Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-06-09

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distinguished themselves by resistance beyond
what could be expected, and of admirable de-
! cision. "a
Finally, the bloody event of Cerro Gorde has
] shown the Mexican nation what it may rea-
sonably expect, if it longer continues blind to
the true situation in which it has been placed
by sorae Generals whom it has most Gistin-
gusAed, and in when it has most confided.
| The hardest heart would be moved to grief
in contemplating the battle-ields of Mexico a
moment after the last struggle. Those Gener-
ais whom the nation has, without service rem
dered, paid for so many years, with some hon.
orable exceptions, have in the day of need be-
trayed it by their bad example or unskifulness.
On that field, amongst the dead and dying, are
seen no proofs of military honor for they are
reduced to the sad fate ofthe soldier-the same
on every occasion, from Pao Alto to Cerro
Gordo-the dead to remain unburie1 and the
wounded abandoned to the clemency and chart
ty of the conqueror. Soldiers who go to fight,
expecting such recompense, deserve to be
classed amongst the best in the world, since
they are stimulated by DO hope of ephemeral
glory, of regret, of remembrance, or even of
grave
| Again, Mexicans of honorable pride, con-
/ template the lot of peaceful and Iaborious cti-
| zens in all classes of your society. The pos
sessions of the church menaced, and held out as
an Indictment to revolution and ana chy: the
| fortunes of the rich proprietors pointed out for
/ plumber to the ill-disposed; the merchant and
the artisan, the laborer and the manufacturer,
burdened with contributions, excuses, monopo-
/ lies, taxes upon consumption, surrounded with
| restrictions and charged with odious internal
customs; the man of letters and the statesman,
the man of liberal knowledge who dares to
speak, perse cuted without trial by some faction
or by the rulers who abuse their power; GRIMM
ais unpublished and set at liberty, as were those
of Perotc: is this, then, Mexicans, the liberty
which YOU enjoy?
| will not believe that the Mexicans of the
present day are wanting in courage to con-
| fess errors which do not dishonor them, and to
adopt a system of tue liberty of Ieace and
union with their brethren and neighbors of the
North; neither will believe that they are ig-
norant of the falsIty of the calumnies of the
| press, intended to excite to hostility. No.
J Public sentiment is not to be created or ami
mated by falsehood. We have not profaned
your temples, nor abused your women, nor
seized your property, as they would have you
believe. We say this with pride, and we con-
firm it by your own bishops and by the clergy
of Tampico, Tuspan, Matamoros, Monterey,
Vera Cruz, and Jalapa, and by all the authori
ties, civil and religious and the inhabitants of
every town that we have occupied. We adore
the same God. and large portion Of our army,
as well as the population of the United States
are Catholics like yourselves. We punish
crime wherever we find it, and reward merit
and virtue.
The army of the United States respects, and
will always respect, private property of every
description, and the property Of the Mexican
church. Wo to him who does not where we
are.
Mexicans, the past cannot now be remedied,
but the future may be provided for. Repeat
edly have shown you that the Government
and people of the United States desire peace,
desire your sincere friendship. Abandon, then
rancorous preiudices: cease to be the sport of
individual ambition, and conduct yourselves like
a great American nation; leave off at once COL
onid habits, and learn to be truly free, truly re-
publican, and soon YOU will become prosperous
and happy, for you possess all the elements to
be so. Remember that you are americans, and
that your happiness is not 20 come from Eu-
rope.
| 1 desire, in conclusion, to declare, and with
| equal frankness, that, if necessary, an army of
one hundred thousand could promptly be bro'ght
and that the United States would not ternin-
ate their differences with Mexico IF compelled
to do so by force of arms) in any manner I'M
certain, precarious, or less dishonoring TO your
selves. | should insult the intelligent of this
country if had any doubt of their acquaintance
with this truth.
| The order to form GUERRA parties to attack
US, assure you, can produce nothing but evil
to your country, and no evil to our army.which
will know how to protect itself and how to pro-
coed against them: and if, SO far from concilia-
ting, you succeed in irritating, you will impose
upon us the hard necessity OF retaliation, and
| then you cannot blame us for the consequences
which will fall upon yourselves.
| am marching with my army upon Puebla
and Mexico: | do not conceal it; from those
capitals | shall again address you. | desire
peace, friendship, and union; it is for you to Sc
lect whether you prefer war. Under any cir
cumstances, be assured shall not fail my word.
WINFIELD SCOTT.