Newspapers / North Carolina Republican (Goldsboro, … / Dec. 15, 1847, edition 1 / Page 1
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' .-I... 5 .8 t v -- X f J. t 4 i f BY W. B.GrULICK. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. .: .;" . - .. Jflloic Citizens of the Senate, and House of Representatives : The annual meeting of Congress is always an interesting event The Representatives of States, and of the people, come fresh from their constituents to take counsel together for the common good. After an existence of near three-fourths of a century as a free and inde pendent republic, the nroblem no lonarer re mains to be solved, whether man is capable of sell-government. The success of our admi rable system is a conclusive refutation of the theories of those in other countries who main tain that " a favored few " are born to rule, .-and the mass of mankind must be governed . bv force. buDject to no arbitrary or heredi- tary autnoriiy, me peopie are me on ly sove reigns reeoq&iz"ty"-fir ronaKaiiwcriNif ,inrcmlerranta ot every lineaore and lan rrnncre. attracted by the civil and religious freedom we enjoy, and by our happy condi tion, annually crowu to our shores, and trans id theit hearts, not less than their allegiance to the country whose dominion belongs alone tr thp. neoole. - No country has been so much favored, or - . iv -1 A , i ' shouta acK.uuv ,.ic wiui ueeper reverence the manifestations of the Divine protection. An all-wise Creator directed and guarded us in our infant straggle for freedom, and has constantly matched over our surprising pro gress, until we have become one of the great nations oi the caith. It is m a country thus favored, and under a government in which the executive and le gislative branches hold their authority forlim-) 'jfcd periods, alike from the people, and where all are responsible to their respective constit uencies, that it is again my duty to eommu pnicate with Congress upon the state of the u nion, and the present condition ot public af- j Uuring the pagt year the most gratitying proofs are presented that our country has been blessed with a wide spread and universal pros i perity. There has been no period since the government was founded, ivhen all the indus trial pursuits of our people have been more i successful, or when labor m all branches of business has received a fairer or better re ward. From our abundance we have beenlthe Secretary of State of the U. States to the enabled, to perform the pleasing duty of fur nishing food for the starving millions-of legs favored countries. In the enjoyment of the bounties of Provi dence at home, such as have rarely fallen to the lot of any people, it is cause of congratu lation, that our intercourse with all the Pow ers of the earthj except Mexico, continues to be of an amicable character. . It has ever been our cherished policy to cultivate peace and goodwill with all nations ; and this policy lias been steadily pursued by me. ' " ' .' No change has taken place in our relations with Mexico since the adjournment of the last Cwgrcaj. TTie ' war in which the United Stales were forced to engage with , the govern- ment ot that country still continues. I deem it unnecessary, after the full, exposi tion of them contained in my message of the 1 1th of May 1846, and in my annual message at the commencement of the session of Con- ; press in December last, to reiterate the serious causes of complaint which we-had-against . Mexico before she commenced hostilities. It is sufficient on the present occasion to say, that the wanton violation of the rights of person and property of our citizens committed - uy lexico, uer repeaucu acio ui uau -auj '.through1 a long series of years, and her disre- i gard of solemn treaties, stipulating indemnity to our injured citizens,not only consttiuted am--ple caiiso of war on our part, but were of such -an aggravated character as would have, justi fied us before the whole world in resorting to itUis extreme remedy. With an anxious de- iire to avoid a rupture between the two court , fries,, we fore bore for years to assert our clear . rights by force, and continued to seek redress . 'for the wrongs we had suffered by amicable negotiation, in the hope that Mexico might . yield to! pacific councils and the (demands of justice. In this hope .we were disappointed. - -Onr minister of peace sent to Mexico was in sultingly rejected. The Mexican Govern ment refused even to near the terms of adjust ment which he was authorised to propose ; and finally, under wholly unjustifiable pre texts, involved the two countries in war, by invading the territory of the State of Texas, I striking the first blow, and shf dding thc blood a-of our citizens on our own soil. Though the United States were the aggrie- ved nation, Mexico commenced the war, and we were compelled, m self-defence, to repel the invader, and to vindicate the national hon T or and interests by prosecuting it with vigor uiuu we couiu o -j lain a just anu nonorame Hace. :. - , . ' a learning that hofctiliiw had boon com ttenced by Mexico, I promptly communica ted that fact, accompanied with a succinct statement of our other causes of complaint gainst Mexico, to Congress ; and tliat body, p the act of the thirteenth of May, 1810, clarcd that by the act of the republic of Mexico, a fctato of war cxi.u between that Jwmcnmcnt and the United Slates" tit act declaring 41 the u ar to exist by the rt t.f thc republic of Mexico and making J'rtiMfn for iu prosecution "to tprcdy and n :c ful termination," was passed with great Ufn,ufitty by "Uutigrcs, thtrc leing tut tvo f tnf. rott in the Bcnate, and but fourteen m lh H of Urprt jentativrs. '. t v' ,,ri" of th tvar hating brrn.d d.f7?y ' i Wtani- my duty, un- t rv.. j i - f imr.J an ! t- . - "i 'iiy ii am vrrH i-i . ,J ttftV w.lhn:n to '!. I a y lit.. .'.-!. ' - .1 ' i with a success which admiration. History presents ; no j parallel oi so many glorious victories ' achieved by any nation within so short a period. -Our ar mies, regulars ana volunteers, have covered themselves with imperishable honors. When ever ana wnerever our forces have encount ered the enemy, though he was m vastly superior numbers, and often entrenched in fortified positions, of his own selection, and of great strength, he .has been defeated loo much - praise cannot be bestowed upon our officers and men, regulars and volunters, for their , gallantry, discipline, indomitable com age and perseverance, all seeking the post of danger and vieing with each other in deeds of noble daring: v' While every patriot's heart must exult, and a junationapode . animate every; bosom, inDaTit4ing.tne high proofs of courage, con summate military skill, steady discipline,and hnmanity o the vanquished enemy, exhibited by our gallant army, the nation is called to mourn oyer the loss of many brave officers, andjsoldiew who have fallen in defence of their country's honor and interests. The brave dead met their melancholy fate in a for eign land, nobly discharging their duty, and with their country's flag waving triumph in the face of the foe. The patriotic deeds are justly appreciated, and will long be remem bered by their grateful countrymen. The paternal care of the government they loved and served should be extended to their survi ving families. ii - - Shortly after the adjournment of the 1 Uionof Congresf, ,the .gratifying intelligence was received of t the signal victorv of Buena Vista and of the; fall of the rtv nf VprnTlTiiT and with it the strong castle of San Juan de Ulloa, by. which it vyas defended. Believing that after these and other successes, so honor able to our arms, and so disastrous to Mexico, the period was propitions to afford her another opportunity, if she thought nroner to embrace it, to enter into negotiations for peace, a comt xmssioner was appointed to proceed to tM headquarters of our army, with full powers ti enter upon negotiations, and to conclude a just and honorable treaty of peace. He was not directed to make any new overtures of peace, but was the bearer of a despatch from at Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, -in re ply to one received from the latter of the twen- ty-secondofFebuary, 1847, in which the Mex ican government was informed of his appoint ment and ot his presence at the headquarters of our army and that he was invested with full powers to conclude a definite treaty of peace, whenever the Mexican government might signify a desire to do so. While I was unwiWng to. subject jthe United States to ano ther indignant refusal, I was yet resolved that the evils of the war should not be protracted a da longer than might be rendered absolute ly necessary by the Mexican government. . Care was taJtetrto-giye no instructions to the commissioner which could in any way ip terfere with our military operations, or relax our energies in the prosecution of the war. He possessed no authority in any manner j to control these operations. He was authorized to exhibit his instructions to the General in command of the army ; and in the event of a treaty being concluded and ratified on the part of Mexico, he was directed to give him notice of that fact. On the happening of such con tingency. and on receiving notice thereof, the General in command was instructed by the Secretary of W ar to suspend further active military operations until further orders. These instructions were given with a view to inter mit hostilities, until the treaty thus ratified by Mexico could be transmitted to Washington, and receive the action of the government of the United States. The commissioner was also directed, on reaching the army, to deliver to the general in command the dispatch which he bore from the Secretary of State to the Minister of For ehrn Affairs of Mexico.and, on receiving it, the genera was instructed by the Secretary of War to cause it to De transmiuea to ine com mander of the Mexican forces, With a request that it might be communicated to his govern ment. The commissioner did not reach the head quarters of the army until after another bril liant victory had crowned our arms at Cerro Gordo. The despatch which he bore from the Sec retary of War to the General in conjmahd of the army was received by that officer, then at Jalapa, on the 7th day of May, 1847, to gether with the dwpatch from the Secretary of State to the Minister of Forcirm Affairs of Mexico, having been transmitted to himfiom Vera Cruz. The commissioner arrived' at the headquarters a few days afterwards. His presence with the army and hiY diplomatic character were made known to the Mexican government, from PucbbjOn the 1 2th of June, 1817, by transmission of the dispatch from thc Seccretary of State to the Minister of For eign Affairs of Mexico. Many weeks elapsed after its receipt, and no overtures were made, nor was any desire expressed by the Mexican government to en ter into negotiations for peace. Our army pursued its march upon the cap ital, and, as it approached it, was met by fcirinidable resistance. Our forces first en countered the enemy, and achieved signal victories in the severely contested battles of Contreras and Chcrubusco. Jt was not until after these actions had resulted in decisive victories, and the capital of the enemy was within our power, that tne .Mexican gorern mcnt manifested any disposition to enter in ti cmtiiticni kt peace ; and eren then, as ..nnr nrnvtiL there is too much rcsson ."--- . - ..... ii leva t!ifv wcr insincere, ana uiai in U - tfetrjU go through the forms cf negotb- Mico has re- tthecrjcci was io cu w wuu-hk-h eouM U t ttm deknqc ef their capiUI, md ta pre- MWBEM, N. C, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER tionaries of the two governments was a failure o conclude a treaty of peace. "The commissioner of the United States took with him the project of a treaty already'i pre pared, by the terms of which the indemnity required by the United States was a cession of territory. , It is well known that the only indemnity which it is in the power of Mexico to make in satisfaction of the just and long deferred claims, of our citizens against her, and the onlv means by which she can reimburse the um ted States for the expenses of the war, is a cession to the United States of a portion of her territory. Mexico has no money to pay an4 no other means of making the required m- ml tf . m demnitv. !1f we refuse this, we can janpta-ff neMg estei .x o reject lnueuiuiuty, u-infusing to accept a cession t)f territory, would be to abandon all our just demands, and to wage tne war, Deanng an its expewses, vvhm out a purpose or definite object. A state of war abrogates treaties previously existing between the belligerants, and a treaty of peace puts an end to all claims for indem nity for: tortious acts committed, under tne authority of one government against the citi zens or subjects of another,, unless they are proyided for m its stipulations, A treaty oi .. - . . . r peace which would terminate tne existing war, without providing for indemnity, would enable Mexicothe acknowledged debtor, and herself the aggressor in the war to re lieve , herself from- her just liabilities. . By such a treaty, our citizens, who hold just de' i r . 1 1 i 1 '' ' manos against ner, wouia nave no icmeuy either against Mexico or their own govern ment. Our duty to these citizens must forev er nvevent ?uch arfieaco. and no treaty which does not provide ample" means of discharg ing these demands can receive my sanction. A treaty of peace should settle all existing differences between the two countries. If an adenuate cegsion of territory should be made by such a treaty, the United States should re lease Mexico from all her liabilities, and as sume theii payment to our own citizens. If, instead of this, the United States were to con sent.to a treaty by which Mexico should again engage to,pay the. heavy amount of in debtedness which ajustjndemnity to our gov-! ernment and our citizens would impose on her, it is notorious that she does not possess the means to meet such an undertaking. From such 'a treaty no result could be antici pated, but the same irritating disappointments which have heretofore attended the viola tions d similar treaty stipulations on the part of Mexico. Such a treaty would be but a temporary cessation of hostilities, without the restoration of the friendship and good under standing which should characterise the future intercourse between lhe two countries. , That Congress contemplated the acquisition of territorial indemnity-when that body made provision for the prosecution of the war, is obvious.- - Congress could not have meant when, in May, 1 846, they appra,priatnd ten millions of dollars, and anthorized the srL dent to employ the militia and naval and mili tary forces of the United btates, and to accept the services of fifty thousand volunteers, to en able htm to prosecute the war ; and when, at their last session, and after our army had in vaded Mexico, they made additional appro priations and authorized the raising of addi tional troops for the same purpose-rthat no indemnity was to be obtained from Mexico at the conclusion of the war ; and yet it was cer tain that, if no Mexican territory wasacquirea, no indemaity could be Obtained. It is further manifest, that Congress con templated territorial indemnity, from the fact that, at their last session, an act was passed, upon the Executive recommendation, appro priating three millions of dollars with that express object, This appropriation was made 1 to enable the President to conclude a treaty of peace, limits and boundaries; with the Re public of Mexico, to be used by him - in thc event that said treaty, when signed by the authorized agents ol the two governments, and duly ratified by Mexico, shall call for the ex penditure of the same, or any part thereof' The object of asking this appropriation was distinctly stated in the several messages on the subject which I communicated to Con gress. Similar appropriations made in 1803 and 1806, which were referred to, were in tended to be applied in part consideration for the cession of Louisiana and the Floridas. In like manner it was anticipated that, in settling the terms of a treaty of1 limits and boundaries' with Mexico, a cession of territory estimated to be of nreater value than the amount of our1 to be ot greater value n me aniount oi our ucmanasairainsx ner miirm oe oouunea : ana thtthmrrvmentof this sum-if nnrt! 7j r-x - rL -l 7 , rT consideration for the territory ceded-on the rWuuiW,.Hii,lT. ? her part,might be an inducement with her to make such a cession of territory as would be satlsfaetdry though the failure to conclude such a treaty ner pan,mignt be an inducement witn ner to has rendered it unnecessary to use any part of the three millions of dollars appropriated by that act. and the entire sum remains in the treasury, it is still applicable to that object; should the contingency occur j making such application proper. i The doctrine of no territory is the doctrine of no indemnity ; and, if sanctioned, would be a public acknowledgment that our country was wrong, and that the war declared by Congress with extraordinary unanimity, was unjust, and should be abandoned ; - an admis ion unfounded in fact, and degrading to the national character. f The terms of the treaty proposed by the United States were not only just to Mexico, but, considering the character and amount of our claims, the unjustifiable and unprovoked commencement if hostilities by her. the ex. petite cf the var to which we ha va Wo sub jected, and the suecm which has attended our artni, rere deemed to be cfa tzcj, liber al character. Tha commissioner of the United States was authnmed to agree to the ritsUuhacut of the Uio Gran U as the lioundary, ircra rjen. into tie Cruiftoits kttriccti&n with qi Jane, and the cession to the U.' otates of New JVIexico and Upper California, nstituted an ultimatum which our commis oner was, under no circumstances, to yield. M . at might be manifest not only to xico, but to aff other nations that the Uni- tal rteS Were liot disPsed to take advan ce or a feeble! power, by . insisting 't upon wresting from her ail the other provinces, in ciuuiog many of her principal towns and cit ies; which we had conquered and held m mil itary occupation; but were willing to conclude a. treaty m a spirit of liberality, our commis sioner was authorized to stipulate for the re- V' tuon to Mexico If all our other conquests; j , As the territory to be acniiired hv the houn- I I WW A V W U1V WliU U VHkW uafy proposed (rmVht be estimated to be of greater value than a fair Annivnlpnt fnr nnr just demands', our commissioner was tmthori- f - Q l? ipulate for the payment of such addi tional pecuniary consideration ! as was deem ed reasonable. J ; i The terms of altreaty proposed by the Mex ico commissioners were wholly inadmissi ble. They negotiated as if Mexico were the- furious, and not the vanquished party A hey must have known that their ultimatum coud never be accepted. It required trie U. l0 disme'rnW Texas, by surrendering to Alexico that part of the territory of that te lying between the Nueces and the Rio Jjrande. included within her limit by her lr TS when she was an independent re publicand when she was annexed to. the U. states and admitted by Congress as one of the states of our Union. It contained no provi sion for the payment by Mexico of the, just claims of our citizens. It reauired indemni ty to Mexican citizens for injuries they 'may have sustained by our troops, in the prosecu tion o( the war. Tt demanded the right for Mexico to lew and collprt th MoviV ofdmi es on goods imported into her ports while m our milirarv i nppunatirtri liiririrV tKo war, and the owners of which had ''paid to of fices of the United States, the military! con tnbitions which' hlad been levied upon them; audit offered to cede to the United States, for a pecuniary consideration, that part of Upper Cnlfo&ia lying north of latitude 37, degrees. Sua ere the .unreasonable terms proposed by tie3Iexican Commissioners. . ! ? 1he cession to the United States by Mexi co, cf.the provinces of. New Mexico and the Caifornias, as proposed by the commissioner of tie JJuited States, it was believed, would be mote in accordance with the convenience arid interests of both nations than any other cession of territory which it was probable Mexico could be induced to make. ! It is, manifest to1 all who have observed the actuillcondition of the Mexican governrhmt, for SHpe years past, arid at present, that if thesmroyinces should be retained by ! her, she Sld not long continue to hold and jgoV era tam. Mexico is to feeble a power to goveq the provinces, lying as they do jat a distofeof more than a thousand miles from her apitaj, and, if j attempted to be retained br, .they, would constitute but for a short time even nominally, a part of her domin ions . - i 1 liis would be especially the case with Uper California, The sagacity of power ful European nations has long since directed thei, .attention to the commercial importance of tiat province, and there can be little cloub, that the moment the .United States shall relinquish their present occupation jof it and tieir claim to it as indemnity, an effort wouh be made by some foreign power topos sess it either by conquest or by I purchase, If no foreign government should acquire it in eitier of these modes, an independent re volutionary government would probably! be establisned by the jinhabitants, and such j for eigners as may remain in or remove to the county as soon as it shall be known that the Inited States have abandoned it. Such a government would be too feeble long to maintain its separate independent existence, and juld finally become annexed to, or be a dependent colony of some mote powerful State, t ' ,-.' . L . Should any foreign goFernmeni auempi to i .--.- : ..J I nnco It as a COlOny, or incorpumi.cn anu Kelfthe principle avowed by President Mon- ro in 1824. and reamrmea m my nrst annu- thnt ndforeicn Power shall, vyith "t7 i :tArrt inn M pStflhH.h our coascni, u r anv-nart of an) ne uoi jj j . . the Aorta thia 'rmnin and in tamed, in ro a rfoljyn -..Wgr reSlStinff US inraaiW" O rL 2 mJoht be involved in other wars more ex- we might be ivoi, . . whi,h inneive ana more v'""-"" . r - now ened. , .- ' " Lf W Mexico and ithe The provinces e.-f? .up'.- -r-f an4jf nroUffht under 0r the umiea eir resources- of'lhe United States, ana ir ;me government of ur laws, "T commercial would 1 soon fj . ! um hardy our and other harbors aiong mio rjzp , , .iT. far OUT naTV, ; Wr Wr, UU- wouia auu.u .-w-. , - L:erchant ves- merous wawc bui, . " j j lU ; !,ort nenod pecome the maruot n, e tensire anu prom nchercounmeioftheEast. " . mtTi wnn unui2. im 1 mrwm - w-a m a mm winw mm avnrrsa nv tirhile it if certain that as of this territory , T' . f texicaa do- Unions, they canbe tn J0JJ, Upper aliiorma . f fey under autborh should, as soon as possible, conquest of the republic of Mexico, or to anm ourOrenioM, settled by a be established ovei them. Should Congress hilateher separate existence as an mdepen- tea OW.IB, ."TIZM-Mli nnrtlrtn of therefore, determine to hold these nrovmces dent ration, un we conirarv, u uts er ; enterprising, , p "J'gn wisco I permanently, and that they shall hereafter be been my desire that she should maintain her population. ZnMfnm t rnnsidpred ai constituent rrts of our countrv. nationality, and, unoer a gooa governmeni; fthis territory; waue t VT iTIViiW ''- 3f this j 1 rt r Mexican do- portant subJecL . l tiirAtara iYCOanW ico, rcraiwj i "-- w rri. (orial limits cf the State of Texas, too, as defi red by tcr hws.bC;re her adntja mto our 15, 1847. the protection of the government of the Uni ted Stales. Numerous bands of fierce and war like savages wander over it, and upon its bor ders. Mexico has been and must continue to be, too feeble to restrain them from commit ting depredations, robberies and muders, not only upon the inhabitants of New Mexico it self, but upon t hose of the northern States of Mexico. It would be a blessing to all these I northern States to have-their civiz ns protdct- ed against them by the power ol the United States. . At this; moment, many Mexicans! principally females and cbildicn, are -in cap- ti vity among mem. iiiew ruexico were held and governed' byr the United -iJ&tsr4tre rould effectually prevent these tribes from commit tine" such outrages. - and compel them to re lease these captives, and restore them to their families and friends. ! In proposing to acquire New Mexico and the Caiifornias, it was known that but an in considerable portion of the Mexican people would be transferred 'with them, the country embraced within these provinces being chief ly an uninhabited region. " These were the leading considerations whicn induced me to authorize the terms of peace which -were proposed to Mexico. They were rejected ; and, negotiations being at an end, hostilities were renewed. An as sault was made by our gallant army upon the strongly fortified places near the gates of the city of Mexico, and upon the : city itself ; and after several days of severe conflict the Mexican forces, vastly superior -in number to our own, were driven from the city and it was occupied by our troops. : Immediately after information was recei ved of the unfavorable result of the negotia tions, believing that his presence with the army could be productive of no good, I de termined to recall our commissioner, A dis patch to this effect was transmitted to him on the sixth of October, last. The Mexican gov ernment will be informed of his recall ; and that, in the existing state of things, I shall not deem it proper to make any further overtures peace, but shall be at all times ready o ;e ceive and consider any proposals' which . Way be made by Mexico. - - Since the liberal proposition of the United States was authorised to be made in April ; last, large expenditures have been incurred, and the precious blood of many of our -patriotic fellow citizens has been shed in the pros ecution of the war. This consideration and the obstinate perseverance of Mexico in pro tracting the war, must influence the terms of peace which it maybe deemed proper hereaf ter to accept,; Our arms having been every where victo rious, having subjected to our military occu pation a large portion of the enemy's country including his capital, and '. negotiations for peace having failed: the important questions arise: In what manner the war V ought to &e prosecuted ? and what should be our future policy? I cannot doubt that we should secure and render available the eonquests which we have already made ; and that, with this view, we should hold and occupy by our naval and military forces, all the ports, towns, cities, and provinces now in our occupation, or which may hereafter fall in our possession ; that we should press forward bur military operations, and levy such military contributions on the enemy as may, as far as practicable, defray the tuture expenses ot me war. Had the erovernment of Mexico acceded to the equitable and liberal terms proposed, that mode of adjustment would have been prefer-1 red. Mexico having declined to do this, and failed to offer any other terms whieh could be accepted by the United States, the nation- al honor, no less than the public interests, re- quires that the war should be prosecuted witn increasea energy anu power until a just and satisfactory peace can be obtained. In the meantime, as Mexico refuses all indemni: tv. we should adopt measures to indemnify ourselves, by appropriating permanently a nortion of her territory. Early after the com- mencement of the war, New Mexico and the Califomias were taken possession ot by our force. Our military and naval commanders ...... .n.M. nA krtM Viom oc weic utuciBu mj wuvju. m xi vi uS subject to be disposed of by a treaty of peace, nese province icMuv m um uuui.jju.cu occupation, and have been so for many months r all resitance on the nart of Mexico havmc- ceased within their limits. I am .j-ggj thal thev shnUid never be surrendered to Mexico Should Congress concur with me in this ooinion. and that thev should be - tt':.' J P ... T retaiueu py me unntu oiaies mucuumy, x can rceivfid no frood reason why the civil . . . . - , - , . jurisdiction and laws 01 the, UBUUa faies should not at once be extended over them. willms-to make.' bv which our relations to- wardsthem would not be changed, cannot be Xr-m'.iy, hul smeesnonsib inhabiting them, required that, nci'Klo anfl fm nmrommont I r ; ,7 r " T::;: mc can V wwuuaumcu Ml usttiwtuu gw ments over them will be important for the A.rf Ar .o rnn0r. K&K1&T2m y , ,v t Z.3-r,nta 1 trovcititixciiis uc csmiuiiaucu. 11 wijrmummc peace and tranquility among the inhabitants I C. n ilu" r. m v niiv v mil 1 n 11111 r iiriiiiiii limb. liii. w axi m mm tayorawe consmerAo w iungrca w ww portant subject PidcskewMexicoand the . Caiifornias are other Mexican provinces which 1 UUW bww.v. ""- . ,r7 .A eommanders, under the general auinomy ..ku-h 11 Mnvrrm nnon 1 rnnnucrur u mv j V... Via rsf -nr. 'I hcv thouid continue 10 vv mU as a means oi eoercm? Mexico 10 accrue " " - : . . . VOL.; I; M). '51. disposition it may be proper to make "of them, must depend r on the v future progress of tho war, and the course which Mexico may think proper to pursue. ' . v ; ?;ci With the views I entertain, I cannot favor the policy which has been suggested, either to withdraw our army altogether, or tofretire . t " It.. : J ; I -1 1 t I D V . " - ----- to a aesignaiea line, ana simpiy noia ana ue- fend it : To withdraw-our army, altogether from the conquests they. have made by deeds of unparalleled bravery, and at the expense' of so much blood and treasure, in a just waron our part and one which, by the act of the en emyv we could npt honoxablyhave avoided, would betb1djde timation and in that of the world. ; ; To retire to a line, and ; simply hold ' and defend it, would not terminate the war. On . the contrary, it wtmld encourage Alexico "to persevere, and tend to protract it indefinitely. It is not to be expected that Mexico, after refusing to establish such a line as a perma nent boundary, when our victorious army are in possession of her capital, and in the heart of her country, would permit us to hold it V without resistance. That she would continue' the war, and in the most harrassing and an noying forms, there can be ho doubt. Ajbor der warfare ol the most savage character ex tending over a long line,would be unceasing ly waged. It would require a large army to be kept constantly in the field, stationed at posts and garrisons along such a line, to pro tect and defend it. The enemy, relieved from the pressure of our arms on' his coasts 1 and in the populous parts of the interior, would direct his attention to this line, and, selecting an insolated post for attack, would concentrate his forces upon it. This woild be a condition of affairs which the Mexicans, pursuing their favorite system of guerilla war fare, would probably; prefer, to any other.- Were we to assume a defensive attitude;. on such a line, all advantages of such a state of war would be on the side of the enemy.- We could levy no contribuuon; upon him, or in any other way make him feel the pressure of the war, but must remain inactive and a wart his approach, being in constant uncer tainty ;at what point of the1 line, or at what r time, he might make an assault. He may assemble and orignize an overwhelmninj; force m the interior, on his own side of the line and, concealing his purpose, make a sud den assault upon some one of our posts so dis tant from any other as to prevent the possi-) bility of timely succor or reinforcements ; and in this way our ga'lant army would be ex- posed to the danger of being cut off in ( de tails; or if, by their unequaled baa very and and powers every where exhibited during this war, they should repulse the enemy, their numbers stationed at any one post may be to small too pursue him. . It the enemy be repulsed in one attack, he would have nothing" to do but to retreat to his own side of the line, and, being in no fear of a , pursuing army, may reinforce himself at leis ure, for another attack on the same or some other post.; He may, too, cross the line be tween our posts, make rapid incursions into the country which we hold, murder the inhab itants commit depredations on them, and then retreat to the interior before a sufficient fores can be concentrated to pursue him. Such would probably be the harrassing chaarcter of a mere defensive war on our part. If our forces, when attacked, or threatened with at- tack, be permitted to cross the line, drive back the 'enemy, and conquer him, this would ba agam, t0 , invade the enemy's country, after naving lost ajl the advantages ol the conquests we have already made, by having voluntarily abandoned them. To hold such a line sue cessfully and in security, it is far from being certain that it would not require as large an a wumu ue necessary to nou nu ui ; conquests we have already made, and to con! tinu.e the prosecution of the war in the heart ol the enemy's country. It is ajso ' far from being certain that the expenses of t would be diminished by such a policy. the war m I am persuaded that the best means' of vin- scaring me nauonai nonor ana interest, ana of bringing the war to an honorable close, will be to nrosecute it with increased o.np.rfrv and r.- 1 . PJ power m the vital parts of the enemy's coun. -; , In my annual message to Congress of De cember last, 1 declated that the war has not heen waged with a view to conquest : but hay ng been commenced by Mexico, it has betin carried into the enemy's country, and will be vigorously prosecuted there, with a View to ob tmr. . VinroK1o anA Y,aMk'M.,M .w, "' U1 ample indemnity for the expenses of the war, ...u u ..w MuMr,,,uu 1HJUu uuuu uom i3Fgepecuniary aemanas against niexi Such in mv iudrrment continues to be our true policy indeed, the only policy Which will probably secure a permanent It has never been contemplated by me, as an obiect of the war.'to make a permanent adanted -r . , ; , mu ifA anu states were me iusl amwis iuj jwuwh m iv? cognise her independence.andhava ahvay, d& I sired to be on terms of amity and cood neih? - -- . , mi.- .- 11 f borhooa wim ner. 1 nis sne wouia. w su I fer. By her own conduct we have beep corn, . . present war. j.n its" not her overthrow as a eating our national kon . ... e . . or, we seeK to ODtain rearess ior tno wrongs LkU,a)nn mH mmnit mir demands against her. We demand an hnn.- U!I Ammrn on hxt wh enrh n nPJ T7V rrTZy -J " - . rr I GOUlll LIB DDUluCu. 1 . . 1 un our uxiaies uave auranccu irum yi .1. : . 1 iory 10 victory, irora ine commencement w to her onduion, be a free, ihdepencu 'iM ..1 1 , n 1 IL 1 (jfRTSi n ccssna m mht , . r-,p wewn, rwunio i w - ..i tA inti icnnl of peace, tit 11 wcu as ia" m-j war, 11 luj atways oeen wan ias PMrw ln. SAlilT ti fiftn4 kaStiI;tis tmnce into th its tjj.rcttoa with ict, lyin tzA of the Ilio Untaie, wWe Mex ritred to conduct such a ! - ; rf peace in their hands; and it pa tm ESefa kzr
North Carolina Republican (Goldsboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 15, 1847, edition 1
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