Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-11

1
such territorial governments be established. 1t
will promote peace and tranquility among the in
haoitants, BY allaying all apprehension that they
may entertain of being subjected again 10 the i,l-
rsdicton Of Mexico. invite the early and favor
able consideration of Congress to this important
subject.
Besides New Ne % and California. there are
other Mexican provinces which have bsen reduced
to our possession by conquest. These other Next
can provinces are now governed by our military
and naval commanders, under the general authority
which is conferred upon conqueror by the laws O.
war. They should continue ~ be held means
Of coercipg Mexico 10 accede 10 just of peace
Civil, as we'll as military officers requr ed n
conduct such government Adequate compsnsa-
ton, TO be drawn from contributions levied on the
enemy, should be fixed by law for such officers 81
!, may be thus employed. What further NAV hecom.
necessary and what final disposition it may become
proper to make of them, must depend on the future
progress OF the war, and The course Mexico may
hereafter think proper 10 pursue.
i With the views | entertain, cannot favor the
policy which has been suggested, either 10 with
draw our army altogether, or to retire 10 desgna-
TED line and SIMPLY hold ard defend il. To with
draw our army altogether from the conquests ther
have made, by deeds of unparalleled bravery, and
at the expense of so much blood and treasure IN a
warJust on our part, and one which by the nc, Of
the enemy, we could not honorably have avoided
would be to degrade the nation in It's own estims-
ton and ia that of the world. To retire to n lin >
and simply hold and defend it, would not termpa e
the war. On the contrary, it would encourages
Mexico to persevere, and tend TO protect il indef-
ntey.
|, is nor to be expected, that Mexico. after refu,
ing to establish such line permanent bounds i.
~, when our victorious are in possession of hes
capital and the heart of her country, would permit
us TO hold 1t without resistance. That she would
continue the war, and that in the mos: harrassng
and annoying forms, there can be no doubt. A
border warfare, of mosi savage character eztend-
ing over long line, would be increasingly wared
1t wonid seqniresa large amy to be continually in
the held; stationed al ports aud garrisuns along
such line, 10 protect and defend il. The enemy
relieved from the pressure Of arms on his coast
and in the populous parts Of the interior, would d.
rect the operations, and, selecting isolated pest
Tor attack, would concentrate his forces upon il
i his void be condition of affairs which the Mexi-
cans, persuing their favorable system of guerilla
| warfare, would probably prefer 10 any other.
Were we to defensive attitude on such a
line, all the advantages of such state Of war
would be on the side of the enemy. We could levy
no contributions on him. or in any other way make
him feel the pressure of the war; but must remain
inactive and await bis approach, being in constant
uncertainty at what point of the line or at Whist
time he might make the assault. He may assemble
and organize an overwhelming force in the interior.
on his own side of the line, and concealing his mr.
pose, make sudden assault upon some one of our
posts, so distant from any otheruas to prevent the
possibility of timely or reinfoscements. and
IN this way our gallant army would be exposed to
the danger of beng cut in detail, or if by their
1 unrlvalled bravery and proves, every whore ex-
hibiied during the war, they should rspnIse The
enemy, the numbers stationed at any one poin,,
might still be too small TO pursue him. If the enc
my be iepulsed IN one attempt, he will have moth
ing else TO do but retreat TO his own side of The
line, and being in no fear of a pursuing army may
reinforce himself at ieis"Te for another attack on
the SAME, or some other point, He may too eros,
aiine between our posts-make incursions into The
countryswe hold-inuTder the Inhabitants thereof
and then return 10 the Interior before a suff1ceps
ioree can be concentrated 10 pursue him, Such
would probably be the hairasssing character of 3
mere defensive war on our par,, II our force,
when attacked or threatened, be permitted to cross
me line, rive baek dthe enemy and conquer him,
thus would be again TO invsde the enem,'s country
sitter having lost all the advantages Of the con-
quests we have already made. by having uoluata-
! rily abandoned them. To hold such line success
fully, and III security, it is far from being certain
that 1t would not require as large an army as would
be necessary TO hold all the eopques,s which al,va
dy have been made, and 10 continue the prosecu-
ton OF the war IN the neaIt Of the enemy IS country
Il is also far from beng certain that the expenses
OF The war would be diminished by such policy
am persuaded, that the best means of vim
dicating the national honor and interest, and OF
bringing the war to an honorable close, will
be to- prosecute it with increased energy and
power In the vital part OF the enemy's country.
In my annual message to Congress, Ideclared
that the war had not been waged with a view to
conquest, but having been commenced by Next
co, 1t has been carried into the enemy's coun-
try, and will be vigorously prosecuted there
with view to obtain an honorable peace, and
thereby secure ample indemnity for the expsn-
ses OF the war, as TO our much injured citizens,
who hole large pecuniary demands against
Mexico. Such, in my Judgment, continues to
be our true policy-indeed the only policy
which will probably secure permanent peace.
Ii mas never been contemplated, by me- as
an object OF the war, to make permanent con-
quest Of the Republic of Mexico, or to annihi-
late her separate existence as an independent
nation; on the contrary, it has ever been nv
desire that she should maintain her nationality.
and, under good government, adapted 10 her
condition, be prosperous and free republic.
The United States were the first among the ma
tons to recognize her independence, and has
always desired to be on terms of amity and
good neighborhood with her. This she would
not suffer BY her own conduct, we have beer
compelled to engage in the present war---in it's
prosecution we seek not her overthrow as a
nation, but, in indicating our national honor,
we seek to obtain redress for the wrongs she
has done us, and indemnity for our Just demands
against her. We demand an honorable peace.
and that peace must bring with it indemnity for
the past, and security for the future. Hitherto,
Mexico has refused all accommodation by
which such peace could be obtained.
| Whilst our armies have advanced from vic
tory to victory, from the commencement of the
war, it has always been with the olive bTancl,
of peace in their hands, and it has been IN the
power OF Mexico, at every step, 10 arrest hosti-
lities by accepting it.
! One great objection to the obtainment OF
peace has undoubtedly arisen from the fact THAI
Mexico has been so long held in subsection by
one faction. or military usurper, after another,
and such has been the condition Of insecurity
in which their successive governments have
been placed, that each has been deferred from
making peace, lest for this very cause, a rival
faction might expel it from power
! Such was the fate Of President Herrera's ad
mnistration in 1845, for being disposed to
even listen to the oveTtures of the United
States, to prevent the war, as IS fully confirm ed
/ by an official correspondence which took place
In the month of August last, between him and
his government, the copy of which is herewith
communicated. For this cause alone. the rev.
olution which displaced him from power, was
set en- foot by Gen. Paroles. Such may be the
condition of insecurity of the present govern
ment
There can be no doubt that the peacabIe and we II
disposed inhabitants of Mexico, are convinced iha I
II rs the true interest of their country 10 conclude