Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/266

230 will show the enthusiasm at the South. It is quoted from the Official Manual of Tennessee by Charles A. Miller, secretary of state, page 36: &quot;Governor Brown made a call for 2,800 volunteers—30,000 volunteered.&quot; Says Mr. Schouler: &quot;To the call for volunteers our people quickly responded. The heart-beat was passionate in all sections but New England—’our country right or wrong.’&quot; (Schouler s History of the United States, vol. 4, p. 528.)

In addition to the movements of Generals Taylor and Scott into the heart of Mexico, expeditions were planned to take possession of the northern portions, which were sparsely settled and undefended. The remarkable marches and the bloodless conquests of Fremont and Kearney, with insignificant forces, and the occupation of San Francisco by Commodore Sloat, placed California and all the northern portion of Mexico in the possession of the United States at the close of the war. Her military power had been crushed by Scott and Taylor, and Mexico was helpless.

It now remained for the victors to dictate terms. Should these terms be imposed in accordance with the custom of victorious nations, or upon the unusual and American principle of moderation and generous sympathy for a prostrate foe? If there be any force in the charges made by the opponents of the war, they belong here. The war was necessary and right, and was forced by Mexico. Not the war, but the use of the victory, should be the true test. Those who so effusively censured the course of the United States in dealing with Mexico might perhaps have studied with profit the history of nations. It might have served to soften their aspersions if they had made an examination of the course uniformly pursued under similar circumstances by those European nations which they seemed to regard as models. It is the custom of such nations to apply to the conquered country the same rule which the courts apply to the losing