Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-18


Increasingly waged. II would require a large
army to be continually in the field, stationed at
Iports and garrisons along such line. to protect
and defend it. The enemy, relieved from the
pressure Of our arms on his coast and in the popu
Ious parts of the interior, would direct the opera
lions, and, selecting an isolated post for attack,
would concentrate his forces upon it. This would
be condition of affairs which the Mexicans, pur-
suing their favorable system Of guerrilla warfare,
would probably prefer to any other. Were we to
assume defensive attitude. on such a line, all
the advantages Of such a state Of would be on
the side Of the enemy. We could levy no contri-
buttons upon him, or in any other way make him
feel the pressure of the war; but mus. remain
inactive and await his approach, being in constant
uncertainty at what point of the line or at what
time, he might make the assault. He may assem-
BILE and organize an overwhelming force in the
interior, on his own side of the line, and, con-
cealing his purpose, make a sudden assault upon
some one of our posts, so distant from any other
as to prevent the possibility of timely succor or
reintorcemcnts, and in this way, gallant army
would be exposed to the danger Of being cut off
in detail, or If, BY their unrivalled bravery and
proves, everywhere exhibited during the war,
they should repulse the enemy, the numbers sta
toned at any point, might still be too small 10
pursue him. If the enemy be repused in one at
tempt, he will have nothing else to do but retreat
to his own side Of the line, and, being in no fear
Of pursuing army, may reinforce himself at
| leisure for another attack on the same, or some
1 other point. He may, too, cross line between
our postS-rDake iDCursions into the country we
hold-murder the inhabitants thereof, and then re-
turn to the Interior before sufficient force can
be concentrated to pursue him. Such would prob.
ably be the harrassng character of mere defen-
sive war on our part. If our forces, when at
tackled or threatened, be permitted to cross the
line, drive back the enemy and conquer him, this
would be ngan to invade the enemy's country
after having lost all the advantages Of the con-
quests we have already made, by having volun-
tarily abandoned them. To hold such line sue
cessfuy, and in security, it is far from being
certain that it would not require as large an army
as would be necessary to hold all the conquests
we have already made. and to continue the pros
ecution of the in the heart Of the enemy's
country. 1t is also far from being certain that
the expenses of the war would be diminished by
such policy.
| am persuaded that the best means of vindicat-
ing the national honor and interest, and of bring
ing the to an honorable Close will be 10 prose-
cute it with increased energy and power in the
vital part OF the enamys country In my annual
message to Congress, declared that the war had
not been waged with view to conquest but hav-
ing been COMMANDED by Mexico, it has been car
ried into the enemy's country, and will be Wig
urou.ly prosecuted there with view to obtain an
honorable peace, and thereby secure ample in
demnity for the expenses of the war, as to
much injured citizens who hold large peculiarly
demands against Mexico. Such, in my Judgment,
continues to be orr true policy--indeed the only
policy which will probably secure q permanent
peace.
1t has never been contemplated, by me, as an
object Of the war, 10 make permanent conquest
of the Republic Of Mexico. to annihilate her
separate existence as an Independent nation; on
the contrary, it has ever been my desire. that she
should ma ain he! nationality, and, under rood
government, adapted to her condition. be pros.
: porous and free republic The United States were
the first among the nations to recognize her in.
dependelce, and has always desired To be on terms
Of amty and good neighbOrhoOd with her This
she would not suffer BY her own conduct, we
have been compelled to engage in the present
war--in its prosecution, we seek not her over
throw us nation. bit in viniicating our national
honor, seek to obain redress for the wrongs
, she has done Us, and indemnity for our lust de.
mands against her. We demand an honorable
peace, and that peace must bring with it indem-
nifty for the pas, and security for the future
Hitherto, Mexico has refused all accommodation
by which such peace could be obtained.
Whilst our armies have advanced from victory
to victory, from Tie commencement Of the war; il
, has always teen with The olive branch of peace
, lin their hands, and it has been in the power of
Mexico at every step to arrest hostiities by &C.
! coping it.
One crert objection to the ob,anment Of peace,
! has undoubtedly arisen from the fact, that Mex
leo has been SO long hed in subsection by one fac
tion military u~urpcr, after another. and such
has been the condition of insecurity in which
their successive governments have been placed
, that each huS been deferred from making peace,
e.t for this very cause, rival faction might expei
, it from power.
Such was the fate of President Herrera's ad.
ministrati1n in lsi5, for being disposed even 10
listen to the overtures Of the United States, 10
prevent the war, us is fully confirmed by an off,
cial correspondence which took place, in the
month Of August last, between him and his gov
, eminent, the copy Of which is herewith conmu.
I ncated For this cause alone, the revolution
, which displaced him from power, was set on foot
by Gen. Parades. Such may be the condition Of
: insecurity of the present government.
/ There can be no douUt, that the peeccable and
we'll disposed inhabitants of Mexico, are con-
WINGED that 1t is the true interest of their country
TO conclude honorable peace with the United
States, but the apprehension OF becoming the vic.
f TINS of some military faction or usurper, may
, have prevented them from manifestng their feel
4 ings by any public act,
Tie removal Of any such apprehension would
. probably cause them TO speak their sentiments
ard to adopt the measures necessary for the res
e toratiou OF pence with people distracted and
divided by contending factions, and government:
subject to constant changes by successive revou-
q tons The continued successes of our arms may
fail TO satisfactory peace. In such event,
it may become proper for our commanding gen.
v erals in the field to give encouragement and as
.. surance Of protection 20 the friends of peace in
O Mexico, in the establishment and maintainance
of free republican government of their own
t choice, always willing to conclude peace which
v would be just TO them, and secure to US the in
{. demui.y we demand
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