aggravated by the false pretext on which they were urged, namely, that Mexico had provoked the war. It was President Polk's action in ordering troops beyond the limits of the United States and into Mexican territory that brought on the war. It was an assumption on his part of powers not vested in him by law. The war, though recognized by congress after hostilities had begun, was in fact the device of Polk and his party. He had no right to involve his country in war, and the house of representatives told him so.[1] The four days' bombardment of Vera Cruz was no doubt effected according to the laws of war; but this does not tend to increase our respect for war laws, for it was horrible and wholly unnecessary work.[2] Add the illegitimate barbarities committed — often with impunity — by an undisciplined, lawless rabble, such as a large portion of the United States forces was composed of — unfortunately too well authenticated, and retaliated for as they often were by the Mexicans, especially the guerrilla parties — and we have acts of atrocity, whosoever were their authors, evidencing a depravity of nature as appalling as it was disgraceful.[3]
The United States could have secured peace by ceasing to assail the Mexicans, who were fighting only
- ↑ Polk well knew that congress would not authorize his invading Mexico to compel the payment of an alleged debt.
- ↑ The foreign consuls wrote Gen. Scott, March 24, 1847, of 'the frightful results.' The New York Herald said that the bombardment placed the town in ruins, 'under which great numbers of non-combatants, men, women, and children, were buried.' Many heart-rending descriptions might be quoted.
- ↑ Such cases, almost without number, might be given here, not only from contemporaneous correspondence of reputable journals such as the Charleston Mercury, Louisville Journal, New Orleans Picayune, Saint Louis Republican, Boston Daily Times, El Arco Iris, a Mexican newspaper, and numerous others; but likewise from official reports to the war department at Washington, including the spirited remonstrance of May 10, 1847, by Gen. Mora y Villamil, at San Luis Potosí, to Gen. Taylor, in which he uses these words: The treacherous assassinations of Agua Nueva, Cataria, and Marin have not been the only ones;' the 'ruin, devastation, and conflagration of towns mark everywhere the march of the invading army.' Such outrages also occurred on the line from Vera Cruz to Mexico. U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 30, Ses. 1, I. Ex. 60, p. 910-14, 1139-42, 1178; Sen. 26; Miscel. 73, 78; Sen. 52, 347.
in the old Christ-like logic: Henceforth we must seek peace, and compel it by inflicting on our enemies all the evils of war.' See Jay's Rev. Mex. War, 259.
