Provide a 50 word summary of the reading and answer the
following:
What does Commodore John D. Sloat say in his proclamation
to people of California?
What
does Francisco Mejia say about the people of the United States?
What can we
learn by comparing both perspectives regarding the Mexican American War?
Commo. John
D. Sloat, at Monterey, California. A proclamation.
TO THE
INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA
The central
government of Mexico having commenced hostilities against the United States of
America, by invading its territory and attacking the troops of the United
States stationed on the north side of the Rio Grande, and with a force of seven
thousand men, under the command of General Arista, which army was totally
destroyed and all their artillery, baggage, &c., captured on the 8th and
9th of May last, by a force of two thousand three hundred men, under the
command of General Taylor, and the city of Matamoras taken and occupied by the
forces of the United States; and the two nations being actually at war by this
transaction, I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey
immediately, and shall carry it throughout California.
I declare
to the inhabitants of California, that although I come in arms with a powerful
force, I do not come among them as an enemy to California; on the contrary, I
come as their best friend – as henceforward California will be a portion of the
United States, and its peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same rights and
privileges they now enjoy; together with the privileges of choosing their own
magistrates and other officers for the administration of justice among
themselves, and the same protection will be extended to them as to any other
State in the Union. They will also enjoy a permanent government under which
life, property and the constitutional right and lawful security to worship the
Creator in the way most congenial to each one’s sense of duty will be secured, which
unfortunately the central government of Mexico cannot afford them, destroyed as
her resources are by internal factions and corrupt officers, who create
constant revolutions to promote their own interests and to oppress the people.
Under the flag of the United States California will be free from all such
troubles and expense, consequently the country will rapidly advance and improve
both in agriculture and commerce; as of course the revenue laws will be the
same in California as in all other parts of the United States, affording them
all manufactures and produce of the United States, free of any duty, and all
foreign goods at one quarter of the duty they now pay, a great increase in the
value of real estate and the products of California may also be anticipated.
With the
great interest and kind feelings I know the government and people of the United
States possess towards the citizens of California, the country cannot but
improve more rapidly than any other on the continent of America. Such of the
inhabitants of California, whether natives or foreigners, as may not be
disposed to accept the high privileges of citizenship, and to live peaceably
under the government of the United States, will be allowed time to dispose of
their property and to remove out of the country, if they choose, without any
restriction, or remain in it, observing strict neutrality.
With full
confidence in the honor and integrity of the inhabitants of the country, I
invite the judges, alcaldes, and other civil officers, to retain their offices
and to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquility may
not be disturbed; at least, until the government of the territory can be more
definitely arranged.
All persons
holding titles to real estate, or in quiet possession of lands under a color of
right, shall have those titles and rights guarantied to them.
All
churches, and the property they contain, in possession of the clergy of
California, shall continue in the same rights and possessions they now enjoy.
All
provisions and supplies of every kind, furnished by the inhabitants for the use
of United States ships and soldiers, will be paid for at fair rates, and no
private property will be taken for public use without just compensation at the
moment.
JOHN D.
SLOAT,
Commander-in-chief of the United States
naval forces in the Pacific ocean.
United
States Flag-ship Savannah,
Harbor of Monterey, July 7, 1846.
Gen. Francisco Mejía, at Matamoros. A Proclamation.
The
general-in-chief of the forces assembled against the enemy, to the inhabitants
of this department and the troops under his command.
FELLOW-CITIZENS:
The annexation of the department of Texas to the United States, projected and
consummated by the torturous policy of the cabinet of the Union, does not yet
satisfy the ambitious desires of the degenerate sons of Washington. The
civilized world has already recognized in that act all the marks of injustice,
iniquity, and the most scandalous violation of the rights of nations. Indelible
is the stain which will forever darken the character for virtue falsely
attributed to the people of the United States; and posterity will regard with
horror their perfidious conduct, and the immorality of the means employed by
them to carry into effect that most degrading depredation. The right of conquest
has always been a crime against humanity; but nations jealous of their dignity
and reputation have endeavoured at least to cover it by the splendour of arms
and the prestige of victory. To the United States, it has been reserved to put
in practice dissimulation, fraud, and the basest treachery, in order to obtain
possession, in the midst of peace, of the territory of a friendly nation, which
generously relied upon the faith of promises and the solemnity of treaties.
The cabinet
of the United States does not, however, stop in its career of usurpation. Not
only does it aspire to the possession of the department of Texas, but it covets
also the regions on the left bank of the Rio Bravo. Its army, hitherto for some
time stationed at Corpus Christie, is now advancing to take possession of a
large part of Tamaulipas; and its vanguard has arrived at the Arroya Colorado,
distant eighteen leagues from this place. What expectations, therefore, can the
Mexican government have of treating with an enemy, who, whilst endeavouring to
lull us into security, by opening diplomatic negotiations, proceeds to occupy a
territory which never could have been the object of the pending discussion? The
limits of Texas are certain and recognized; never have they extended beyond the
river Nueces; notwithstanding which, the American army has crossed the line
separating Tamaulipas from that department. Even though Mexico could forget
that the United States urged and aided the rebellion of the former colonists,
and that the principle, giving to an independent people the right to annex
itself to another nation, is not applicable to the case, in which the latter
has been protector of the independence of the former, with the object of
admitting it into its own bosom; even though it could be accepted as an axiom
of international law, that the violation of every rule of morality and justice
might serve as a legitimate title for acquisition; nevertheless, the territory
of Tamaulipas would still remain beyond the law of annexation, sanctioned by
the American Congress; because that law comprises independent Texas, the ground
occupied by the rebellious colony, and in no wise includes other departments,
in which the Mexican government has uninterruptedly exercised its legitimate
authority.
Fellow-countrymen:
With an enemy which respects not its own laws, which shamefacedly derides the
very principles invoked by it previously, in order to excuse its ambitious
views, we have no other resource than arms. We are fortunately always prepared
to take them up with glory, in defence of our country; little do we regard the
blood in our veins, when we are called on to shed it in vindication of our
honour, to assure our nationality and independence. If to the torrent of
devastation which threatens us it be necessary to oppose a dike of steel, our
swords will form it; and on their sharp points will the enemy receive the
fruits of his anticipated conquest. If the banks of the Panuco have been
immortalized by the defeat of an enemy, respectable and worthy of the valour of
Mexico, those of the Bravo shall witness the ignominy of the proud sons of the
north, and its deep waters shall serve as the sepulcher for those who dare to
approach it. The flames of patriotism which burns in our hearts will receive
new fuel from the odious presence of the conquerors; and the cry of Dolores and
Iguala shall be re-echoed with harmony to our ears, when we take up our march
to oppose our naked breasts to the rifles of the hunters of the Mississippi.
FRANCISCO MEJÍA.
Matamoros, March 18, 1846.
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