Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-10


own interest, and that of the people inhabit-
ing them, require that stable, responsible,
and free government under our authority,
over them. Should Congress, therefore, de-
termine 10 hold these provinces permanently,
: and that they shall hereafte, be considered as
constituent parts Of our country, the early es-
tabishment of territorial governments over
them will be important for the more perfect
protection of persons and property; and re-
commend that such territorial governments be
established. 1t will promote peace and tran
guilty among the inhabitants, by alIaying all
apprehension that IT ey may still entertain of
being again subjected to the jurisdiction Of
Mexico. | invite the early and favorable con-
slderation of Congress 10 this important sub
ject.
Besides New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;.
there are other Mexican provinces which have
been reduced to our possession by conquest.
These other Mexican provinces are now gov
erned by our military and naval commanders,
under the general authority which is conferred
upon conqueror by the laws of war. They
should continue TO be held as a means of CO.
ercng Mexico 10 accede TO ust terms of peace.
Civil as well as military officers are required
to conduct such a government. Adequate
compensation, 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 necessa-
: ry, and what final disposition it may be pro-
per to make of them, must depend on the fu-
ture progress of the war, and the course which
Mexico may think proper hereafter to pursue.
With the views | entertain, | cannot favor
the policy 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 army altogether from
the conquests they have made by deeds of I'M
parralleled bravery, and at the expense of SO
much blood and treasure, in a ust war on our
part, and one which, by the act of the enemy,
we could not honorably have avoided, would
be to degrade the nation in its own estimation
and in that of the world
To retire to a line, and simply hold and de.
fend it, would not terminate the war On the
contrary, it would encourage Mexico TO per-
severe, and tend to protract it indefinitely 1t
is not to be expected that Mexico, after refu-
sing to establish such line as Il permanent
boundary, when our victorious army are in
. possession OF her capital, and in the heart OF
her country, would permit us TO hold it with
out resistance That she would continue the
, war, and in the most harrassng and annoying
forms, there can be no doubt. \ border war
fare of the most savage character, extending
over long line, would be increasingly wa.
ged. 1t would require large army 10 be kept
constantly in the field, stationed at posts and
garrisonS along such line, TO protect and de-
, fend it. The enemy, relieved from the pres
, sure of our arms On bis coasts and in the po
pulous parts OF the interior, would direct hi
attention TO this line, and, selecting an isola
ted post for attack, would concentrate his for
: ces upon it. This would be condition O
. affairs which the MeAicans, pursuing their ia
vorite system Of guerrilla warfare, would pro
badly prefer to any other. Were we to as
sumo defensive attitude on such line, al
the advantages of such state of war would
! be on the side of the enemy. We could levy
no contributions upon MIN, or in any othe
, way make him feel the pressure of the war
but must remain inactive and await his ap
proach, being in constant uncertainty at wha
point on the line, or at what time he might max,
an assault. He may assemble and organize
q an overwhelming force in the interior, on hi:
y own side of the line, and, concealing his pur
pose, make sudden assault upon some one O.
: our posts so distant from any other as to pre-
:, vent the possibility of timely succor or rein
{ forcements and in this way our gallant army
r
, off in detail or if, by their unequalled brave
~ and proves everywhere exhibited during
! this war, they should repulse the enemy. thei
= numbers stationed at any one post may be toe
! small to pursue him If the enemy be rcpul
sed in one attack, he would have nothing tc
. do but to retreat to his own side of the line
and, being in no fear of a pursuing army, may
, reinforce himself at leisure, for another attack
o on the same or some other post. He may, too
cross the line between our posts, make rapl'
ncursions into the country which we hold
!, murder the inhabitants, commit depreciation:
{ on them, and then retreat to the interior be
o fore sufficient force can he concentrated tt
y pursue him. Such would probably be thu
harrassing character OF a mere defensive wa
4 on our part If our forces, when attacked, o
i threatened with attack, be permitted to cross
the line, drive back the enemy, and conque
> him, this would be again 10 invade the enc
my's country, after having lost all the advan
4 tages OF the conQuests we have already made
:. by having voluntarily abandoned them II
= hold such line successfully and in security
: it is far from being certain that it would no
require as large an army as would he necessa
; ~ to hold all the conquests we have alread1
i made and to continue the prosecution of tn
war in the heart of the enemy's country.
- is also far from being certain that the expcn
, ses of the war would be diminished by sucl
/. policy.
| am persuaded thai the best means of vim
= dicating the national honor and interest, an
o of bringing the war to an honorable close
- will be 10 prosecute it with increased cncrg,
i and power in the vital parts of the enemy
: country.
h In my annual message to Congress of De
= cember last, declared that ''the war has no
:. been waged with view to conquest; but hav
- ing been commenced by Mexico, it has bee
;, carried into the enemys country, and will b
vigorously prosecuted there, with view t
. obtain an honorable peace, and thereby secur
4, ample indemnity for the expenses of the war
,. as well as to our much-injured citizens, VIII
4 hold large pecuniary demands against Mex
% co.. Such, in my judgment. continues to b
Il our true policy-indeed, the only policy whlc
= will probaly secute permanent peace
h 1t has never been contemplated by me, a
4 an object of the war, to make a permanent
"a conquest of the republic of Mexico, or to an
=, initiate her separate existence as an ndepen
r. dent nation. On the contrary, ii has ever bee
r. my desire that she should maintain her nation
!. atty, and, under good government adapte
10 to her conditions, be a free, Independent, an
n prosperous republic. The United States wer
$ the ftrt among the nations to recognise he
). Iindependence, and have always desired to b
on terms of amity and good neighborhoo
4 with her. This she would not suffer. b
her own conduct we have been compelled I
~ engage in the present war. nits prosecution