Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-12-16


leo has been so long held in subjection by one fac
tioh Or military usurper after another, and such
has been the condition of insecurity in which
their successive governments have been placed,
lest for this very cause, rival faction might ex-
Snch was the fate of President Herfera's ad-
ministration in YS45, for being disposed even TO
listen to the overtures of the United States to
prevent the war; as is fully confirmed by the off,
cial correspondence which took place in the
month of August last between him and his gov
ernment, copy of which is herewith comnuni-
Gated. "For this cause alone, the revolution
which displaced him from power was set on foot
by General Paredes. Such may be the condition
of insecurity of the present government.
There can be no doubt that the peaceable and
well-disposed inhabitants of Mexico are convinc-
ed that it is the true interest of their country to
conclude an honorable peace with the United
States but the apprehension OF becoming the
victims of some military faction or usurper may
have prevented them from manifesting their feel
ngs by any public act The removal of any such
| Apprehension wsuld probably cause them to speak
their sentiments freely, and to adopt the niea-
ssres necessary for the restoration Of peace.
With people distracted and divided by con-
tending factions, and government subject to
constant changes by successive revolutions, the
continued successes of our arms may fail to Sc
cure a satisfactory peace. In such event, 1t
may become proper for our commanding generals
in the field to give encouragement and assurances
of protection to the friends of peace in Mexico in
the establishment and maintenance of a free re-
publican government of their own choice, able
and willing to conclude peace which would be
| lust to them, and secure to us the indemnity we
demand.
This may become the only mode of obtaining
such peace. Should such be the result, the war
which Mexico has forced upon us would thus be
converted into an enduring blessing to herself
After finding her torn and distracted by factions,
and ruled by military usurpers, we should then
leave her witha republican government In the
enjoyment of real independence, and domestic
peace and prosperity, performing all her relative
duties in the great family of nations, and promo
ting her own happiness by wise laws and their
faithful execution.
If after affording this encouragement and pro-
tection and after all the persevering and sincere
efforts we have made, from the moment Mexico
commenced the war, and prior to that time. to ad-
just our differences with her, we shall ultimately
fall then we shall have exhausted all honorable
means in pursuit OF peace, and must continue to
occupy her country with our troops, taking the
full measure of indemnity into our own hands,
and mus, enforce the terms which our honor de-
mands.
To act otherwise in the existing state of things
in Mexico, and to withdraw our army without
peace, would not only leave all the wrongs of
which we complain unredressed but would be the
signal for new and fierce civil dissensions and
new revolutions-all alike hostile to peaceful re-
latons with the United States.
Besides, there is danger, if our troops were
withdrawn before peace was concluded, that
the Mexican people, weafied with successive rev.
olutions, and deprived of protection for their per.
sons and property, might at length be inclined to
yield to foreign nfunces, and to cast themselves
into the arms of some European monarch for pro-
lection from the anarchy and suffering which en-
sue. This for our own safety, and in pursuance
of our own established policy we should be COM
PEELED to resist. We could never consent that
Mexico should be thus converted into monarchy
governed by foreign prince.
Mexico is our near neighbor, and her bounda-
ries coterminous with our own, through the
whole extent across the North American conti-
nent, from ocean to ocean. Both politically and
commercially, we have the deepest interest in
her regeneration and prosperity. Indeed, it is
impossible that, with any just regard to our own
safety, we can ever become indifferent to her
fate.
1t may be that the Mexican government and
people have misconstrued or misunderstood our
forbearance, and our objects, in desiring to
conclude amcable adjustment of the existing
differences between the two countries.-They
may have supposed that we would submit to
terms degrading to the nation; or they may
have drawn false inferences from the supposed
division of opinion in the United States on the
subject of the war, and may have calculated to
gain much by protracting it, and, indeed, that
we might ultimately abandon it altogether, with
out insisting on any indemnity, territorial or 9TH
erwise.-Whatever may be the false impressions
under which they have acted, the adoption and
prosecution of the energetic policy proposed must
soon undeceive them.
In the future prosecution of the war, the ene-
my must be made to feel its pressure more than
they have heretofore done. At its commencement,
it was deemed proper to conduct it in spirit of
forbearance and liberty.-With this end in view,
early measures were adopted to concliate, as ia r
as state of war would permit, the mass of the
Mexican population; to convince them that the
war was waged not against the peaceful inhabt-
ants of Mexico, but against their faithless gov
ernment, which had commenced hostiities; to
remove from their minds the false impressions
which their designing and interested rulers had
arttully attempted to make, that the war on OUR
part was one of conquest; that it was a war
against their religion and their churches, which
were to be deseerated and overthrown !; and that
their rights OF person and private property would