The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-18

and al reasonable prices. ss5
lection to the friends Of peace in Mexico, in the
establishing and maintenance Of a free Republican
Government of their own choice; always willing
to conclude a peace, which would be Just to them,
and secure to us the indemnity we demand.
This may become the only mode of obtaining
such o peace. Should such be the result of this
war which Mexico has forced upon us, it would
thus be converted into an enduring blessing to
herself. After finding her torn aud distracted by
factions, aud ruled by military usurpers, we should
then leave her, with a 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 promot-
ing her own happiness by wise laws, and their
faithful execution.
If after affording this encouragement and pro-
tection-after all the persevering and sincere eff
forts we have made, from the moment Mexico
commenced the war, and prior to that time, to ad-
Just DUR differences with her, W. shall ultimately
fail, then we shall have exhausttd all honorable
means in pursuit Of peace, and must continue to
occupy her territory with our troops, taking tho
full measure of indemnity with our own hands;
and must 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 uEredressed, but would be
the signal for new and fierce civil dissensions, and
new revolutions, all along hostile to peaceful rela-
tons with the United States. Besides there is
danger, if our troops should be Withdrawn before
the peace should be concluded, that the Mexican
people, wearied with successive revolutions, and
deprived of protection for their persons and prop
erty, might be inclined to yield to foreign infiu-
ence, and to cast themselves upon some European
Monarchy for protection from the anarchy and
suffer ing which would ensue. This, for our own
safety, and in pursuance of established policy, we
should be compelled to resist.
We could never consent that Mexico should bo
thus converted into a monarchy, governed by q
foreign prince.
Mexico is our next ~neighbor, and her bounda-
ries are coterminous with our own, through the
whole extent across the North American continent
from ocean to ocean. Both politically and COM
mercially, we have the deepest interest in her re.
generation and prosperity Indeed it is impossi-
BILE, that, with a just regard to our own safety, we
can become indifferent to her fate. 1t may be
that the Mexican government and people have mis-
conceived, or misconstrued our fDrbearance and
our objects in desiring to conclude an amicabie adj
justment of the existing difficulties between the
two countries. She may have supposed that we
should submit to terms degrading to the nation;
or they may have drawn false differences from the
supposed division Of opinion in the United States,
VI Tx SuUJcCt vi uc Wdt anu may nave CalCuldIs
ed TO gain much by protracting it-and indeed,
that we might ultimately abandon it altogether,
without any NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or otherwise.
Whatever may be the false impressions under
which they have acted. the adoption and prosecu-
ton of the energetic policy proposed, must unde-
ceive them.
In the future prosecution of the war, the enemy
must be made to feel its pressure more than they
have done. At its commencement, il was deem.
ed proper to conduct it in a spirit of forbearancs
and liberality. With this end in view, early meas.
ures were adopted to c~onciliate as far as a state Of
war would permit, the mass Of the Mexican pop-
ulation;-to convince them that the war was wa
ged not against the peaceful inhabitants of Next.
co. but against her faithless government, which.
had commenced ostilities;-to remove from their
minds false impressions, which their interested
rulers had artiully attempted to make, that the war
on our part was one of conquest,-that il was
war against their religion and their churches,
which were to be destroyed and o~vcrthrown-and
that rights OF persons and private property would
be violated. To remove these false Impressions
our comm anders in the field were directed scrupu.
lousy to respect their religion, their churches,
and their church property, which were in no man.
ner to be violated-They were directed also 10
the rights ofpeIsoms aud property, of all
who should not take up arms against US.
Assurances to this effect were given to the Mex
leans by Major General Taylor. in a proclamation,
in pursuance of instructions from the Sec.
retary of War, in the month Of June, 1876; and
again, by Major General Scott, who acted upon
own convictions Of the proprlety of issuing it,
in aproclamation Of the llth of May, ls47.
In this spiri,o of liberality and Cancellation, and
with a view to prevent The body Of the Mexican
population from taking up arms against US, was tho
War conducted on our part. Provisions and other
'upplies furnished to our army by Mexican citizens
we're paid for at fair and liberal prices, agreed upon
~ The parties. After the lapse OF a few months, it
became apparent that these assurances, and this
mild treatment have failed 10 produce the desired
upon the Mexican population. The war has
'een Conducted upon our part, according to the
most humane and liberal principles, observed by
civilized nations. 1t was waged in a far different
pirit on the part Of Mexico. Notappreciating our
the Mexican people generally became
'ostlle to the United States, and awaited themselves
Il the opportunity to commit the most savage ex.
esses upon our troops. Large numbers of the pop.
lation took up arms, and, engaging in guerrilla
warfare, robbed and murdered. in the mast cruel
manner, individual soldiers, or small parties, whom
ccident or other causes had separted from the
body OF our army. Bands of the ~guerillas,
nd robbers infested the roads, harrassed our trains,
nd whenever it was IN their power cut off our
upplies.
The Mexicans having thus shown themselves TO
e wholly incapable of appreciating our forbear.
nee and %liberality, it was deemed proper to change
ne manner of conducting the war, making them
EEL its pressure according to the usagcs observed
nder similar circumstances, in all other civilized
ations. Accordingly, as early as the ED Of Sep.a
amber, 1916, instructions were given by the Sec
stary Of War, to Major Gen. Taylor. to draw sup,
lies for our army from the enemy paying for them
nd to require contributions for its support, if in
nat way he was satisfied he could get abundant
lpplies for his forces. In Directing the execution
{ these instructions much was necessarily left TO
lie discretion of the commanding officer, who was
acquainted with the circumstances by which
e was surrounded the wants of the army-and
lie practicability oil enforcing the measure. Gen.
'aylor, on the 26th Of October, 1876, replied from
that it would have been impossible
itherto. and is so now, to sustain the army BY
reed contributions or supplies. For reasons as.
gned by him, he did not adopt the policy of his
IstIuctions, but declared his readiness to do so