Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-05-28

press man was 49,
pouoh to ret hold of the following hurried
translation of a proclamation, which has been {
printed in Spanish, and addressed by General
Scott to the Mexicans. have no time to Pc
ruse it, bat those who have think it will have
weight and influence with the Mexicans.
In haste, K.
1.-THE following is the proclamation men,
toned by MIR. Kendall. In justice to General
Scott, it must be borne in mind that the orig
nal has undergone two translations-first into
the Spanish and then back into English. 1t
will readily occur to all, that liberal allow
ance for the style of the proclamation must be
made on this account: j
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Jalapa, May IL, 1847. !
The General-in- Chief Of the Arm'es OF the
United States of america to the Me1'cGa
Nation:
Mexicans! The recent events OF the war,
and the measures adopted in consequence by
your Government, make it my duty to address
you-to show you truths of which you are
ignorant, because they have been crlmlnaliy
concealed from you. do not ask you to trust
nv words, Though he who has never talslhed
them has right to confdence,) but to Judge
of these truths by facts within the view and
knowledge Of you all. 80.
Whatever may have been the origin OF tins
war, which my country saw itself forceo 10
undertake by irremedable causes, which l
learn are unknown to the greater part OF the
Mexican nation, we regard it as necessity
such is it always to both belligerents, and rea-
son and justice, if not forgotten on both sides,
are in dispute, each believing them Its own
You have proof of this truth as we'll as our
selves, for in Mexico, as in the United States,
there have existed and do exist two opposite
parties, desirng-the one peace, the other war.
But Governments have sacred duties, from
which they cannot depart; and often these
duties impose, for national reasons, silence
and reserve sometimes displeasing to the
majority of those who, from views purely per-
sonal or individual, make opposition. 10 this
a Government cannot pay any regard, expec-
ting the nation to place in it the confidence
merited by amagstracy of their own election:
Reasons of high policy and OF continental
American interest precipitated events IN spite
of the circumspecton of the Cabinet OF Wash
ington, which, ardently desiring to terminate
its differences with Mexico, spared no resource,
compatible with honor and dignity, to arrive
at so desirable an end ; and when it was IN
dulging the most fattering hopes OF accom-
plshing its aim by frank explanations and rea-
sonings, addressed to the judgment and pru-
dence of the virtuous and patriotic Government
of Gen. D. J. Herrera, the misfortune least
looked for dispelled this pleasant hope, and at
the same time blocked up every avenue which
could lead to ali honorable settlement between
. the two nations. The new Government dis
carded the national interests, as we'll as those
of continental America, and elected In prefer
ence foreign influences the most opposed to
IL, 4hoo foto m
of Mexican liberty and of the republican sys.
tenn, which the United States hold it a duty tc
preserve and protect. Duty, honor, and Dig
nifty itself, impose upon US the necessity OF
not losing season of which the monarchla
e party was taking violent advantage, for not
moment was 10 be lost, and we acted with the
: promptness and decision necessary in CASE
. so urgent, to avoid thereby complication O.
;, interests, which might render our relations
more difficult and involved.
= Again, in the course of civil war the Gov
eminent of Paroles was overthrown. we
could not but hope this would prove tortu
= nate event, and that whatever other Admins
0R Rb IS Rs aS moFe pa
Y otto and prudent, if it looked to the common
good, weighing probabilities, its own strength
v and resources, and especially the general opin
ION as to the inevitable results of a nationa
n war. We were deceived, as perhaps you
v Mexlcans, were also deceived in Judging O.
1 the true intentions of Gen Santa Anna, whom
you recalled, and whom our Government per
mltted to return.
From this condition of things the Mexican
nation has seen what have been the results
, results lamented by all, and by US sincerely
:, for we appreciate as is due the valor and no
: Bile determination of the unfortunates who 70
: to battle ill-led, worse governed and almostH-
variably outraged by deceit Or perhdy.
We have witnessed-and we cannot be tax
{ ed with partiality for lamenting-wih aston
lshment that the heroic department of he gar
. rlson of Vera Cruz, in its valiant defence, was
aspersed by the general who had Just been de-
teated and put to shameful flight by force
far inferior to that which he commanded at
, Buena Vista that this general, rewarding the
' insurgents and promoters of civil war in Mex
leo, heaped outrage on those who had singu.
q larly distinguished themselves by resistance
! beyond what could be expected, and of admi-
: rable decision.
q Finally, the bloody event of Cerro Gordo
has shown the Mexican nation what it may
reasonably expect if it longer continues blind
. to the true situation in which it has been pla-
ced by some generals, whom it has most dis
tlngulshed and in whom it has most conided
The hardest heart would be moved to greI
> IN contemplating the battle-felds of Mexico a
moment after the last struggle Those gener.
{ ais whom the nation has, without service ran.
dered, paid for SO many years, with some hon
orabe exceptions, have in the day of need be-
trayed it by their bad example or unskiful.
{ ness. On that flld, amongst the dead and
! dying, are seen no proofs of military honor
D for they are reduced to the sad fate of the SOL
. dler-the same on every occasion, from Pale
! Alto to Cerro Gordo-the dead to remain I'm.
buried and the wounded abandoned TO the Gle.
. mency and charity of the conqueror. Soldiers
who go to fight, expecting such a recompense
o deserves to be classed amongst the best in the
world, since they are stimulated by no hope
OF ephemeral glory, of regret, OF remembrance
or even OF a grave.
f Again, Mexicans OF honorable pride, con-
! template the lot of peaceful and laborious citi
= zens in all classes of your society. The pos
! sessions of the church menaced and held out
q as an Indictment to revolution and anarchy
the fortune of the rich propretors pointed out
! for plumber TO the ill-disposed the merchant
=. and artisan, the laborer and the manufacturer
burdened with contributions, excuses, monopo-
lies, taxes upon consumption, surrounded with
restrictions and charged with odous internal
customs; the man of letters and the statesman
8 the man of liberal knowledge who dares tc
speak, prosecuted without trial by some fac
] ton or by the rulers who abuse their power
criminals diminished and set at hhertv az