Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-04-04
SPE JH OF MIR. BREESE. OF HLTNOIS,

SPE CHI OF MIR. BREESE, OF ILLINOIS,
s91 The following are the concluding re-
marks Of Mr.. Breese, of Illinois. on the
Mexican Question, and the Ten Req linen.
Bill. Delivered in The Senate, Monday
Feb. IA, 1913. aauna % go ~ vssy'
1t has been a war waged thus far not
against the people of Mexico, nut emnhat.
ically against the army alone, with a view
i only to its destruction, and mon 80;
j Piles ofthe most enlightened humanity =
Not one single act of oppression or linus.
tice has been committed by us-opr natb
as we have strobe from victory to victory
has not been lighted by the flames oftbeir
dwellings,, their defenceless women and
children given to the sword, nor their
| cities sacked, nor churches defIed. nor
fields laid waste. Though we have been
terrible to the cOmbatant, we have been
generous to him when vanquished-
forgetting, in the midst of the excitement.
that the tairest chaplet victory wears is
that which mercy twines. These, sir,
| are what makes il a most extraordinary
war; and the faithful historian, as be
writes its varied and stirring events, will
dwell with peculiar pleasure and pride on
this, Its bright and most Distinguishing
feature. So humane and generous has
been our conduct that the people of Mex
leo, those who have most suffered by the
oppression of the military tyrants, regard
our armies rather as benetactors than as
enemies; and if accounts can be relied
on, are utterly opposed to their withdraw.
al. This has been the fruit of our policy,
adopted at the ONSET for early in June,
1916, our general in command issued a
proclamation, prepared at the War De-
Partment here, in which the people of
Mexico were assured that the war should
not be waged against such of them as re-
manned neutral, but against the army and
the arbitrary rulers. They were remind
ed that their Government was in the hands
J OF tyrants AID usurpers, who had abolish.
ed the State governments, overthrown
the Federal Constitution, deprived their
people of the right of suffrage, destroyed
the liberty of the press, despoiled them of
their arms, and reduced them to state of
absolute dependence upon the power of a
military dictator. They were reminded.
too, that the army and rulers extorted from
them, by grievous taxation, by forced loans,
and military seizures, the money which
sustained the usuper in power; and were
told that we came to obtain reparation for
the repeated wrongs and injuries those
rulers had done to US; that we came to
obtain indemnity for the past and security
Tor the future, and to overthrow the tyrants
who had destroyed their liberties, but to
make no war upon the people of Mexico,
nor upon any form of government they
might choose to select for themselves
They were promised, too. that their reli-
/ gion, thei, affairs, and churches, the prop
erty of their churches and citizens, the
embems of their faith, and it's ministers,
should be protected, and remain inviolate.
| They were assured that we came among
them as friends and as republican breth.
ren; and pledge was given to them.that
whilst we were compelled to treat as en-
emies and overthrow those tyrants. who,
whilst they had wronged and insulted US.
had deprived them of their liberties, the
people themselves, who remained neutral
during the contest, should be protected
against them by our army.
Now, sir. upon inc proposition to with
draw the force we now have there, instead
OF augmenting it, either with or without
a treaty. must not these pledges to the
Mexican people be regarded? We know
the effect they have had upon them-we
know that the better portion ofthem have
offered no resistance to our advance--that
they have supplied provisions to our troops,
and guides. and means of transportation,
and some have accepted office from our
military governors in short, they have
extended to us every assistance in their
power. Would it, then, be just to them
to withdraw our protection from them,
suffer their tyrants and oppressors again
to return to power, and they become, as
they certainly would, sacrifice to theiE
friendship for US? n
do not believe, sir, that any good cod
result, but much evil, from any treaty we
might now be able to make. have no
confidence that it would be observed a
day, and if not, the work we have accom-
plished would have to be renewed. more
blood split and morestreasure expended,
TO restore us to the favorable position we
now occupy. Any authority now existing
in Mexico is but the bubble ofthe moment.
which the first breath of popular clamor
will suddenly destroy. ga
There is, sir, another difficulty in the |
way, which deserves some notice. There |
is a strong party in Mexico. called the |
Puros. or Republicans, who are. deter
mined, if my information is correct. that
there shall be no peace with US, if they
can prevent it, and they are active, intel. |