diers remarkable for meekness and forbearance, or that would necessarily counteract that arrogance and selfishness which are the natural fruits of a bloody trade, and of mili- tary superiority. But national vanity is ever ready to beheve a flattering lie, and demagogues equally ready to offer incense to every popular delusion. It is our object to tell the truth, and by so doing, to exhibit the odious and execrable character of war. American soldiers are hke other soldiers, just what war, and disciphne or the want of it, may make them. Human nature is the same in every land, and its evil propensities are equally developed under similar circumstances. It would have been an anomaly in the history of mankind, if soldiers, flushed with victory and scattered over a conquered country, and holding the vanquished in utter contempt, had not been guilty of great atrocities. It would be but cumbering our pages to detail the various instances of cruelty and oppression perpetrated by our troops, which have found their way into the pubhc prints. A few specimens, selected from journals supporting the war, and therefore not dis- posed to throw unjust odium on the American army, will suffice to prove that our assertions on this point are not unsupported by facts :
" Buena Vista, August 20.—A ranger is missed, search is made for him by his comrades, His body is perhaps found, perhaps not. The nearest Mexicans to the vicinity of his disappearance are required to account for hina.
They will not, or cannot. The bowie knife is called for, and dehberately every male Mexican in that rancho is speedily done for, guilty or not guilty. But this is not enough to make an offset for the life of a Texan. Another rancho receives the fearful visit, and again blood flows."
" Camargo, January 8, 1847.—Assassinations, riots, robberies, &c., are so frequent that they do not excite touch attention. Nine-tenths of the Americans here think it a meritorious act to kill or rob a Mexican."