Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-08
WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING
FOR.
From the National Intolligencor
NEW GROUNDS OF THE WAR.
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
Tenihly. In the proclamation issued by Gen.
Kearney, (22d August, 1885, on reaching the
capital of New. Mexico, tho cause of the war is
barely stated las in Commodore Sloat's) to be
" the act OF Mexico" in crossing the Rio Grande
and attacking General Taylor; and the object
OF the war is not even indicated in either proc
arnation, except that both declare the possession
taken to be permanent, and therefore ptt tiOo
great regions out of all further question of right,
of negotiation of fair and honorable peace."-
This silence as to the justice Of claims, and this
desicive action oil mere and bare conquest, once
more substantiate that as the real object Of the
war-an object which could as little, from the
necessity OF the case, be diSuuoped in the
countries meant TO be dismembered from Mexl.
co. as it could with advantage be drorcd any
where else. And this is, we venture to say the
key to all those contradictions and that amazing
governmental prcvnrcaton. which we are now
attempting 10 trace through its many shlltlngs,
turnings and winnings.
But the Santa Fe proclamation has other iea-
lures peculiar to it. To stretch thi,her the
claim founded Oh mere impotent act of Texas
legislation, and nothing else) to all the soil east
Of the Rio Grande would have been idle; the tale
of the old Santa Fe expedition made it impossl-
bic to pretend that the Texas claim was not al
together fictitious in that quarter Putting a.
side, therefore, all pretence Of title up to the
Bravo, this proclamation announces our Gencr-
ais intention to hold the Department with its
original boundaries ION both sides of the Del
NOrte) as a part Of The Uniled States, and under
the name of the Territory Of New McXico;"-
that he is instructed by his Government to re-
spect the religious institutions of New Mexico,
protect the property of the church, and "preserve
their reli gous rights" in the 0mpest manner:"
that he Is to respect the rights of private proper.
ty: that he is to defend them from the hostile
Indians that they must AID him in enforcing the
laws [of the United States that all who had
left their homes through dread Of our troops, or
TO fight us, must return to them forthwith that
if they do not, {" they will be considered as enc
mics and traitors, subiecting their persons to
punishment and their property to confscaiion: :"
that sit Is the wish and intention of the United
States to PROVIDE FOR MEXico' fall Mexico1
"a FREE GOVERNMENT with the least possible
delay:" that I" the people of New-Mexco will
then be called on TO exercise the rights of free
men in electing their own representatives, :" that
meantime the existing laws will continue in
force and the actual magistrates renan in Of
fice," provided they comport themselves as good
citizens and take the oath Of allegiance to the
United States: :" that the General "releases all
New Mexcans from their allegiance TO Mexi-
CO: :" that he hereby claims them as citizens of
the United States y that such as are found in
arms or instigating others against the United
States will be treated nccordinghL" Nora
"Accordlngly," means hung, as has been since
abundantly explained by practce.] Finally,
the proclamation says that General Kearney,
will, for the present, be considered Governor Of
the ! erritory."
1t is not little curious in comparing these
two last proclamalions, to observe one special
difference; the nearer TO the Presidents person,
the more absolute the civil powers which he as
sumes; and the farther from that presence, the
stronger the religions authority he puts on. In
California he lets men off from not being hung
for not coming back TO their houses when they
are hidden; in New Mexico he does not; in
Santa Fe he "protects their church" and their
religious rights in the amplest manners" in
Monterey OF the Pacific he abolishes the suprem-
| acy of the Mexican faith altogether. Yet again
his royal will deals adversely IN other particulars
| California he at once constitutes State; New
Mexico but Il territory in the former, every
body (back, white, red or mixed, and bond OF
! irce) is at once full citizen Of the United
States; IN the latter the boon is only distant and
! pectve--"when he shall have provided fol
lIerico free government, similar to those of the
| United States" In other respects, supreme
| power is eXerted with an even hand; he appoints
what shall be law and who its officers in boil
countries. For the present. continuing thei
! old laws and officers, he lets Mexico legislatC
! and appoint for United States Territory bn
| presently he will be even with them, and do al
the law-giving and distriLut all The spoils him
self.
1t is true, the government, through lis organ
| here, has pretended to deny that 1t has glver
authority to these extraordinary proclamatlols
The disavowal is, however, contradicted by prio
and subsequent facts. We are, at this moment
engaged in showing that the affirmative decla
tions of this administration ure deceits and why
should its negative ones be more candid? No
we have already urged in regard to Commo
| dore Sloat, SO of the case OF General Kearney
both expeditions were deliberately planned a
the Navy and War Offices; were executed D
leisure; were looked OIL as certain TO secure tC
us two easy conquests, themselves with the eX
pected glory and popularity of their acquisition
no doubt at first the utmost foreign objects oftht
war. In both quarters, Mexico was known L
have slender forces, the inhabitants believed tC
be ready TO hail our sway, and that sway, there
fore, to be certain of permanence Is it, then
possible that regular subugatlon of two large
| countrles-new to our language, our laws, nnt
almost any other-should have been projected
and executed without any instructions to thei
conquerors to TIE civil order which was to bt
set up in them? Were the officers of our arm,
and navy unaccustomed TO any but military
rues--to be left 10 their own discretion. thei
Administration, we consider such imprcvldenc,
impossible On these matters The commander
must have been furnished With Instructions
probably, indeed certainly, even with procama
tons, ready printed, for they were issued in
stantly on the act Of taking possession-a 200,
deal sooner than they could have been prinle,
in Monterey or Santa Fe, where there were tbe
no printing presses. Well, as we have said, he
ing furnished with Instructions no officer coul
have dared to set up a government not in con
formity to them. So much for facts precedin,
the proclamalions; aud now for the facts sub
sequent 10 them They have been dsavowed
have the officers issuing them been punished O
even censured for such fragrant usurpations P
The very contrary General Kearney has beef
promoted and sent on as Governor OF California
lie has then incurred no loss of confidence
But has the Government annulled the regula
tons, the laws, the authorities which il has disa
vowed? Nothing of tho kind in California
and, IN New Mexico, some seven or eight month
after the enactment of these strange laws the
have lately been enforced in their most dreadful
and monstrous provisions. Under their claim q
the self bestowed allegiance of people unabI
10 repe their invader, many Of the best and bra
vest of the New Mexcans have been NM TO tb
ignominious death of hanging, for only attempt
ing what Emmett and Kosciusko atiempted-
what Tell and Washington accomplishment
Liberation of their country from foreign yoke.
ElepenHty. The War according to the lat