Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-12-02

Oh enterprise Whlch lfley mlstOok lot po"fCA
ism, and seduced by the promised delight o.
is'revel 10 the Halls Of the Montezumas. -
/ Where are they now2 Thousands have per
ishediE battle or by sickness; otherthousands,
with bodies manned in war or ernaciated by
\ disease, are sent home TO drag out lhe remnan'
4 Of their sorrowfuI lives; and yet other thou
sands, (would they were only hundreds,) re-
moved from the social ties and moral restraints
of home, have been tempted into dissipation,
vice. and crime Accustomed to the exercise
oil power without right and familiar with op-
preston, plumber, and blood, their hearts are
hardened and their consciences scared, and If
ever they return il will be but 10 grieye their
friends and aiflict their country for they will
rot fail TO bring along with them the moral
coniagion caught in the presidential atmosphere
ofwar. The gallant Scott, with the remnant
Of his victorious little army, is in the Halls Of
the Montezumas; but does he 'reveP' there I?
4 Does he revel amidst palaces shattered by
bombs and balls and blaekened by fre} Does
he revel amidst the dead and the dying, both
friend and foe 2 Does he revel amidst the
groans Of the wounded and the shrieks Of the
bereaved Oh MOI the generous and noble
hearted cannot revel there?
This lmbecile Administration and its blind
supporters in the war have constantly looked
forward TO the capture Of the city of Mexico
as the browning act Of conquest, which would
necessarily bring about peace, profitable and
glorious 10 them if not TO our country. We
have often heard them talk Of debating peace
IN the Halls OF the Montezumas. 1t now re
mains TO be seen whether the fall of that CAPT
tai IS likely to accelerate or retard the desired
event. There are men wiser than Mr.. Polk,
who believe that the capture Of that city is a
positive misfortune TO US; that il will be the
beginning Of disaster TO our arms and disap
poinlment TO our hopes. They think that ii
will change the tone and character of the war,
while il will create the necessity Of greatly
augmenting our armies. That the Mexcans,
exasperated by repeated defeats, and humilia-
ted by seeing their capital in the hands of stran-
gers, will be less than ever inclined to peace.
But that, taught by experience that they can
not with any nope oil success meet oCr troops
IN masses, we shall have no moro pitched bat
ties, but harrassing desultory war all over
the country, wherever the invader is weak e.
nough to invite attack. The territory o. Mex
leo is more than two thousand miles long. To
conquer II we must do something more than
march over tive must garrison its towns
iortify IFS passes patrol its roads, and guard
the passage Of supplies, and keep open and
clear the communications from post to post.
10 do this eflectualy will require at least
hundred thousand men for Mexico has a
population Of eight millions, and, however
they may quarrel among themselves, they all
hate US. They were not coaxed iEto friend
ship by the electoneering proclamations which
Scott and Taylor were made to put forth
They were not soothed into confidence by the
amlable address of "good people of Mexico"
They were not cheated into faith by the ASST
rance that we came among them "as their
friends and only 10 put down the tyrants that
oppressed them - that we "loved their holy
religion, their hierarchy and their priesthood"
They believed then, as they know now, (by
Mr.. Trlsi's sine qua nom that Mr.. Folks OBJ
ject was TO get two or three Mexican States
to get them by bullying and brlbing if he could,
and il not, then by downright conquest And
knowing this, they hate US with cherished
luminosity that will show itself in every act of
vengeance which exaspera!ed weakness dare
attempt.
Already the powers at Washington seem
convinced that they cannot get two or three OF
the Mexcac States by occupying with a small
army the chief seat of the Aztecs, and that
more troops must be sent and stronger efforts
made for conquest The Presidents paper
(the Union of October y comes out in bold
relief. He renounces the old Administration
plan OF conquest, by electloneering with "the
good people Of Mexico" The putting down
OF Paredes and the putting up Of Santa Anna
had failed Of the desired effect. The hypoc-
rltical caiolery and lying fattery of the Mexi-
can people had proven equally unsuccessful.
And now, says the Union, "we must pu, forth
all our strength We must change
The character Of the par We must talk less
OF the exercise Of Humanity, less of the olive
branch, and less ota:mistices. We must bear
dozen upon Mexico Nth all o,r force, and wage
a war that is more like a war, and less like a
peaceW Aye, the sad truth is avowed at last.
That which was at first treated as small
affair, little unpleasant episode in our pros
porous work OF peace, has become an affair of
life and death, demanding the exercise OF our
national strength. .au Of our force is to be ar
rayed in this wretched struggle TO plumber a
weak neighbor of her territory and with it
we are TO bear down upon Mexico with all the
unmltigated horrors of war-fre and sword,
and desc laton, and confscation, and plumber,
and al the nameless barbarties which must
attend war from which the exercise ofh,unaa-
ity is excluded If 1--WE must change the
character oflhe war;" so as not TO talk ofuuce,
hOl ptdtt, lOi we iIIuSt dloO CudDSt
ouI own character, so as no longer 10 pretend
TO be civilized and christian people.
We see now, plainly enough, what is the
object Of this war; and, suppoSing that the
Government paper speaks the sentiments of
the Administration, we can foresee the fero-
eious character which il Is aboutto assume
Can any American patriot contemplate the
waging OF such war in Mexico as Bonaparte
waged in Spain without shuddering for his
country and for humanity? Is there no way
10 avert this impending calamiiy-no means
to put aside this national SIM know OF none
unless God in his mercy should put it into the
hearts OF our Congressman 10 do their duty
faithfully. in spite demented Presiden; and
his bad advisers. To Congress alone belongs
the war power Of this nation. If they will,
they can command The peace.
But, supposing The war to continue on the
new plan-on our part no talk of truce, nor
peace, nor humaniIy--but with the avowed
object Of bearing down Mexico. until, by pov.
erty and misery, she is compelled 10 sue for
peace, on any terms that the President may
dictate, the question still remains, can we,
with all our force" conquer Mexico, and re-
duee her 10 that low stage of misery and de-
sradaton} have no thought that we can
conquer her, even in just cause, with wise
President and veteran army. We cannot
conquer eight millions Of people, in their own
country, and determined 10 be free No peo-