Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-11

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cere efforts we have made, from the mo-
ment Mexico commenced the war, and pri-
or to that time, TO adjust our differences
with her, we shall ultimately tail, then we
shall have exhausted all honorable means
in pursuit of peace, and must continue to
occupy her country without troops. taking
the full measures of indemnity with our
own hands, and must enforce the terms
which our honor demands.
/ To act otherwise, in the existing state of
things, and to withdraw our army without
a peace, would not only have all the wrongs
of which we complain unredressed. but
would be the signal for new and fierce civil
dissesions and revolutions, all alike hostile
to peaceful relations with the United States:
! besides there is danger if our troops should
be Withdrawn before the should be concu
ded, wearied with successful revolutions.
and deprived of protection for persons and
property. might be inclined to yield to for
eign influence, and to cast themselves upon
some European monarch for protection from
the anarchy and suffering that must ensue.
This for our own safety, and in pursuance
of established policy, we should be COM
PEELED to resist.
We could never consent that Mexico
should be thus converted into a monarchy,
governed by sovereign prince.
/ Mexico is our next neighbor. and her
boundaries are coterminous with our own.
though the whole extent across the North
American continent, from ocean to ocean,
both politically and commercially, we have
/ the deepest interest in her regeneration and
prosperity: indeed, it is impossible, that
with just regard to our safety, we can be-
come Indifferent 10 her fate. 1t may be that
the Mexican people aud government have
miScenceived or miSconstructed our for
bearance and our objects, in desisting to
conclude an amicable adjustment of the ex-
istlng difficulties between the two countries
They may have supposed that we would
submit to terms degrading to the nation. or
they may hay e drawn false differences from
the supposed division of opinion in the u.
). on the subject of the war, and NAV have
calculated to gain much by protractin. it;
and, that indeed, we might ultimately aban-
don 1t altogether, without any indemnity.
territorial or otherwise. Whatever NAV be
the false impressions under which they may
have acted, the adoption and prosecution of
the energetic policy must undeceive them.
/ In the future prosecution of the war, the
enemy must be made to feel the pressure
more than they have done. At its COM
inencement it was deemed proper to con-
duct 1t in spirit of forbearauce and liber-
atty, and with this end in view, early mea-
SureS were adopted, TO convince as far as
state of war would permit, the mass of
the Mexican population that the war was
was waeed, not against the peaceful inhabi-
tants OF Mexico, but against their faithless
government which had commenced hostii-
ties.
10 remove from their minds false impress
Slons, which their int eSted rulers had art
fully attempted to make, that the war on
our part was one of conquest-shat it was
war against their religion, and their church
eS which were to be destroyed and over
thrown, aud that the rights Of persons and
property would be violated - to remove
these false Impressions, our commanders in
the field were directed scrupulously to re-
spect their religion, their churches and their
church properly, which were in 40 manner
/ to be violated.
Assurances to this effect were given to
the Mexicans by Major Gen. Taylor, in
proclamation issued in pursuance of in
Structon from the Secretary of War, in the
month of June, l647, and again BY Major
General Scott. who tacted upon his own
convictions OF the propriety of issuing it, in
a proclamation of the llth of May, lS47. =
In this spirit of liberality and CANCELLATION,
and with a view to prevent the body of the
Mexican population from taking up arms
against US, the war was conducted on our
part. Provisions aud other supplies. fur
nlshed to our army by Mexcans, were paid
Tor at fair and liberal prices, agreed upon by
the parties. After the lapse of a few
months, it became apparent that these as.
SuranceS, and this treatment, had failed
to produce the desired effect upon the Mex
lean population. The war has been con-
Quoted upon our part according to the most
humane and liberal principles observed by
civilized nations. 1t was waged in far
different spirit Ola the part Of Mexico Not
approaching our forbearance, the Mexican
people generally became hostile to the Uni
ted States, and availed themselves of the
| opportunity to commit the most savage ex-
ceSses upon our troops. Largo numbers of
! the popuatian took up arms, and engaging
In guerilla warfare, robbed and murdered in
the most cruel manner, individual soldiers,
or small parties whom accident or other
causes CHANGED to separate them from the
main body ofthe army. Bands of the gueril-
las and robbers infested the roads, harras
DC" ouI tidiHS, anu whenever II was IN their
power, cut off our supplies.
! The Mexicans having thus showed them
selves wholly incapable of approaching our
forbearance and liberality, it was deemed
proper to change the manner of CONDUCTING
the war, making them feel its pressure ae
cordiDg to the usages observed under SINH
lar circumstances in all other civilized ma.
! tons.
accordingly, as early as the ODD Septem.
Der, lo4b, instructions were given by the
Secretary of War, to Gen. Taylor, to draw
supplies for our army from the enemy.
without paying for them, and to require
contributions for its support, if in that way,
he was satisfied he could get abundant SUB,
plies for his forces In directing the exc
cution of these instructions, much was ne
cessarily left. to the discretion of the COM
manding officer, who was best acquainted
with the circumstances by which he was
surrounded, the wants of the army. and the
practicability of enforcing the measure
Gen. Taylor, on the Doth of October. 1916.
replies from Monterey, that it would have
been impossible hitherto, and also now. to
sustain the army by forced contributions
For the reasons assigned by him, he did
not adopt the policy of his Instructions. but
declared his readiness TO do so should the