Democratic banner., 1847-12-20

long lIRe, would be Increasingly WaSeu'-
It would require a large army to be con,
~tinnal!y in the field, stationed at forts ane
garrisons along such a line, to protect ane
defend it. The enemy, relieved from the
pressure of our arms on his coast and il
tfe popuious parts Of the interior, would d.
rect tie operations, anu, selecting an Is"la'
tied pos. for attack, would concentrate hi:
forces upon it. This would be a condition
of affairs which the Mexicans, pursuing
their favorable system of guerrilla warfare,
would probably prefer to any other. Were
We to assume a defensive attitude, on sucl
a line, all the advantages Of such a state Of
war would be Oil the side of the enemy
We could levy no contributions upon him.
or in any other way make him feel the
pressure Of the war; but must remain mac
tive and await his approach, being in con-
slant uncertainty at what point of the line
or at what time, he might make the assault
He may assemble and organize an over
! T;helming force i'll the interior, on his own
side of tic line, and, concealing his purpose,
make a sudden assault upon some one OF
our posts, SO distant from: any other as to
prevent the possibility Of timely sHccour o:
rsinforcements, and in this way, our gallant
army would be exposedtothe danger of be-
ing cut off in detail, or if, by their u~nrival-
ed bravery and proves, every where ex-
hibited during the war, they should repulse
the enemy, the numbers stationed at any
one point, might still be too small 10 pursue
him. If the enemy be repulsed in one at
tempt, he will have nothing else to do but
retreat to his own side OF the line, and, be-
ing in no fear of a pursuing army, may re-
~inforce himself at leisure for another attack
on the same, or some other point. He may,
too, cross a line between our ~posts-makc
incursions into the country we hOld-mur-
der the Inhabitants thereof, and then re-
turn to the interior, before a sufficient force
can be concentrated to pursue him. Such
would probably be the harrassing character
of a mere defensive war on our part. If
our forces, when attacked or thre atened, be
permitted to cross the line, drive back the
enemy and conquer him, this would be a.
gain to invade the enemy's country after
having lost all the advantages of the con-
quests we Rave already made, BY having
voluntarily abandoned them. Tohold such
a line successfully, and in security, it is far
from being certain that it would not re-
quire as large an army as would be neces-
sary to hold all the con9uests we have al
ready made, and to continue the prosecu-
ton Of the war in the heart of the cnemy's
country. 1t is also far from being certain
that the expenses of the war would be d.
lninished by such a policy.
am persuaded, that the best means of
vindicating the national honor and interest,
and of bringing the war to an honorable
close, will be TO prosecute it with increas-
ed energy and power in the vital part Of
the enemy's country. In my annual mes
sage to Congress, l declared that the war
had not been waged with a view to con.
quest, but having been commenced by
Mexico, it has been carried into the ene-
my's country, and will be vigorously prose-
cuted there with a view to obtain an homo
rable peace, and thereby secure ample in
demnity for the expenses IF the war, as to
our much injured citizens who hold large
pecuniary demands against Mexico. Such,
in my judgment, continues to be our true
Policy-indeed the only policy which will
probably secure a permanent peace.
1t has never been contemplated, by me
as an objec: Of the war, to make a perma-
nent conquest of the Republic Of Mexico,
or to annihilate her seperate existence as an
independent nation; on the contrary, it has
ever been my desire, that she should main
tain her nationality, and under a good gov
eminent, adapted 10 her condition, re a
prosperous and free republic. The United
we're the first among the nations to
recognize her independence, and has al
ways desired to be on terms of amity and
good neighborhood with her. This she
would not suffer. Byher own conduct, we
been compelled 20 engage in the pres
warm its prosecution, we seek not her
overthrow as a nation, but in vindicating
our national honor, we seek to obtain re-
for the wrongs she had done us, and
indemnity for our just demands against her.
demand an honorable peace, and that
must bring with it indemnity for the past
and security for the future. Hitherto,
has refused all accommodation BY
Which such a peace could be obtained.
Whilst DIR armies have advanced from