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

THE INFLUENCE OF THE PRIESTHOOD. 89
pretending to believe all the clap-trap uttered in the United
States, about the wealth of the country and the mint value
of certain "golden images" and "silver candelabras,"
aroused the people with stories of our avarice, and avowed
that the sacred and dearly-prized emblems of their religion
had been offered as a bounty to American volunteers. Thus
did the priests forestall our proclamation. If there was any
disaffection in the land, it added but little strength to our
cause. The people generally placed no confidence in the
amicable intentions we published among them, and with the
exception of the small spy company of Dominguez, which
churches exist; and the priest performs his holy functions in peace and security,
under the sacred guaranty of our constitution. We come among the Mexican people
as friends and republican brethren, and all who receive us as such shall be protected;
while all who are seduced into the army of your dictator, shall be treated as enemies.
We shall want from you nothing but food for our army, and for this you shall always
be paid, in cash, the full value. It is the settled policy of your tyrants to deceive
you in regard to the policy and character of our government and people. These
tyrants fear the example of our free institutions, and constantly endeavor to misrepresent our purposes, and inspire you with hatred fbr your republican brethren of
the American Union. Give us but the opportunity to undeceive you, and you will
soon learn that all the representations of Paredes were false, and were only made
to induce you to consent to the establishment of a despotic government.
In your struggle for liberty with the Spanish monarchy, thousands of our countrymen risked their lives and shed their blood in your defense. Our own Commodore, the gallant Porter, maintained in triumph your flag upon the ocean, and our
government was the first to acknowledge your independence. With pride and
pleasure we enrolled your name on the list of independent republics, and sincerely desired that you might, in peace and prosperity, enjoy all the blessings of a
iiee government. Success on the part of your tyrants, against the army of the
Union, is impossible; but if they could succeed, it would only be to enable them to
fill your towns with their soldiers, eating out your substance, and harrassing you
with still more grievous taxation. Already they have aboli~sed the liberty of the
press, as the first step toward the introduction of that monarchy which it is their
real purpose to proclaim and establish.
"Mexicans! we must treat as enemies and overthrow the tyrants, who, while
they have wronged and insulted us, have deprived you of your liberties; but the
Mexican people who remain neutral during the contest, shall be protected against
their military despots by the republican army of the Union."