Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-12-15

murder the inhabitants, commit dcprvdaons them,
and then retreat to the interior before sufficient force
can be concentrated TO pursue him. Such would proba
bly, DC the harassing character OF defensive war
on our part IL our forces, when attacked, threaten
cd with attack, be permitted to the line, drive
back the enemy and conquer him, this would be again
to invade the cncmys country after having lost all the
of the conqucss have already made, by
having voluntarily abandc.cd them. To hold such |
certain that it would require as large an army as
would be necessary to hold all the oonqucsts we have
war IN inc hcart oil the cncmys country. 1t is also far
from beng certain that the expenses Of the would
be diminished by such policy.
persuaded that the means Of yindica,in- the
national honor and interest and Of bringing the
an honorable close will be prosecute it it'll incrcas
cd energy and power in the vital parts of the cncmy
country.
In my annual message to Congress of December last,
view to conquest but having been commenced by Mcx
co 1t has been carried into the cncmys country and
obtain an peace and thereby secure m, To
nuemnity Tor tho expenses OF the war, well to
our much injured citizens. who hold large pccuniary
demands against Mexico" Such, in ny Judgment, con-
tinucs TO be our true polcy-ndccd, the only policy
which will probably secure permanent peace.
II has never been contemplated by me- as an object
Oh Tue war, to make permanent conquest of the Re
public Mexico or 10 onnihilac her separate existence
as independent nation On the contrary it has ever
been my desire that she should nationality
and, under good Government adapted cont,io
be Il free, independent. and prosperous Republic The
United States the first among the nations TO re-.
cognise her Independence, and have always desired to
be on terms CT amity and good ncghborhood with her
This she would not suffer BY her own conduct we
nave been compelled TO engage in the present war In
ITS prosecution VIC seek not her overthrow as nation
DIT, IN indicating our national honor seek to oh.
tain redress for the wrongs she has done us and ndcm
nifty for our just demands against her. We demand AZ,
honorable peace and that peace must bring with in
dennty for the past and security for the future H,h
crto Mexico has refused all accommodation by which
such peace could be obtained.
Whilst our armies have advanced from victory to VIC
Tory from the commencement of the it has always
neeh win the OF peace their hands and
1t has been in the power OF Mexico a, every stcn IN
| arrest hostili,ics by accepting ii.
Our great obstacle TO the attainment of pcace has ~,
ouDtedy arisen from the fact that Mexico has been so
icng held in subsection by faction or military usur
per alter another and such has been the condition Of
insecurity in which their successive Governments haye
been placed, that each has been deferred from MAKING
peace lest Tor this Very cause, rival faction might OK
PEI IL from power Such was the fate Of President
ticrrcra's Administration in 1915, for being disnos
even TO listen TO the ovcrurrs of the United States TO
prevent the is fully confirmed by an official cor
respondcncc which took place in month of Au~ust
last between him and his Government, copy Of Which
is herewith communicated For this cause alone H.,
revolution which displaced him from power was set on
loot by General Parcdes Snch may BE- tho condition
oi insecurity OF the present Government.
There can be- doubt tina, tho pcaccabl, ard ,,cu
disposed inhabitants of Mexico convinced that il il
IN. true interest OF their country 10 conclude honor
able peace with the United States but the apprchcn
SION oil becoming the victims Of some military faction or
nsurp:r may have prevented them from manif,stnp
'hcir cclngs by any public act The removal of any
sncn apprehension would probably them to speak
the sentiments freely and to adopt the measures ne
ccssary tor the restoration of peace. With DconIc
! distracted and divided by contcndinc factions and =
Government subject to constant changes by
O
10 secure satisfactory peace. In such event it may
become proper for commanding generals in the rjI
10 gxs and assurances of protection
inc friends OF peace IN Mexico in the establishment and
maintenance of free republican government Of their
own choice. able and willing conclude peace which
would be just TO them and secure us the indemnity
we demand This may become the ONLY mode of oh.
tanning such peace: Should such be the result the
war which Mexico has forced upon us would thus h,
converted into enduring blessing to herself After
ndnS her torn and distracted by factions, and ruled
ny military usn'pers, we should then leave her with
| government, nfofro I'M,
pendence. and domestic peace and prosperity perform
ing all her relative duties in the great family nations
| their faithful execution. ~
IT, after aiordng this encouragement and protection,
ana tcr all the pcrscvcrng and sincere efforts we have
made from the moment Mexico co.nmoncrd the na
and prior to that time 70 adjust differences with
haustcd all honorable means in pursuit of pcacc and
mn continue to occupy her country with troops
hands and must cnforcs the terms which our honor de-
mands. ~ "
Mexico, and TO Withdraw our army without nsacc
would not only leave all the wrongs of which we com
pain unrcdresscd, but would be the signal for new and
h,T uissr,isioh7 ana new rcvoiutonsa!l alike
hos'iic 20 peaceful iaons with the United States
Besides, there is danger, if troops were with
people, wcaricd with successive revolutions and Jn
at ens Se c of ne and property
and to cast themselves into the some Eurorc,
monarch for protection from the anarchy and suffering
winch would ensuc This, for safety md in
pursuance Of our established policy we should bc
PEELED to resist We could consent that Ajcv;co
should be thus converted into monarchy governed bv
a foreign prince. ~
Mckee is our ncighbor and her boundaries ar
cotcrHnous with our own through the whole extent ~
cross the North American continent from occ.n 60
ocean Both politically and commercially VIC bavc tho
deepest interest IN her regeneration and prosperity
Indeed. it impossible that, with any lust rccar 10
fate. '"' " hSr
1t may be that tho Mexican Government and n.o,io
have misconst!ucd misunderstood our 1
our objects in desiring to conclude an anicabc oLim
mcnt OF the existing differences between the two
tres They may have supposed that VIC would submit
drawn iasc nfcTcnces from the supposed division of ~
pnion in the United States the subject of the war
ana ln;y have calculated to gain much by proiracng
~; and' indeed that we might ultimately abandon Il
altogether without insisting on any indemnify irrr;tn
RAJ or Otherwise Whatever may BIC the false imprcs
sions under which they have acted tIc aIcn,;c' ~,
prosecution Of the energetic policy proposed must soon
undcccivc them. ~ '"
In tho future prosecution Of the war; the enemy 1s
DC made to icc IT'S pressure than they have here
oicFc done At its commencement il was tlocn,ci ~,
PER - conduct 1t IN spirit OF fOrbcarancc anal
w IN ms Gnu IN view carly measures adopted to
'lc''ac' az lar as state OF would permit trc
mass Of the Mexican population to conyincc t, ,b,
9c war was waScd not against the peaceful inhabitants
OF Mexico, but against their lithcss 1ovrrnn,c, -:
had commenced hCsiiitcs 10 remove from ~, J
the false impressions which their designing and t.
ca rulers had arifully attempted make that tL ,
on our part was ono o! conquest that it was yy,r a.
gainst their religion and their churches which vvcr ~
nc dcsecTatcd and oycrthrown; and that thcir rcbts
remove these false Impressions our comranJ"r J.; a.
Reid were directed scTUpuously To rcsp.ct tLc;r -
gon' thcir Churches and their church property which
were IN no manner TO be violated they were dirccI
also TO respect the rights of persons and propcrtv of ali
VINO should not take up arms against rs ~
assurances 70 ms erect were given to fhc Mexican
people ny h'Yor Cen lay Tor, i'll proclamation sucd
IN pursuance Of instructions from the Secretary Of "
~ the month OF June, 1856 and again by MAJOR cucr,
'H OF issuing IT. IN proclamation Of the Ilth Of Nav
I