Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-17
WHOLE NUMBER 6s6.

large portion uf the cucmy's country, including
bis Capital, and urgolialions for peace having
..I.ci. she important question arose Iu what man
ner the war ought 70 b. prosecuted, aud what
should be- our future policy. ] cannot doubt that
we should secure aud render available the con-
quests which we have already made. and that
wIlh ibis part wn should hold aui occupy by pur
naval dnI military forces all thc pou towns. ci-
teS, aui provinces now in our occupation. or
which nay hereafter tai. into our possession; that
we should press forward our military operations.
and levy su.b military contributions on the cne-
my as may as Ear a. practicable dsiray the future
expenses OF the var.
Had ID. Government of Mexico accrfad 10 the
favorable aud liberia. terms proposed, that mode
Of adjustment would have been preferred. Nix
cu having declined 10 dn this. aud failed 10 DiItr
auy olHer terms which could b: accepted BY lha
United States. National honor no less than lbe
pub.iciner 20 .Iu.r.> thaIth" h"warshpud bfprJS-
rclged with lnr,4asad energy and power, uaul q
just aud satisfactory peace can b. Obtained.
In the meantime. as Mexico refuses all indem-
uly, We sHpIIi adopt measures 10 indemnify
ourselves, By yapFropral,ng permanently ap'rIon
ufh4rurnlls.. Early u-.r ia. comm .uccu.ut
Of the aar. NV N1Xicoaillhs California, were
taken poss s-un Of by our iOrc.s. Oar military
and Naval commanders were ordered 10 conquer
aad hoIlhsm subject 10 b. disposed OF by a trsa-
~ Of peace.
Th-sn provinces ar,now in our ullsPutcd oc-
cupaliOn. aud have been So iyr many months
all resistance on the part OF Mexico having cea5-
ed within their limits. am satisfied that they
should never basurranlcrrd 10 Mexico. Should
Congress concur with inc ia This opinion, and that
they should be retained By the United States. as
indemnify, can perceive no good reason Why
the civil Jurisdiction aud laws Ut the /. States
should not al once b. extended over them. To
wait for a treaty OF peace, such aS We are willing
10 make. by which our relations towards Them
would not be changed. cannot be good policy,
whilst our Cwn interest, aad Ihat Of the people
inhabitiug ihem require that a stable, responsible.
aud lrccguyurumeut, uudrrour authority. should
be as soon Us possible established over them.
Should Congress. therefore, determine 10 hold
these provinces permanently, and that they shall
hereafter bg considered as constituent parts Of
our country, the early establishment oI terrton-
al governments over them will b. important iyr
the more perfect protection Of persons aud prop
cry; and recommend lhat such territorial gov
crnmenjs be established. Ii will promote peace
and tranquility among the inhabitants. by allayng
all apprehension that they may still entertain oi
being again subjected 10 the Jurisdiction Of MrNi.
co. invite th: early and earnest consideration
Of Congress TO lhis Important subject.
Btsidcs New Mexico andth CALIFORNIA;. there
, are other Mexican provinces which have bscn re.
, ducod to our possession by conquest. These
/ other Mexican provinces arc now governed By
our military aud naval commanders, under the
general authority which is conferred uP0a con-
quaror by the laws Of war. They should CON
unu. 10 be held, US a mans Of co"rclng Mexico
TO accoda TO just terms ot peaco. ClvsL as well
a. military odi:gfs are required 10 coniact such
a government. Adequate compensation, to be
drawn from contributions levied on the enemy.
should b. liked by law for such differs as may
be thus employed. What further provision may
become necessary. and what final disposition II
may be proper 10 make of them, must depend on
the further progress OF the war, and the course
which Mexico may think prop.t hereafter TO pur-
sue.
With the views entertain. cannot favor the
policy which has been suggested, either to with
, draw our army altogether, or 10 retire 10 desg-
mated line and simply hold and defend ii. 70
they have made By deeds unparalleled bravery.
! and at the expense of 50 much blood and treas
uro in u just war on our part, and one which. by
The act OF the enemy, We could not have honor
ably avoided, would be to degrade the nation in
+ It's owu estimation and that of the world. To
] retire TO a line and simply hold aud defend it,
] would notterninale the war. Ga the contrary.
irwoud encourage Mexico 10 pGrscvcre, and tend
+ 10 prOtract indefinitely.
+ Ii is not TO be expected that Mexico, after rcfu-
sing 10 establish such Il line as boundary, when
our victorious army are in possession OF her cap
: al and in the heart of her country, would permit
us To hold il without resistance. ThatshG would
7 continue the war. and in the most haraSsing and
annoying forms, there can be no doubt. \ bor-
? Der warfare oflhemoSt savage character, extend
: ing over a long line, would be Increasingly waged.
II would require large army 10 be kept conlin-
uaIIy in the field, stationed posts md garrisons
along such Il land TO protect and defend ii. The
? enemy, relieved from the pressure of our arms
On his coasts and in the populous parts of the in.
terror. would direct his attention 10 this line, and
selecting an isolated post Tor attack, would con-
cenlratc his forces upon it.
This would be a condition of affairs which the
McXicans, pursuing their layorite system OF gue-
riIIa warfare, would probably prefer to any other
>, Were we to assume defensive attitude on such
line, all the advantages Of such state OF war
I would be on the side of The enemy. we could
= levy no contributions on him, or IN any other way
7 make him feel the pressure OF the war, but must
. remain inactive and await his approach, being i'll
constant uncertainty al what point of the line, OF
S at what time he might make the assault.
lie may assemble and organize an overwhcm-
f ing force in the interior, on his own side of the
7 line, and conceaIing his purpose, make a sudden
7 assault upon some of our posts, so distant from
any other, as 10 prevent the possibility OF timely
succor, or reintorcements, and IN this way our
gallant army would be exposed to the danger of
being cut off in detail, OF if by their unriyaIed
hr.N..ru md nrl,u,sS nrarN ,.hAr.h nNhhllnl l.l-