The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-06-17
The Mexican Peace.

Although we ALWAYS contemplated the possibility
of a Treaty of Peace with our magnanlmous nelgh-
bors we never had much confidence In the restora-
ton of Peace itself but on the contrary have ex-
pressed the belief that Treaty would be effectua
onv as an excuse to abandon the country, and that
before our arny was well out of the country, the
Peace Government would be overturned, and hos
,ilites would be renewed. In this opinion we are
confirmed by every occurrence in Mexico. The
feelings of the people towards this country can be
duly appreciated by the wanton murders which are
committed upon every soldier who through indis
cretion strays from the ranks of the retiring army.
or who from sickness and fatigue lags few steps
behind any Of its moving columns These assassin
atoms not instgated by love of plumber COM
mitted by mere robhers the poor soldier possesses
but little to tempt the cupidity of even Mexican
highwayman, and that little might be taken with
out taking his life. These murders, on the con-
rary, are but exempt ifcatons of the fell spirit OF
revenge towards soldiers and people which per-
vades every class in Mexico, from the highest to
the lowest-from Pena Pena to the most msera-
bic ranchero that ever stole horse or cut throat.
Beaten in the field, they will never acknowledge
to themselves that they have been defeated-torced
bv the pressure of circumstances, or brlbed by the
hopes of dividing the bounty, to conclude treaty
they may, perhaps respect it until the payment OF
the money furnishes them with the means OF ag-
orassion bu their proud and faithess natures will
forbid them to respect it any longer. For the
present. the national feeling may be vented in de-
tailed assassinatons OF our people, or IN beating,
cropping and branding the females OF their own
racc-two occupations in which their brave citizens
are now heroically and honorably engaged but so
soon as the fear of a conquerng force Is removed.
these exalted emotions will seek nobler fields of
action, and will be displayed in insults to our flag,
outrages upon our commerce, or thieving and muir
dering incursions across our borders.
We are no friends of War; Its desolations, its
carnage and its unnumbered sufferings, are to be
deplored and still more are to be dreaded its cor
rupting and debasng influence upon individuals,
and the changes for the worse which it Is almost
certain to produce in the national character. We,
therefore, wish that this Peace We're an honorable
and lasting one but we cannot conceal from our.
selves the causes which are in operation to make it
but the beginning of petty and irritating war,
which will be perpetual between the two nations,
unless finally terminated by the subjugation and
military occupation or armed colonization OF Mex
leo. The Peace Government cannot stand. 1t
will be overturned, because it made Peace. From
necessity, the protested policy of that which sue
ceeds it must be War with the United States.
This War may be one of mere words or procama-
tons but with only the dividing line of the Rio
Grande between the two countries, we see no
means of preventing it from breaking out in hostile
deeds. We must, therefore, have an army engaged
in constant skirmishes on the frontier, or we must
begin anew and do eHectuay what was more than
half done already. We say, the Peace Govern
ment cannot stand no officer in the American
army-no citizen of Mexico, hopes that it will en-
dure till the last division of our army shall have
evacuated Jalapa, even if it does not fall before.
Herrera, the newly elected President, declined the
dangerous and transient possession OF supreme
power, under plea of ill health. This is the first
time that ever a Mexican declined the baubles Of
dominion; and we must be permitted to doubt the
reality of the motive to which he ascrbes his re.
fusal. The health that was vigorous during the
negotiation of the Treaty, and up to the announce
ment of his election, could not suddenly have be-
come so desperately bad to prevent him from dis
charging the duties of his office, especially as he
experienced no inconvenience in attending to his
private affairs. Herrera is man of sense. He
foresaw that he must either disavow the Treaty for
which he had voted, or become the victim of rev.
oluton which promises to be more thorough and
bloody than Mexican outbreaks have generally
proved-and he declined the dangerous honor
Whether any one will be found foolish or brave
enough 10 accept it seems to be doubtful. Proba-
bly, the responsibility of the position will be forced
upon the gentleman who fills the post, in order
that the most ardent friend and most dlgent seeker
for Peace may be made the first and most distin-
guished victim of the War spirit of his countrymen,
so soon as that spirit can be manifested with COM
parative security. Look at the question in any
manner which the facts and circumstances will
permit, and we can see but little for congrat-
ulation in present probable future relations
with Mexico, but much cause to fear that we are
about to enter upon an era of constant vexation,
turmoil and strife