The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-03


with the mghties of the globe. And so 1t would nave
BEEN had the Mexican people on achieving their lnde
pendence been in condition TO establish ana preserve
the liberty they had gained, and the benefits 10 result
from IT, .
But the policy which the Spanish government had
deemed expedient TO observe towards her colonies so
to keep them subsection, was certainly put niue
adapted to create in the Mexican people the habits or EN-
lghenment necessary to give stability to the form OF
government they might adopt The eleven years s,rGg
gle had wrought in the that change OF ideas IN
dlspensabe for the consummaion OF their independence
but not such improvement as would prepare them or ne
establishment of liberty; and this defceney-which rs
the misfortune the fault OF that peoplehas been the
origin OF all their caames. ,
The ignorance in which the colonial government had
kept the masses the desposm which for three centuries
had weighed upon them and the influence of clergy,
powerful from their wealth and their absolute sway over
the consciences OF men-these were the nam causes
which, in Mexico opposed the establishment OF liberty
The legislators OF 1924, initiating the constitution Of
the United States certainly gave to the nation compact
in which the fundamental principles OF democracy were
marked out but the people were too ignorant to appre
cate those sublime principles, by proper use OF their
power uphold them against the enemies OF such ns
tutions These they who foresaw IN the develop
ment thereof the destruction OF their own particular inter-
ests, which, as they openly conflcted with those OF
cety would be sure TO fall soon as society should
perceive the antagonism, should learn that no COM
munity prosper while cherlshlng within itself an IN
eres opposed to its and to the principles by which
its frame should be regulated.
In these opposite interests behold the germ OF the civil
bros which, for many years, have agitaed the Mex
lean nation. From the ignorance OF the populace arose
that Indifference with which they have seen faction after
faction overthrow authority Hence Also the impunIty
of crimes against liberty and the rghtful custom among
leaders OF military parties OF usurpng the executive
chair in opposition to the popular will Hence the dead
ness of public spirit the Generalization OF every Glass;
the paayzaton OF every element OF wealth, and the con-
sequent depression oil everything
While Mexico, iogetfu OF her true interests, thus bur-
ried dagger in her own BOSOM the United States which
had had no small share in her dssensons prepared the
nsurecon of Texas That State declared her ndepen-
dence, and secured it by the battle of San Jacino for
although in those times the MeXcans could perhaps
have made an effort sufficient 10 reduce Texas to the
Mexican communion, it not done and It Is certain
that, after the failure of the first expedition the war OF
Texas existed only in idle maginations The success
sve awaited themselves of the sword only to
impose fresh taxes on the people; and every faction
used it pivot which to place its lever for over
throwing the government. -
Thus did ten years pass; the independence of Texas
was consummated act and the government OF Mexico
consented to hear proposals of peace from the new re-
public believing that the recognition OF her independence
would impede her anne xaon to the United States which
the latter striving toaccompish
But 1t too late, outstanding the efforts OF
English policy in the matter Texas at length proclaim
ed her acceptance OF annexaon and renowned the title
Of nation for that of State in the American Union.
Behold here the ostensble cause of the present con.
fct but are confident it would never have been be-
gun by Nexco-not from lack OF will (atter annexa-
on) but of means-had not the American troops passed
the limits Of Texas and invaded the Mexican territory
This act was indispensable for producing war
The Mexican people who had so often heard the war
of Texas spoken of without seeing carried into effect,
heard with the utmost indifference the announcement Oh
war with the United States, till they were awakened by
the first victories of the American army and learned that
this whose operations would not be confined
to gazees and proclamaons still, may be said, that
afterwards when the enemys forces travers
ing the country, the invasion still took the people by
surprise, and that to this moment the movement OF
popular resistance is only slowly commencing.
We have considered this rapid view of the causes OF
the war; and of the respective conditions OF the two
countries necessary prelude to the main question we
propose dscuss-the results which the contest may
lead
The American government commenced the war under
false impression that would be of short duration
that victories their part would drive the
Meycans to admit such terms they might offer !;
and hence the volunteers raised to accomplish this were
engaged for but SIX months This hope was based on
the exhausted to which Mexico reduced by her
dissensonsthe hostility of parties continually strug
Cling for supremacy and the Indifference the masses had
eyinced amid the ana Changes o
to sanction the opinion of the American cabinet results
have proved adverse it. Notwithstanding the numer-
victories of the American ams-iher occupation o.
large portion of erritory-and their possession al
most OF the capital this naon far from being crushed
by its reverses, feels revivng within its bosom the spirit
OF the early and heroic days of independence, and is at
this moment less than ever disposed to admit what they
consider a dishonorabe peace.
The Mexicans, on the other hand erred as widely with
respect to the they would have to sustain with the
United States. They trusted Tor defence to the meagre
military force of the nation; to the toll and prlvaton
which the enemy would have to endure IN reaching the
different towns and cities of vast but thnly peopled
country to the vaor, often tested OF the Mexican
soldier; and lastly to the divisions which prevailed
among the citizens of the United States with regard to
the contest They imagined that their own dssenslons
had taught them the art of without considering that
habits Of disorder the worst possible elements for de-
fence that very had demorazed the army whose
yated organization unnerved it for effective resistance
and the Misrepresentation OF the government aided IN
causing its defeats.
Those disasters however, have shown the Mexicans
what delusions they under when the war began;
and at once may be said that the army longer exists,
and that the government has no resources Tor creating
new one The people, still resolved resistance, will
adopt plan entirely different They will remember the
DAYS of independence, when they waged terrible war
against the Spanish government sustained, as the latter
was by all kinds of resourcesthat kind OF war; which
is no other than the guerilla system, we'll adapted to
the face of the country is what they must now adopt
against the invader.
This plan of warfare, which is much boo1ier than
that OF pitched battles, is the only which the Mex-
cans can wage to advantage against the American
forces and must from its very nature remotely defer the
termination of the conflict 1t will iname the hatred,
already kindng, of against race; and IT. IN addlton
to this it takes the horrible character OF religious war;
no one can oresee what frghul results may ensuere
suits against which humanity, civilization, and the inter-
ess OF this continent appeal to US
We see, then, III the present state oil the contest, no
prospect of It's close Tor 1T little likely that the
American government should retrace its steps, though
aware of lis error and admonshed by its most lusous
citizens as that the Mexican people, feeble they
should admit the proposals. already offered of shame
full peace While thus the two greatest republics OF this
continent the one weakening itself and the other al
most undergoing annihilation the monarchs OF Europe
contemplate with pleasure this mutual fratricide, and,
amid the outward apathy of their looking on, are perhaps
assduously preparing the means OF realizing plan often
before intimatedthat OF planting throne IN MEXICO LOT
some European prince
We look upon this "a the most calamitous consequence