The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-14

leetion by on faction or military usafper d.
ter another, and such has been the esndiifon
Of insecurity 10 which their Successive gov
ernments have been placed, that each has
been deferred from making peace. lest Tor
this very cause a rival faction might expei II
from power. Such was the fate Of President
Herrera's administration in 1916, for beng
disposed even TO listen TO the overtures OF the
United States to prevent the war. as is fully
confirmed by an official correspondence which
took place in the month of august last, be-
tween him and his government a copy Of
which is herewith communicated. For this
cause alone the revolution which displaced
him from power was set on FOOT by Psredes.
Such may be the condition of Insecurity OF
the present government. ~ :
There can be no doubt that fhe peaceable
and well-disposed inhabitants Of Mexico are
convinced that il is the true interest Of their
country to conclude an honorable peace with
the United ales: but the appre henson Of
becoming the victims Of some military fac
ton or usuIper may have prevented them
from manifesting their feelings by any public
act. The removal Of any such apprehension
would probably cause them TO speak their
sentiments freely, and to ADOPT the measures
necessary for the restoration Of peace. With
people distracted and divided by cOntending
factions. and a government subject 10 con-
slant changes by successive revolutions, the
continued successes OF our arms may fail TO
secure a satisfactory peace. In such event.
il may become proper for our commanding
generals in the field TO give encouragement *
assurances of protection 20 the friends Of
peace 10 Mexico in the establishment OF Il re-
publican gOver nment Of their own chOlce. a
BILE and willing TO conclude a peace which
would be just 10 them, and secure TO us The
! indemnify which We demand. This may be-
come the only mode Of obtaining such a
peace. Should such be the result, the war
which Mexico has forced apon us would thus
be converted into an enduring blessing 10 her
SELF After finding her torn and distracted
by factions. and ruled by military usurpers.
we should then leave her with republican
government. in the enjoyment Of real indie
pendence. and domestic peare and prosperity
performing all her relative duties in the great
family of nations, and promoting her own
happiness by wise laws aud their faithful ex
ecutiOn.
IT, after affording this encouragement and
protection. and alter all the perseyering and
sincere efforts we have made, from the mo-
mept Mexico commenced the war. and prior
10 that time, 10 adjust our differences with
her, we shall ultimately fail. then we shall
have exhausted all honorable means in pur-
suit Of peace, and must continue TO occupy
her country with our troops. taking the full
measure Of indemnity into our own hands,
and must enforce the terms which our hOuor
demands.
To act otherwise, in the existing state of
things in Mexico, and TO withdraw our army
without peace, would not only leave all the
wrongs oil which we complain unredressed,
but would be the signal for new and fierce
civil Discussions and new revolufions-all a.
like hostile to peaceful relations with the u
n.ied States.
Besides, there is danger, If our troops were
Withdrawn before peace was concluded, that
the Mexican people, wearied with successive
revolutions, and deprived Of protection FOL
their persons and property, might al length
be inclined TO yield to fureisu influences. and
to cast themselves into The arms Of some Eu
ropean monarch for protection from the an
aichy and suffering which wonld eDsue.
This. for our own safety, in pursuance Of our
established policy. we should be compelled TO
resist, We could never consent that MexI-
CO should be thus converted into a monarchy
governed by foreign prince
Mexico is our NEAR eighbor, and her bOuD-
da. les are co-termInOus with our own, Ibrn'
the whole extent across the North American
continent, from ocean 10 ocean. Both polit-
icalIy and commercially, we have the deepes,
interest in her regeneration and prosperity.
Indeed. it is impossible that with any just re-
gard to our own safety, we can ever become
Indifferent 10 her fate.
IL may be that The Mexican government M
people have msconstrued or misunderstood
our lorbearance. and cur objects. in desiring
TO conclude an amicabe adJuatment Of the
existing differences between the two counties
They may have supposed that newould sub
nit TO terms degrading TO the nation, or they
may have drawn false inlerences from The
supposed differences Of opinion in the United
States on the subject of the war, md may
have calculated to gain much by protracilng
il; and indeed. that we might ultimately a.
baudOn it altogether. without Insisting upon
any indemnify, territorial or Otherwise.
Whatever may be the false impressions ue
der which they have acted. the adoptian and
prosecuiiOn''of the energetic policy proposed
must soon undeceive them.
In The future prosecution Of the wa'. the
enemy must be made to feel its pressure
more Than they have heretofore done. Al
its commencement. il was deemed proper TO
ronduct il in a spirit Of lOrbearance and lib
erality. With this end in view, early meas
ures were adopted tn conciliaie. as FAR as a
state Of war would permit, the mass Of the
Mexican population: 10 convince them that
the war was waged not against The peaceful
inhabitants OF Mexico, but against their faith
less government, which had commenced hos
tiliies; to remove from their minds the false
impressions whit h their designing and inter
esred rulers had arfully attempted TO make.
that the war onour part was Que Of conquest;
that it was a war against their religion and
their churches, which were TO be desecrated
and cverihrowD; and that their rights OF
person and private property would be violated,
To remove these false impressions, our COM
manders in The field were directed scrupu-
lously TO respect their religion, their church
es. and their chuach properly, which were in
no manner to he violated; they werer direc-