Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-06-24
FROM THE "UNIoN" OF JUNE ~
GENERAL SCOTTS PROCLAMATION.

GENERAL SCOTTS PROCLAMATION.
/ we are furnished with, and now lay before the
public. an authentic copy Of General ScoTr's Pro-
clamaton to the Mexican people. There are not
many parts of it which do not meet with our cordial
! approval, and on these do not now propose to
make any comments. With some few qualifica-
tons, we unhcstatngly pronounce it an able and
patriotic paper, crediable TO its author-General
ScoTr-and well calculated to produce favorable
impressions on the Mexican people
The General-i-chief of The .q,m,ies of the United
States of.america to the Mexican nation,
MENIcANs The late event of the war. and the
measures adopted in consequence by Your Govern
ment, make II my duty TO address you, lin order 10
lay before you truths of which you are ignorant
because they have been criminally concealed from
you. do not ask you to believe me singly on nv
wOrd--though he whohas not been found false has a
claim 10 be believed-but 10 Judge for yourselves of
these truths from facts within the view and scru-
tiny OF you all.
Whatever may have been the origin of this war,
which the United States were forced TO undertake
by lnsurmountable causes, regard il as an evil
war Is ever such to both 5eigerents land the rea-
son and justice of the case, if not unknown on both
sides, are in dispute, and claimed by each. You
have proof OF this truth well as we for i'm Mex
leo, as In the United States, there have existed and
do exist, two opposite partles-one desiring peace
another war.
Governments, however, have sacred duties TO
perform from which they cannot swerve; and
these duties frequently impose, from national con-
sderatlons, silence and reserve that displease
at times majority of those who, from views pure
ly personal or private, found in opposition to
which Governments can pay little attention. expect
Ing the nation TO repose in them the confidence due
TO magistracy of its own selection:
Considerations of high policy and of Continental
American interests precipitated events. in spite of
the circumspecton of the Cabinet at Washington.
This Cabinet ardently desiring 70 terminate all DIFF
ferences with Mexico, spared no efforts compatible
with honor and dignity. Ii cherished the most
attering hopes of attaining this end by frank ex-
! plantations and reasOnings addressed TO the udp-
ment and prudence of the virtuous and patriotic
Government of General Herrera. An unexpected
misfortune dispelled these hopes, and closed every
avenue to an honorable adjustment. Your new
Government dlsregarded your national interests as
! well as those Of Continental America and Welded
moreover, To- foreign influences the most opposed
! TO those interests-the most fatal TO the future of
Mexican liberty and of that republican system which
/ the United States hold it duty to preserve and
to project. Duty, honor, and dignity placed us un-
der the necessity of not losing season of which the
monarchical party was fast taking advantage As
not a moment was to be lost, we acted with a
prOmptness and decision suited TO the urgency of
the case in order TO avoid complication of interests
which might render our relations more difficult and
| involved.
| Again, in the course of civil war, the government
( of General Paroles was overtilrown We could
not but look upon this fortunate event. believ-
/ ing that any other administration, representing
| Mexico, would be less deuded more patriotic. and
more prudent-l6oking to the common good weigh
ing probabilities, strength. resources. and, above
all, the general opinion as TO the inevitable results
OF a national war. We were deceived-as perhaps
you, Nexicans, were also deceived-iu Judging the
I real intention of Santa Anna, whom YOU recalled
and whom our Government permitted to return.
/ Under this STATE of things, the Mexican nation
has seen the results lamented by all, and by IL:
! most sincerely TOR we appreciate as is due the
vaor aud noble decision of those unfortunate mer
! who 90 to battle, i-conducted, worse cared for
and almost always enforced by violence, deceit, o.
perfidy
We are winesses-and we shall not be taxed
with paTliality, a party interested, when we Ia
meut with surpriSe-that the heroic behavior ofthC
garrison of Vera Cruz, in lis valiant defence ha.
been aSpersed by the General who had lust been rou
ed and put 10 shameful flight at Buena Vista by 4
force far inferior to his own that the same Genera
rewarded :he insurgents of the capital--promoter
of civil war-and heaped outrage on those who hac
Just acquired for themselves singular distinction BIZ
a resistance beyond expectation, and of admirable
decision.
Finally, the bloody event Of Cero Gordo lia:
plainly shown the Mexican nation what it MAJ
reasonably expect, if it longer continues blind to il
real situatlon--a situation to which il has beer
brought by some Of its Generals. whom it has mos
distinguished, and in whom il has most confded.
The hardest heart would have been moved Il
grief in contemplating any battle field of Mexico
moment after the last struggle Those Generals
whom the nation has paid. without service render
ed for many years. have in the day of need will
some honorable exceptions, but served TO njure he
by their bad example or unskiilfulness. The deac
: and wounded on those fields received no marks o
military distinction, sharing alike the sad fate
which has been the same from Pslo Alto to CefrC
Gordo; the dead remained unburied and the wound
ed abandoned 10 the clemency and charity Of the
victor. Soldiers who 60 TO battle, knowing they
have such reward to look for, deserve to be classeC
with the most heroic FOR they are stimulated b.
no hope of glory, nor remembrance, nor sign--no
even grave.
Again, contemplate, honorable Mexicans, the 10