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

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troops in the prosecution of the war. 1t demanded
the right for MeSiGut TO levy md collect the Mexican
tariff for duties on goods imported into her ports
while in our military occupation during tho war, and
the owners of which had paid to officers oft1e United
States the military contributions which had been le-
We'd upon them and 1t offered to cedeto the United
States. for a pGcuniary consideration, that part of
Upper California lying north Of latitude thirty-seven
degrees. Such were the unreasonable terms pro.
posed by the Mexican commissioners.
The Cession to the United States by Mexico. of the
provinces Of Now MEXICO and the CALIFORNIA;. as
proposed by the commissioner Of the United States,
it was believed, would be more in accordance with
the convenience and interests Of both nations than
any other eession OF territory which It was probable
Mexico could be induced to make.
Iii manifest to all who have observed the actual
condition Of the Mexican government, for some
time ffpat and at present, that if these provinces
should be retained by her, she could not long con
tiuue to hold and govern them. Mexico Is too fee
bic a puwerto govern those provinces, lying us they
do, at n distance Of more than a thousand miles
from her capital, and, If attempted to be retained by
her, they would constitute but for a short time, even
nominally, q part OF her doninions.
This would be especially the case with Upper Cal
iforBia, Tho sagHGity of powerful European na.
tons has long since directed their attention to the
commercial importance of that province, and there
can ba but little doubt that the moment the United
States shall relinYuish their present occupation of it,
aud their claim to IL as indemnity, an effort would
be made by some foreign power to posses il, either
ny GbAItlAGHt VI piIGutsbs II .tu luEBlEH UDWHE
should acquire it by either Of these modes. an indie.
pendent revolutionary government would probably
DO established by the inhabitants, and such foreign.
es as may remain in or remove to the country, as
soon as it shall be known that the United States
have abanBonod il. Such u government would be
too feeble long TO maintain it's sgperHte independent
existence, and would finally become annexed TO,
or be a dependent COLONY OF some more powerful
Statd.
should my foreign governmentattempt to possess
ii rs a colony, or otherwise incorporate 1t with IT,
self. the principle HvOwed by President Monroe, In
1924, and re.ahirned In my first annual mesaage;that
no foreign power shell, with our consent, be permit
tod tor plant or establish any new colony or domtn-
ion on any part Of the North American continent,
must be maintained. In maintaining THE principle,
and III ~Feai8tibg ita invasion by any foreign power,
we might be involved in other wars, more eEpen-
sive and more difficult than that in which VIC are
now euRHed.
The provinces Of New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;
are contiguout to tho territory Of the United States,
and It brought under the government of our laws,
their esources-mineral, agricultural Tnanuiactur.
ing, and ommoroinl-wnuld soon be developed.
Upper California ii bounded on the north by our
Oregon possessions: and If held by the United States.
would soon be settled by a hardy. eutsrpriBing, and
intelligent portion Of our population. The Bay of
San Francisco, and other harbors along the Califor.
MIA coast, would afforod shelter for our navy. for our
numerous w1nIe ships, and other merchant vessels
employed in the Pacific ocean, and would In a short
period, become the mnrts OF an extensive and profit
upie commerce Win CHulh, ana OIueT countries Oh
the East.
These advantages, in which the whole CONNER.
cial world would participate. would at once be &C.
cured to TIE United States by the cession Of this
territory, while it is certain that ms long as it re-
mains a part of the Mexican dominiona, they can be
enjoyed neither by Mexico herself, nor by any
other nation.
New MEXICO ia a frontier province, and has never
been Of any considerable value to Mexico. From
its locality. IL is naturally connected with our West
rru gptflHT1pnIa The tpFritDriul liTnita Cf tho Ifnfp
of Texas, too, ne defined by her laws, before her
admission into our Union, embrace all that portion
Of New Mexico lying East of the Rio GrRnde, while
Mexico still claims to hold this territory as a part of
her dominions. Tho adjustment of this question of
boundary is important.
There Is another consideration which induced
the belief that the Mexican government might even
desire to place this province under the protection Of
the government of the United States. Numerous
bands Of fierce and warlikG savages wander over
ii. and npon its borders, Mexico has been, and must
continue TO be, too feeble to restrain them from
committing depredations, robberies and murders.
not only upon the inhabitants OF New Mexico itself,
but upon those of the other Northern States of Mex.
leo. It would be a blessing to all these Northern
States to have their citizens protected agninct them
by the power Of the United States. At this mo.
meut many MeSicans, principally females and
children, are In captivity among them. IF New Mex
leo were held and governed by the United States;
we could etfeCtually prevent these tribes from com.
hitting such O%utrages, and compel them to release
these captives, and restore them to thesr families
friends.
In proposing to acquire New Mexico and the Ca.
liCornias; it was known that but an fnconsiderable
portion Of the Mexican people would be transferred
with them; the country embraced within these pro.
viucey being chiefly an uninhabited region.
These were the leading considerations which in.
duced me to authorize the terms Of peace which
were proposed to MoxicO. They were reiscfed
aud, negotiations being at an end, hostilities were
renewed. An assault was made by our gallant
,7pr7 tho atFonrlv fortified F1nppH y,aar kJr
gates of the city of Mexico, and upon the city ITSELF
after several days of severe conflict, the Mexi-
can forces, vastly superior in number to our own,
were driyen from the city anc it was occupied by
our troops.
Immediately after information was received of
the unfavorablG result of the negotiations, believing
that his continued presence with the army could
he productive OF no good, ! determined TO recall our
commissioner. A dispatch 10 this effect was trans
mitted to him ON the sixth of October last. The
Mexican government WILDE informed ofhis recall;
that, in the existing state of things, | shall not
it proper to make any further oyertures of
peace, but shall be at all times ready to receive and
consider any proposals which may be made by
Mexico.
Since the liberal proposition of the United States
authorised to be made in April last, large OK.
Denditures have been incurred, and the precious
blood of many of our patriotic fellow citizens has
been shcdi in the prosecution Of the war. This con-
sideration and 1.-The obstinate perseverance ofMeXico
in pr0traeting the war, must influence the terms of
peace whichitmay deem proper hereafter TO accept.
Our arms having been every where victorious,
having subjected to our military occupation a large
portion of the enemy's country, inCludingh his capital,
negotiations for peace having failed, the impor-
tant questions arise In whatmanner the war ought
to be prosecutedl and what should be our future
policyl | cannot doubt that we should secure and
render available the Conquests which we have al.
ready made; and that. with this view, we should
hold and occupy by our naval and military forces,
all lie ports, towns, cities, and provinces now in
- -. Gil go 1.Y- /
possession; that We should press forward our mill
operations, and levy such military contribu-
tons on the enemy as may, as far as practicable,
defray the future expenses ofthe war.
Had the government of Mexico acceded to the
equitable and liberal terms proposed, that mode OF
adjustment would have been preferred. Mexico
having declined TO do this, and failed to offer any
other terms which outd be accepted by the United
States, The national honor, no LEGS than the public in
terests, requires that the war should be prosecuted
with incEeased energy and power, until a just and
satisfactory peace can be obtained. In the mean
time, as Mexico refuses all indemnity, we should
adopt measures to indemnify Ourselves, by appTo-
priating permanently a portion of her territory.
Early after the commencement of the war, New
Mexico and the CALIFORNIA; were taken possession
Of by our forces. Our military and naval comman-
were ordered to conquer and hold them, sub
to be disposed ofby n treaty Of peace.
These provinces are now in our undisputed oe-
c~upation, and have been so for many months; all
resistance on the part Of Mexico having ceased
within their limits. | am satisfied that they should
never be surrendered to MexihO. Should Congress
concur with me in this opinion, and that they should
be retained by the United States as indemnity, lean
see no good reason why the civil jurisdiction and
laws of the United States should not at once be ex-
tended over them. To wait for a treaty OF peace,
such as we are willing to make, by which our rela-
tons towards them w#tld not be changed, cannot
be good policy; whilst our own interest, and that of
the people inhabiting them, require that a stable,
responsible and free government under our author
ity should. as soon as possible, be established over