The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1847-12-16

for protection from the anarchy aud suffer. u
mo which would ensue. This, for our own e.
safety. and IN pursuance OF our established
policy, We should be compelled TO resist. 0
We could never consent that Mexico should v
be thus converted lnto a monarchy govern D
ed by a foreign prince.
Mexico is our near neighbor, and her
boundaries are coterminOus with our own
through the whole extent across the North
American continent, from ocean To ocean.
Bo.h ronucally aud commercially We have
the deepest interest IN her regeneration
aud prosperity. Indeed, It IS impossible
that, with any Just regard 10 our own sale
~, We can never become indifferent TO her
fate.
II NAV be that the Mexican Government
aud people have miscunsuued o. m'sunder'
stood our furbeafance and our objects ~
desiring TO conclude an amcable ADJUST
ment Of the existing differences between
I The two countries. They may have sup,
posed that We would submit to terms de,
graJiug to the nation or they may nave
drawn false iutelcnccs from lie supposed
division Of opinion in the I. States on the
subject Of Tive war, aud may have calcula.
ted to gam much by pfolractng Il and,
indeed, tha, we might ultimately abandon
i, altogether, without insisting on any -.
dcmnty, territorial Or otherwise. What.
ever may be The false impressions under
+, which they have acted, The adoption nnd
prosecution Of the energetic policy Propo.
sed must soon undecelve them.
In the future prosecution Of the war, the
enemy mus, be made 10 feel us pressure
more lhan they have heretofore doue. Al
I, It's commencement, It was deemed proper
i 10 conduct il IN u splril Of lorbearance and
iberality. With tins end 10 view, early
q measures were adopted to cunelhate, as Tar
: as state Of war would permit, the mass
( Of he Mexican population; to convince
! them that the war vas wbged not ssains
the peaceful inhabitants ot Mexico, but a
Is gainsl their iauhless Government, whlci
had commenced hosuI,ues, to remove iron
their minds the false impressions whlcl
their desiauln. end interested 1uiets ha
ar,luiy attempted 10 make, that the va
on our part was one OF conquest; that
~ VAS war against their religion and thel
churches, which were TO be desecraled az
% oyerlhrown; and that their nights Of pei
son and private property would he violate,
=" 10 remove these false impressions, on
commanders 10 tie field were directed scr,
d puIousIy 10 respect their religion, the
~ churches and their church property who
we're 10 no manner 10 be violated ihe
% were directed also to respect the nights
g persons and property Of all who should .,
take up arms agaIns, Us.
Assurances to his effect were gwen
u the Mexican people by MaJ Gen. Tayio
n proclamation issued ia pursuance
'a' Instructions from the Secretary Of Wa
CO in the month Of June, l-46, aud again
on Moi. Gen Scott, who acted upon his on
ne convictions Of he proprely Of lssu,ng il,
%" proclamation Of the ll,h Of May, Isl
Ia the spirit OF Iiberally and coucit
=, lion, and NTH view TO prevent the boz
- Of the Mexican population from taking
,J arms aga.ns; Us, was The war conducted ,
our part. Provisions aud other sugplsi
n. FURNISHED 10 our army by Mexican ciilzet
IT,, were Pald Coz a. lair aud liberal ptlces
>, greed upon by the parties. After the lap
10 Of a few months, It became apparent IL
these ASSURANCES and this mud irealme
y, had fitted to pru1Jce the desired effect u
n. or the Mexican population. While he ".
81 had been conducted on our part accordjt
~ to the most humane aud liberal princip
- II a
ne IA far diiereat sprt on the part Of Me
20. co Not approaching our lurbearanc
81. the Mexican people generally became ho
or tile to the L States, aud awaited hemse'y,
A, Of every opportunity to commit the no
e. savage excuses upon our troops. Lara
~ numbers Of the population took up arm
". and, engaging N guerrilla warfare, robbie
M and murdered IN the most cruel manner il
IN dtudnal soldiers, or small parties, whor
h. accident or other causes had separate
mr. from the main body of our army banl
~ Of guerrI.eros md robbers infested III
no roads, haras,ed our trains, and, wheueye
IN II vas 10 their power, cut on our supplle'
s. The MeHicans having thus shown then
Of selves TO be wbltty incapable OF appreein
N ting our t0rbcafance aud hbcrailiv, Il va
n deemed proper to change the manner q
y conducting The war by making them fec
to - pressure according to the usages obscfy
20 ed under similar circumstances BY all 9th
Re e civilized nations.
h Accordingly, as early as the 22d Of Sep
IS TENDER, rs, ms fucll0ns we're given b,
D. Tie Secretary Of War 10 Maj. Gen. Tay
r Ior to draw supplies for our army " lrou
:, the enemy, without paying for them, anr
d to require contributions for is support 81 ii
J. in that way he was satisfied he could get
j. abundant supplies for h,. forces In d..
+, rccting the execution Of these instructions,
e much WAS necessarily left to the discretion
7 Of the commanding officer, who was best
+. acquainted with the circumstances by who h
he was surrounded, The wants Of the army,
t and the practicabIIlly Of enforcing the
F.. measure.
b Gen. Taylor, on the Goth Of October.
, 1916, replied, from Monterey, that at
= would have been impossible hitherto, and