Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

TAYLOR S VINDICATION. 21 t
I have touched the prominent military points involved in
the convention of Monterey. There were other considerations which weighed with the commissioners in framing, and
with myself in approving, the articles of the convention.
In the conference with General Ampudia, I was distinctly
told by him that he had invited it to spare the further effusion
of blood, and because General Santa Anna had declared himself favorable to peace. I knew that onr governnment had
made propositions to that of Mexico to negotiate, and I
deemed that the change of government in this country since
my last instructions, fully warranted me in entertaining considerations of policy. My grand motive in moving forward
with very limited supplies had been to increase the inducements of the Mexican government to negotiate for peace.
Whatever may be the actual views of the MIexican rulers,
or of General Santa Anna, it is not unkn~owzn to tAe yovernment tAat Ihacd tle very be4st reasons for believing the statemeent of General Ampuiciic to be true. It was my opinion
at the time of the convention, and it has not been changed,
that the liberal treatment of the Mexican army, and the suspension of arms, would exert none but a favorable influence
in our behalf.
The result of the entire operation has been to throw the
Mlexican army back more than 300 nmiles, to the city of San
Luis de Potosi, and to open the country to us, if we choose to
penetrate it, up to the same point.
It has been my purpose in this communication, not so
much to defend the convention from the censure which I
deeply regret to find implied in the Secretary's letter, as to