Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-06-10
Gen. SCOTS Message,
Headquarters Of the Army, }
JaIapa, May II. {


can nation.
Mericdns! The recent events of tn
war, and the measures adopted in conse
quence by your government, make It m
duty to address you-to show yon truth
of which you are ignorant, because ,hey
have been crminally concealed from YOU
DO not ask you 10 trust my words, (tho
he who has never faIsifed them has
right to confidence but to Judge of these
truths by facts within the view and knowI
edge of you all.
Whatever may have been the origin o
this war, which my country saw itself for.
ced to undertake by irremcdable causes,
which learn are unknown to the greater
part ofthe Mexican nation. we regard it
as necessity; such is il always to both
beligerents, and reason and justice, if not
forgotten on both sides. are in dispute,
each believing them its own. You have
proof of this truth as well as ourselves, for
in Mexico, as in the United States, there
have existed and do exist two opposite par
ties, desiring-the one peace, the other
war.
But governments have sacred duties,
from which they cannot depart; and often
these duties impose, for national reasons,
silence and reserve sometimes dis
pleasing to the majority Of those who from
views purely personal or individual, make
opposition. TO this government cannot
pay any regard, excepting the nation to
place it in confidence meried by a magis-
tracy Of their own election.
Here follows brief recapitulaton of
the attempts to negotiate, previous to the
war
We were deceived, as perhaps you,
Mexicans. were also deceived in Judging the
true intentions of Gen. Santa Anna " HON
you recalled, and whom orr government
permitted to return. From this condition
of things the Mexican nation has seen
what have been the results-rcsulls Ia.
men,ed by all, and by US sincerely, for we
appreciate as is due the valor and noble
determination OF the rnfortunates who 90
to battle ill-led, worse governed and al
fdity. We have seen-and We cannot be
taxed with partially for Iamen'ing
establishment that the heroic department
of the garrison of Vera Cruz, in its vaian,
defence, was aspersed by the general who
had just been defeated and put in shame.
full flight by force far inferior TO that
which he commanded at Buena Visia;that
this general, rewarding The insurgents and
promoters of civil war in Mexico, heaped
outrage on those who had singularly dis
tinguished themselves by resistance be.
yond what could be expected, and of ad,
mirabIe decision.
FinalIy,the bloody event of Cero Gordo
has shown the Mexican nation what it may
reasonably expect If it longer continues
blind to the true situation in which i, has
been placed by some generals, whom it
has most distinguished and in whom it has
most confded.
The hardest heart would be moved to
GRIFFIN contemplating the battle fields of
Mexico moment after the last struggle.
These generals whom the nation has, with
out service rendered, paid for so many
years, with some honorable exceptions,
have in the day Of need betrayed it by
their bad example or unskilfulness. On
that field, among the dead and diving, are
seen no proof Of military honors, for they
are reduced TO the sad fate of the soldier
the same on every occasion, from Palo
20 Cero Goldo-the dead to remain unbu.
ried and The wounded abandoned to the
clemency and charity Of the conquercr
Soldiers who 60 to fight, expecting such
recompense, deserve to be classed among
The best in the world, since they are slim
ula;ed by no hope Of ephemeral glory, of
regret, of remembrance, or even of
grave.
Again, Mexicnns Of honorable pride,
contemplate the lot of peaceful and Iabo-
rlous citizens in all classes of your socie-
ty. The possessions Of the church menac
ed and held out as an Indictment to revo-
luton and anarchy; the fortune OF the rich
propriety pointed out for plumber 10 the ill.,
disposed; the merchant and the artisan,
the laborer and the manufacturer, burden
ed with contributions, excuses, monopo-
lies, taxes upon consumption, surrounded
by restrictions and charged with odlous in.
lernal customs; the man of letters and the
statesman, and the man of liberal knowl.
edge, who dares to speak, prosecuted
without trial by some faction or by the ru
lerS who abuse their power; criminals un.
punished and set IA, liberty, as were those
Of Perote--is this, then, Mexicans, the lib
erty you enjoy'
| will not believe that the Mexicans of
the present day are wanting in courage to
confess errors which do not dlshonor them
and 10 adopt system Of true liberty OF
peace aud union with their brethren and
neighbors OF the north; neither will be-
lieve that they are ignorant Of the fasi,y
Of the calumnics of the press, intended to
excite hostility. No! public sentiment is
not to be created or animated by false
hood. We have no, pro(aned yonr TEN.
pies, nor abused your women, nor seized
your property, as they would have you be-
liete
We soy il with pride g. we confirm it by
your bishops and by the clergy of Tampl-
co, ruspan, Mattamoros, Monterey Vera
Cruz, Jalapa, and by all the authorities,
civil and RELIGIONS. and the inhabitants oil