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

90 EFFECTS OF OUR TREATMENT.
joined General Scott's army, remained faithful to their
tyvrants.
Notwithstanding the temper and conduct of the natives,
the pledges of the Proclamation were as scrupulously observed as circumstances would allow. Our army in its early
marches through the country, moved like a rich and powerful benefactor, scattering with a lavish hand, unheard of
wealth among the rabble in its path. But ignorance, pride,
jealousy and bigotry, were not to be thus overcome. Estimating over much their own resources and the ability of their
numerous army, or perhaps encouraged to believe from the
division of opinion in the United States on the subject of the
war, that we would eventually withdraw from the contesttheir government, without the prestige of a single victory,
continued to prosecute an active and relentless system of hostilities. At length, when it was discovered that our generosity and mild treatment had failed to produce the desired
effect upon the population, and that they frequently committed the most savage outrages upon our troops, the Secretary
of War instructed General Taylor to draw supplies from the
enemy without paying for them; and thus, by making them
feel the weight of war, become interested in the restoration of
peace. Beginning to understand the character of the foe, and
perceiving the effect of the policy previously avowed, he says
in his letter: " It is far from being certain that our military
occupation of the enemy's country is not a blessing to the inhabitants in the vicinity. They are shielded from the burdens
and exactions of their own authorities, protected in their persons, and furnished with a most profitable market for most