Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-10
TERMS: 80 SO i'm advance.
WHOLE NO.l60.

the past' and security for the future Hther.
to Mexico has refused all accommodations bv
which such peace could be obtained
| Whilst our armies have advanced from vic
tory to victory, from the COMMENCEMENT of tho
war it has always been with the olive-branch
! of peace in their hands; and it has been in Tho
power Of Mexico, at every step, to arrest hos
tilites by accepting ii.
| One great obstacle TO the attainment Of
peace has, undoubtedly, arisen from the fact,
that Mexico has been so long held in subjec.
ton by one faction or military usurper after
another, and such has been the condition OF
insecurity in which their successive govern
ments have been placed, that each has been
deferred from making peace. lest, fer this
very cause, rival faction might expel il from
power. Such was the fate of President Her.
rera's administration in 1915, for being dis
a, posed even TO listen 10 the overtures Of the
United States to prevent the war, as is fully
confirmed by an official correspondence which
took place in the month of August last, be-
tween him and his government, copy Of
which is herewith communicated. "For this
cause alone, the revolution which displaced
him from power was set on FOOT by General
Paredes. Such may be the condition of in
security OF the present government.
| There can be no doubt that the peaceable
and well disposed inhabitants Of Mexico are
convinced that it is the true interest of their
country to conclude an honorable peace with
the United Suites; but the apprehension Of
becoming the victims of some military faction
or usurper may have prevented them from
mantestlng their feelings by any public ACT.
The removal Of any such apprehension would
probably cause them to speak their sentiments
! and to fho e.
restoration of peace. With people distract
ed and divided by contending factions, and
government subject to constant changes, by
successive revolutions, the continued success
ses of our arms may fail to secure satsfac-
tory peace. In such event, it may become
proper for our commanding generals in the
| field to give encouragement and assurances Of
| protection to the friends Of peace in Mexico in
! the establishment and maintenance of free re.
publican government of their own choice, able
and willing to conclude peace which would
! be just to them, and secure to us the indemni-
ty we demand. This may become the only
mode of obtaining such peace. Should such
/ be the result. the war which Mexico has forced
! upon US would thus be converted into an en-.
during blessing to herself. After finding her
torn and distracted by factions, and ruled by
military usurpers, we should then leave her
with republican government in the enjoy
ment of real independence, and domestic
peace and prosperity, performing all her rela-
live duties in the great family OF nations, and
promoting her own happiness by wise laws
and their faithful execution.
If, after affordng this encouragement and
protection, and after all the persevering and
sincere efforts we have made, from the moment
Mexico commenced the war, and prior 10 that
time, 10 adjust our differences with her, we
shall ultimately fail, then we shall have eX-
hausted all honorable means in pursuit OF
peace, and must continue to occupy her coun-
try with our troops, taking the full measure
of indemnity into our own hands, and must
1 enforce the terms which our honor demands.
To act otherwise in the existing state Of
things in Mexico, and to withdraw our army
without peace, would not only leave all the
wrongs of which we complain unredressed
but would be the signal for new and fierce ci.
vii Discussions and new levoutions-a alike
hostile to peaceful relations with the United
States.
Besides, there is danger, if our troops were
withdrawn before peace was concluded, that
the Mexican people, wearied with successive
revolutions, ana deprived of protection for
Their persons and property, might at length be
inclined 10 yield to foreign influences, and to
cast themselves into the arms of some Euro
pean monarch for protection from the anarchy
and suffering which would ensue This, for
our own safety, and in pursuance of our es-
tablished policy, we should be compelled TO
resist. We could never consent that Mexico
should be thus converted into Il monarchy 60
verned by a foreign prince.
Mexico is our near neighbor, and her boun-
diaries arc coterInnous with our own, through
the whole extent across the North American
continent, from ocean to ocean. Both polltl.
cally and commercially, we have the deepest
interest in her regeneration and prosperity
Indeed, |: is impossible that, with any just re-
gard to our own safety, we can ever become
indifferent to her fate.
1t may be that the Mexican government and
people have misconstrued or misundel stood
our forbearance, and our objects, in desiring to
conclude an amicable adjustment Of the exist
ing difficulties between the two countless
They may have supposed that we would sub
nit TO terms degrading to the nation; or they
! may have drawn false differences from the
supposed division Of opinion in the United
States on the subject Of The war, and ma
have calculated to gain much by Protracting
il; and, indeed, that we might ultimately
abandon it altogether, without insisting on any
lHOemnlly. PIIHOIiaI OF OintIWloe' "Hd'es'
er may be the false impressions under which
they have acted, the adoption and prosecution
Of the energetic policy proposed must soor
: undeceive them.
In the future prosecution of the war, the en-
envy must be made to feel its pressure more
! than they have heretofore done. At IFS com
mencement, i: was deemed proper to conduc
it in spirit OF forbcarance and liberalIty -
With this end in view, early measures were
adopted to conciliatc, as far as state of wa
would permit, the mass of the Mexican popu
: lation; TO convince them that the war wa
waged not against the peaceful inhabitants o
Mexico, but against their faIthless government
which had commenced hostllties to remove
from their minds the fa!se impressions which
] their designing and interested rulers had art
fully attempted to make, that the war on.ou
part was one Of cOnquest: that 1t was wal
against their religion and their churches, which
. were TO be deSecratcd and overthrOwn dH'
} that their rights of person and private proper
ty would be violated; TO remove these tals'
= impressions; our commanders in the field were
1 directed scrupulousIy 10 respect their religion
their churches, and their church property
8 which were in no manner TO be violated ;the,
were directed also to respect the rights OF per
sons and property of all who should not tax
up arms against us.
1 Assurances to this effect were given to tn
Mexican people by Major General Taylor, IL
! proclamation issued In pursuance ofnstruc
tons from the Secretary OF War, in the mon't
e of June, 1916, and again by Major Genefa
hn cd r.@s:k 1, -