Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-12-22
danger, and vieing with each other in degrees

\ While every patriots heart must eXult, and
Just national pride animate every bosom in
tbehoIding the high proofs of courage, consum-
Innate military skill, steady dicipline and human
lity to the vanquished enemy. exhibited by our
gallant army the nation is called to mourn oyel
the loss of many brave officers and soldiers,who
have fallen in defence of their nations honor
and interests. The brave dead met their mel
anchollv fate in foreign land, nobly dischar-
Eging their duty, and with their country's flag
waving triulnphandy in the face of the foe =
Their patriotic deeds are Justly appreciated, land
will long be remembered by their grateful coun-
trymen. The parental.care the government
they loved and served should be extended to
their surviving families.
Shortly after ts-s adjournment of the last ses-
sion of Congress, the gratifying intelligence
was received of the signal victory of Buena Wis
tia, and of the fall of the city of Vera Cruz, with
the strong castle of San Juan de Uloa.by which
lit was defended. Believing that after these
and other successes so honorable to our arms
and so disastrous to Mexico. the period was
propitious to afford another opportunity to en-
ter into negotiations for peace, Commission
er was appointed to proceed to the. headquar-
tiers of our army. with full power to enter
upon negotiations, and to conclude lust and
honorable treaty ofpeace. He was not direc-
to make any new overtnres of peace. but was
the bearer ola dispatch from the Secretary of
State of the United States to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs: in reply to one received from
the latter on the % of February. lS47, in which
the Mexican Government was Informed of his
approachment, and of his presence at the head
quarters of our army and that he was invested
with full power to conclude definite treaty of
peace whenever the MexicanGovernment might
signify desire to do so. While was unwIl-
ling to subject the United States to another in
dignant refusal, Was yet resolved that the
evils of the war should not be protracted day
longer than might I've rendered absolutely neces-
sary by the Mexican Government.
Care was taken to give no instruction to the
Commissioner which could in any way inter-
fere with our military operations in the prose-
cution of the war. He possessed no authority in
any matter to control the operations. He was
authorized TO exhibit his Instructions to the gen
eral in command of the army: in the event of
the treaty being concluded and ratified on The
part of Mexico he was directed to give him
notice Of tlat fact.
On the happening of such contingency, and
On receiving notice thereof, theGeneral in com
mand was instructed by the Secretary of War
TO suspend further active military operations
until further orders. The instructions were
given to iHermit hostihties, until the treaty
ratified by Mexico. could be transmitted to
Washington and receive the action of the Gov
ernment of the United States.
TheCommlssioncr was also directed. on reach
ing the army, to deliver to the General in com
mand the desps sch which he bore from the
Secretary of Stale to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs in Mexico, and on receiving il theGen-
tod h,r 10
to cause it to be transmitted to the commander
of the Mexican forces, with request that it
might be communicated to his Government.
The Commissioner did not reach the head
quarters of the army until another r.!iant vic
tory had crowned our arms at Cerro Gordo.
The despatch which he bore from the Secre-
tary of war to the General in command of the
Army, was received by that officer, then at ia
lapa, on the 18th of May, 1877, together with
The despatch from the Secretary of State to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, having
been transmitted to him form Vera Cruz. The
commissioner arrived at the headquarters of the
army few days afterwards.
His presence with the army, and his dplo-
matte character were made known to the Next
can government from Puebla on the 18th of
June 1917, by the transmission of the despatch
from the Secretary of State to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs in Mexico. Weeks elapsed
after its receipt, but no overtures were made,
nor was there any desire expressed by the Mex
lean Government to enter into negotiations for
peace.
Our army pursued its march upon the capitol
and as it approached il was met by formida-
BILE resistance. Our forces first encountered
the enemy and achieved signal victories in the
severely contested battles of Contreras andChu-
rubusco. 1t was not until after the actions had
resulted in decisive victories, and the capital of
the enemy was within our power, that the
Mexican government manifested any DISPOSE
ton to enter into negotiations for peace: even
then, as events have proved, there Is too much
reason to believe they were insincere, and that
in agreeing TO 90 through the forms of nego-
tlatlDn the object was to gain time to strength
en- the defences of their capital, and prepare for
fresh resistance.
The General in Command the army deem
ed it expedient to suspend hostilities Temporal
rily by entering into an armistice with view
to the opening of negotiations, Commissioners,
were appointed on the part of the United
States. The result of the conference which
took place between these functionares of the
two governments was failure to conclude a
treaty of peace.
The Commissioner of the United States took
with him the project of a treaty prepared, by
the terms of which the indemnity required, by
the United States was cesson of territory
1t was known to be the only indemnity which
is in the power of Mexico to make, in satisfac-
ton of the just and long deferred claims of our
citizens against her, and the only means by
which she can reimburse the United States of
I portion Of her territory. Mexico has no mo-
ney to pay, and no other means of making the |
required indemnity. If we refuse this we can
obtain nothing else. To reject indemnity by
refusing to accept cession of territory would |
De to abandon all our just demands, and to wage
he war, bearing all his expenses, without
purpose or defined object.
A state of war abrogates treaties previously |
Existing between the belligerents, and a treaty |
IF peace puts an end to all claims for indemnity |
for tortous acts committed under the author
ty of one government against the citizens of or |
subjects of another, unless they are provided |
or in stpulations. A treaty of peace which |
would terminate the existing war, without pro-
riding for indemnify. would enable Mexico