Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-01-27

yet as dark as the trn,h. Another Congress
assembled-Weof the Sena,e composing it in
part. We autl orzed additional troops to be
Taised--we placed additional funds in ne Hands
Of the President
| We hear of an intention TO Strike outraged
'Mexico-inyet more vial points; We do not ar
rest it. We Suffer the expedition to 60 on; be-
fore the Mexican blood is yet dry upon TIE
fields ofPao Alto. Resaca de la Palma, Mont
Grey, and Buena Vista. Vera Cruz is bonlbar-
ded. Her churchts fall under the dreadful;
aim Of he mortar; the blood Of lfrr women and
children runs in streams through her be-
j fole peaceful and happy streets; her almost ev-
/ cry thorough fate is obsircted by fhe 'nianped
bodies Of her slaughtered 'ciiizets. until a, asl
her valor can hold ont no longer before rhe
mighty It'd crushing pow er ofou arms. She
surrenders; YET, still our vengeance is mot gut-
led. Innocent, unofending, outraged Mexico
has yet taUre cities TO be fa;d waste Or conquer
ed-nore hearts to be wrung-nore gallant
blood to be shed-more women and children to
be slaus hterrd-mofe agony in every form to
suffer. We have not yet had our fill of blood
We march On in fendish progress. At Cerro
Gordo, Churabusco, Chapul.epec. MoIino del
Rey, our march of slaughter is renewed, and
goes on with yet more fearful violence. Mex
lean blood waters every plain. The cries of
Mexican agony startle every ear; and still the
work goes on. We lay siege to the city of
Mexico-bombard its peacefuld dwellings make
her streets To rua with human blood, and
slaughter again women and children, until
resistance becomes unavailing. We get pos
session Of the capital, and yet carry on the
contest. Sir, can our country have done such
deeds9 Is she so deeply stepped in crirne?-
Has she no honor left? Are we Christian and
civilized men, Of are we robbers and hurderers?
hope she will pardon me the enquiry; and
yet, if the war was unjust--if it was not pro-
voked-ifit was our act, and not the act of
Mexieo-every human heart, animated by
single human feeling, can but answer in the
affirmative.
But no, sir-no, sir--it is not SO; she is
high minded, Just and honorable; she is civliz-
ed, not savage; her citizens are moral and
Christian. Those scenes are, in the eye of
God and man, to be justified, because necessa-
ry to our honor, and forced upon Us in vindica-
zion Of our violated rights. Mexico is answer
able for all these sad and sckening results
The war is just, because she commenced it.
l, does exist by her act; and, 80 help mo God,
but for that conviction, as reverence truth and
detest ia sehood, would never have voted for
tie act Of the 18th May, l84e.
[Witho1t concluding, Mr.. JOHNSON here
being resumed on the following day, Mr.. J.
continued his remarks as follows:
said yesterday that it was the march of
our troops from the Nueces to the Rio Grande
that was, in my opinion, the immediate cause
of the war. | say to-day what have had oc-
casion to say in other places, over and over
again, that believe that that march of itself.
if it had been made with proper force, would
not actually have led to such a result have
no doubt thaH if, instead Of sending the small
but gallant band-the heroes of Palo Alto and
Resaca de la Palma-to the Rio Grande, had
he sent from 5000 to 5000 men, not drop of
blood would have been shed s. no Mexican ever
have ventured to have trodden the soil on this
side of the rivsr in hostile attitude. But sir.
the war commenced, was recognised, and So
900 troops, with an unlimited amount of treas
ure. were freely placed at the disposal of the
Executive, together with an implied promise
such as to give the President the assurance
(if such was needed) that this unlimited am
cunt could. ifthe expression may be excused,
be made still more unlimited. And yet what
has been done? Instead of calling out twenty
or thirty, or forty or fifty thousand men, as he
was authorized 10 DO with the act OF 18th of
May, 1916. he and the officers at the head
Of the War Department called them oiit by
driblets, and announcing to the country from
time to time that they had a sufiiciency of
force 10 conquer, a peace. What has been the
CONSEQUENCE? That which every man of in
telligence who speaks as he thinks must ac-
knowledge -.hat great and mighty and extra
ordinary Sc have Been the ,riumphs of the Am
erican arms; they have Hardly furnished US
anything but the gloit attending them: They
have. to be sure, Illustrated the American char
acter for valor and military skill but thsy have
served no other purpose. And why. Mr.
President? Because each Struggle has been
at such fearful odds that the gallant officers in
Command have been unable 70 follow it up or
profit BY the result.
Sir, look at the history Of the campaign on
the Rio Graude. Gen. Taylor, who, with
few thotisansl msn, marched to Monterey, and
succeeded, after dread and fearful conflict, in
carrying that almost impregnably fortified town,
was SO far crippled that be was Unable
to hold even the prisoners that he might take.
What Happened afterwards The plan of the
campaign is changed, some new light dawns
upon the MAD Of the Executive, and Mexico
is to be stricken in different part. There is
point still more vital to be assailed-a point
still more certain, if assailed, 10 lead TO the
restoration of peace, and of the vindication of
our outraged rights. What is done? Gen.
Taylor is stripped Of what was supposed 10 &c
the flower Of his command, The enemy sp-
preached Eight or ten millions Of the public
property were exposed to be lost, unless pre-
served by the gailauiry and indomilable valor
! Of the few soldiers left behind to guard 1t: Al
most with electric speed it tesulns known al
the city of Mexico, and an army such as she
! had never before marched into the field was or
| Gaiized, slnountiIsg 10 SOME twentS OF twenty
five thousand troops; and led Gil by her greatest
chief.
| Mr.. President; mitch as his hreviotis sitcces-
SEES had satisfied EVERY American that Taylor.
and the officers and MEN Under his command ,
weFe competent TO accomplish almost any til
umph that human poiSer toild accomplish was
there one one who did not uemble fof Their fate?
And the factthat they were not utterly annihi-
lated may BE Considered almost /. military mir
acle. Disparity Of Eofrs vas comparatively
nothing betore the energies Of american sol
diers. and in the annals OF formef military ri
umphs the prDndcst Of them all win hefeafter
be regarded as tiptkipg III comparison with the
victories of Bena Vista. 'Fhey are ali thrown