Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-17
E0LUM 1i-.-NUMBER 10.

Just national pride animate every bosom IN be-
holding the high proofs Of consumnate military
skill, steady discipline, aud humanity to the van
pushed enemy, exhibited by our gallant army,
the nation is called to mourn over the loss ofma.
ny brave officers aud soldiers who have fallen in
defence Of their counlry's homer and Interests
The brave dead met their melancholy fate in
foreign land noby dischargng their duty, with
their counIry's flag waving niumphanty in the
face OF the foe. Their patriotic deeds are Justly
appreciated and will long be rcmcmbcredby their
grateful countrymeu. The parental care of the
Government, they loved aud served, should be
extended to their surviving families.
Shortly after the adjournment of the last scs-
sion of Congress, the gratifying intelligence was
received Of the signal victory of Buena Vista aud
of the fall of the city of Vera Cruz, and with il
the strong Castle Of San Juan De Uloa, by which
il was defended. Believing that after these aud
Othor successes so honorable to our arms aud so
disastrous to Mexico, the period was propitious to
afford her another opportunity, if she thought
proper TO embrace it, to enter into negotiations
for peace, Il Commissioner was appointed to pro.
coed to the head quarters OF our army, with full
powers to enter upon negotiations and to conclude
just and honorable treaty OF peace. lie was
not directed to make any new ovcrures of peace,
but was the bearer of dispatch from the Sccre-
tary oil State of the United States to the Minister
Of Foreign Aflairs OF Mexico, in reply TO one re-
ceived from the latter, of the 22d of February,
l847, in which the Mexican Government was in
formed OF his appointment, and his presence at
the head quarters of our army, aud that he was
invested with full powers to conclude deinlve
treaty Of peace whenever the Mexican Govern
ment might signify desire to do so. While
was unwilling to subject the United States 10 an
other indignant refusal, | was yet resolved that
the evils OF the war should not be proracrod day
longer than might be rendered absolutely ncces-
sary by the Moxicans.
Care was taken TO give no instructions to the
Commissioner which could in any way interfere
with our military operations. or relax our cncr-
ges in the prosecution oflhe War. lie possessed
no authority 10 any manner TO control these OPP
eratons. He was authorised TO exhibit his in
Structions to the General in command Of the ar
my; and IN the event OF Il treaty beng concluded
and ratified on the pau Of Mexico, he was direc-
ted to give him notice Of thai fact. On the hap
pening of such Il contingency and on receiving
notice thereof, the General in commanl was in.
struclod by the Secretary of War to suspend fur.
thor active operations until further orders. These
instructions were given with view TO intermit
hoStlllues until the treaty, thus ratified by MeXi-
co, could be transmitted to Washington, and re-
ceiVo the action Of tho Government Of the United
States.
The Commissioner was also directed, on roa-
ching the army, 10 deliver to the General in COM
mand the despatch which he bore from the Sec
rotary OF State 10 the Minister Of Fercign Affairs
OF Mexico; and, on receiving it, the General was
instructed by the Secretary of War to cause it 10
be transmitted to the commander ofthe Mexican
forces, with request that il might be commlni-
Gated to his Government.
The Commissioner did not reach the head
quarters at' the army until after another brilliant
victory had crowned our arms at Cerro Gorlo.
The despatch which he bore from the ScCre-
tary of War to the General in command of the
Army, was received by that officer then at jail
apa, on the 7th day Of May 1917, together with
the despatch from the Secretary of State to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, having
been transmitted TO him from Vera Cruz. The
Commissioner arrived at the head quarters of the
army few days afterwards. Ills presence with
the army, and his diplomatic character were
made known to the Mexican Government from
Pueba on the 12th of June, 1847, by the trans
mission of the despatch from the Secretary Of
State to lhe Minister of Foreign Affairs Of Mex
lCo.
Many weeks after its receipt and no overures
were made nor was any desire expressed by the
Mexican Government 10 enter into negotiations
for peace,
Our army pursued its march upon the Capital,
! 1nI nc upnrnnphnI moS h1y Io
resistance. Our forces first encountered the ene-
my and achieved signal victories in the severely
contested battles ofConlrcras and Churubusco.-
1t was not until after these battles had resulted in
deScsive victories, and the Capital of the enemy
was within our power, that the Mexican Gov
ernmcnt manifested any disposition TO enler into
negotiations for poace, and even then events
proved there is TOO much reason to believe they
We're insncere, and that in agreeing to 90 thro'
the forms of negotiation the object was to gain
time to strengthen the deIenceS of their Capital
and TO prepare for fresh resistance.
The general in command of the army deemed
it expodienl TO suspend hostiIres temporarily, by
entering into an armIStce with Il view to the
opening Of negot iations. Commissioners were
appointed on the part of Mexico TO meet the
commissioners on the part Of the United States
| The result OF the conference which took place,
between these functonares Of the TWO govern
mcnls, was failure to conclude treaty of peace.
This Commissioner of the United States took
with him the project of the treaty already pre-
pared by the terms Of which the indemnify re.
quired by the United States was cession Of ter
rtory.
Its well known that the only indemnify which
it is in the power of Mexico to make, in satsIac
lion of the just and long deferred claims of our
citizens against her, and the only means by which
she can reimburse the United States for the ex.
penses of the war, is a cesslon to the United
States of portion OF her territory. Mexico
has not money to pay, and no other means Of
making the required indemnify. If we refuse
this We can obtain nothing else. To reject in
LnnluIM hM r-.lsinn IN cn.-i...,- ~