prosecution of the war in the heart
of the enemy'B country. It is also far from being
certain that the expenses of the war would be d.
minighed by such a policy.
] am persuaded that the best means of vindicating
the national honor and interest, and of bringing the
war to an honorable close, will be to prosecute it
with increased energy and power tn the vital parts
of the enemy's country.
In my annual message TO Congress of December
| declared That "the war has not been waged
with a view to conquest; but having been com.
menced by Mexico, 1t has been carried into the enc
my's country, and win be vigorously prosecuted
there. with q view to obtain an honorable peace,
and thereby secure ample indemnity for the ex.
penses of the war, as well as to our much injured
who hold large pecuniary demands against
Such, In my Judgment, continues to be
our true policy-indeed, the only policy which will
secure a permanent poace.
1t has never been contemplated by me, as an OBJ
of the war, to nuke 3 permanet conquest OF
the republic OFMexico. or TO annihilate her separate
as an independent nation. On the con
trary. IL has ever been my desire that she should
her nationality, and, nnder g good govern,
Fnent adapted to her condition., be a free, indepen-
dent, aud prosperous republic. The United States
the frat among the n%ationst to recognise her in
dependence, and have always desired to be on
of amity and gaod neighborhUod with her.
This she would not suffer. BY her own conduct we
have been compelled to euga5e in the present war.
In its prosecution, we seek not her overthrow as a
nation; but, in vindicating our national honor, we
seek to obtain redress for the wrongs she has done
US. and indemnity for our just demands against her.
demand an honorable peace; and that peace
must bring with 1t indemnity for the past. and secu-
rity for the future. Hitherto Mexico has refused all
accommodation by which such a peace can be OBJ
Whilst our armies have advanced from yictoryto
from the commencement of the war, it has
always been with the olive branch of peace in their
hands; and it has qeen in the power Of Mexico, at
every step, to arrest hostilittes by accepting 1t.
One great obstacle to the attainment of peace has.
undoubtedly arisen from the fact, that Mexico has
been go long held in subsection by one faction or
usurper after another, and srch has been
condition of insecurity in which their successive
have been placed, that each has been
leEeETeu from HlaktHS pedSCj lGstt lOT bulS very
cause, a rival facrion might expel it from power.
Such was the fate of President Herrera's admins
ration in 1915, for being disposed even TO listen to
he o~vertures of the United States to prevent the
war, as is fully confirmed by an official correspon-
1ence which took place in the month of August last,
between him and his government, a copy of which
IA herewith communicated aFor this cause alone,
he revolution which displaced him from power
set on foot by General Paredes. Such may be
he condition Of insecurity OF the present govern
There can be no doubt that the peaceable and
disposed inhabitants Of Mexico are convinced
it is the true interest of their country to con
dude an honorable perez with the United States;
out the apprehension of becoming the victim of
,ome military faction or usurper may have prevent
I'd them from manifesting their feelings by any pub
ic act. The removal of any such apprehension
would probably cause them to speak their senti-
nents freely, and to adopt the measures necessary
Tor the restoration of peace. With a people dis
racted and divided by contending factions, and a
government subject to constant changes by success
revolutions, the continued successes of our
lrms may fail t~ogeCure a satisfactory peace. In such
event, it may become proper for our commanding
in the field to give encouragement and as.
3urances of protection TO the friends of peace in
Mexico, in the establishment and maintenance Of a
republican government of their own choice
and willing to conclude a peace which would
be just to them, and secure to us the indemnity we
This may become the only mode of OBJ
aiming such q peace. Should such be the result,
he war which Mexico has forced upon us would
be converted into an enduring blessing to her
After finding her torn and distracted by fac
ions, and ruled by military usurpers, we should
hen leave her with a republican government, in the
enjoyment of real independence, and domestic
peace and prosperity. performing all her relative
in the great family Of nations, and promoting
own happiness by wise laws and their faithful
If, after aferding this encouragement and protec-
ion, and after all fhe perseYering and sincere et-
forts we have made, from the moment Mexico com
nenced the war, and prior to that time. to adjust
our differences with her, we shall ultimately fail,
we shall have exhausted I honorable means