Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-16

!
deeds of noble daring.
While every PATRIOTS heart must exult, ant
just national pride animate every bosom, il
bsholding the high proofs of courage. consum
mate military skill, steady discipline. and hui
mainly to the vanqnshed enemy. exhibited by
our gallant army the nation is called to mourn
over the loss of many brave officers and soldiers
who have fallen in defence of their conntry's
honor and interests. The brave dead met Their
melancholy fate in foreign land. nobly dis
charging their duty. and with their country 5
| flag waving triumphan,ly in the face of the foe
Their patriotic deeds are justly appreciated
! and will long be remembered by their grateful
coun;rymen The parental care Of the gov
epment they loved and served should be ex-
tended to their serviving families.
Shortly after the Adjournment of the last SEES
sion of Congress. the gratifying intelligence
was received Of the signal victory of Buena
Vista and of the fall of the city of Vera Cruz.
and with it the strong castle of San Juan de
Ulloa. by which it was defended. Believing
that after these and other successes. so honor
able to our arms and disastrous to Mexico, the
period was propitious to afford her another OPP
portunily, if she thought proper to embrace it,
to enter into negotiations for peace, a commits
SiOHCI was dppOlHtCu ~ PI'Sc0u " tHc HCdu
quarters of our army, with full powers to enter
upon negotiations, and to conclude just and
honorable treaty of peace. He was not direct
ed to make any new overtnres Of peace, but
was the bearer of despatch from the Secreta-
ry of State OF the United States to the Minister
Of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. in reply to one
received Of the latter of the 22d of Feb. lS47,
in which the Mexican government was inform
ed of his appointment, and of his presence at
the headquarters Of our army, and that he was
invested with full powers to conclude defini-
tive treaty Of peace, whenever the Mexican go
vernment might might signify desire to do
so. While was unwilling to subject the u.
States to another indignant refusal, was yet
resolved that the evils of the war should not
he protracted day lbnger than might he rem
dered absolutely necessary by the Mexican
government.
Care was taken to give no instructions to
the commissioner which could in any way in
terfere with our military operations, or relax
our energies in the prosecution of the war. He
possessed no authority in any manner to control
these operations. He was authorised TO exhib-
it his instructions to the Gene al in command
OF the army, and in the event Of treaty be-
ing concluded and ratified on the part of Next
co, he was directed to give him notice of that
fact. On the happening of such contingency,
and on receiving notice thereof. the General in
command was instructed by the Secretary of
Wa: to suspend further active military opera
tions until further orders. These instructions
were given with view to interim, hostiities,
until the treaty thus ratified by Mexico could
be transmitted to Washington, and receive the
action of the government of the U. States.
The commissioner was also directed, on rea-
ching the army, to deliver to the General in
command the despatch which he bore from the
Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Mexico, and, on receiving 1t, the
General was instructed by the Secretary Of
War to cause it to be transmitted to the COM
mander of the Mexican forces, with request
that it might be communicated 10 his govern
ment.
The commissioner did not reach the head
quarters of the army until after another bril-
liant victory had crowned our arms at Cerro
Gordo.
The despatch which he bore from the Sec
rotary of War to the General in command o.
the army was received by that officer, then al
Jalapa, on the 7th of May. l847 together with
the despatch from the Secretary of State to the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, having
been transmitted to him from Mexico. The
commissioner arrived at the headquarters o
! few days afterwards. His presence with the
army and his diplomatic character We're made
known to the Mexican government, from Pue
/ bla, on the 18th Of June, lS47, by the trans
mission of the despatch from the Secretary o.
State to this Minister of Foreign Affairs o.
Mexico.
Many weeks elapsed after its receipt, and nc
overtures were made, nor was any desire ex
pressed by the Mexican government to enter
into negotiations for peace.
Our army pursued its march upon the capital
and, as it approached it, was met by formda
bic resistance. Our forces first encountered the
enemy and achieved signal victories in the Sc
verely contested battles of Contreras and Chu
rubu.co. 1t was not until after these action;
had resulted in decisive victories. and the cap
ital of the enemy was within our power, tina
the Mexican government manifested any dispo
sitlon for peace; and even then, as events have
proved, there is too much reason to believe they
were insincere, and that in agreeing to 60 thro
the forms of negotiation, the object was to gai'
time to strengthen the defences of their capita
! and to prepare fer fresh resistance.
I The General in command of the army deem
rly, by entering into an armistice with view
to the opening Of negotiations. Commissioner
were appointed on the part of Mexico to NEE
the commissioners on the part of the U. s.
The result Of the conference which took plac
between these fanctionaries Of the two govern
ments was a failure to conclude treaty Q
peace.
The commissioner of the United States too
with him the projet Of treaty already prepared
by the terms Of which the indemnity require
/ by the United States was cession Of territory
4 It is well known that the only indemnit
which it is in the power of Mexico to make i
satisfaction Of the just and long deferred claim
of our citizens against her, and the only mean
by which she can reimburse the U. States ia
the expenses of the war, is session to the Z
S. of portion Of her territory. Mexico ha
no money to pay, and no other means OF max
ing the required indemnity. five refuse this
we can obtain nothing else. To reject endem
nifty, by refusing to accept cession ofterrltory
would be to abandon all our just demands, an
to wage the war, bearing all its expenses, with
\ ont nurpose or definite object.