American Rule in Mexico 291
Worth wrote to his daughter, "I caused the heavy guns to be turned against every house [from which a shot came] … and after a few hours of such appliance, not regarding where or who it hit, quelled the dastardly villains". Yet no complaint could be made. Vattel laid down the principle that people could not hope to be spared by a successful invader, unless willing to be submissive and to "refrain from all hostilities"; and Europeans on the ground felt that under the circumstances notable moderation was displayed by our generals.[1]
Commanders also required Mexicans to obey what may be called the martial police regulations. These were simple and sane. The most important was that no liquor should be furnished the troops, and the other chief rules had reference to good order and proper conduct. Naturally enough, the regulations failed not infrequently to produce all the intended results, but the American officers appear in general to have been decidedly earnest. At Saltillo, since orders did not prevent liquor-selling. Worth imposed a penalty of fifty lashes. Gambling-places received careful attention, and in many instances were closed or restricted. Suspicious characters, particularly men who had served as officers in the Mexican army, were notified to give an account of themselves. Persons without visible means of support, including American camp-followers, had to go forth; but families—whose presence made them in a sense hostages, tended to promote stability, and, widened the basis of taxation—did not always find it easy to leave town. Carrying concealed weapons without permission had to be given up. Early hours for going home at night were occasionally fixed. Placards could not be freely posted up. "Tyrannical caprice", exclaimed some of the Mexicans; but they had no real grounds for complaint—especially since equally stringent regulations defended their lives, property, and comfort, and the same autocratic power provided work or free rations for the people whenever the need arose.[2]
- ↑ *T. Childs to Prefect, August 12, 1S47, Adj.-Gen.'s office. (Mexico) Apuntes para la Hist., pp. 325-329; *Veramendi, Proclam., September 14, 1847, Ayunt. archives, Mex.; Ayuntamiento placard, Yale College Library; *Worth to daughter, September 28, 1847, Worth Papers (in private hands). (Moderation) *Chargé Doyle to Foreign Office, No. 1, January 13, 1848, Public Record Office, London; New Orleans Picayune, October 14, 1847 (letter from a Frenchman). Vattel, op. cit., book III., ch. 8, sect, 147.
- ↑ Monitor Republicano, Mexico, March 29, 1847; G. T. M. Davis, Autobiography (1891), p. 246; G. G. Meade, Letters (1913), I. 147; T. Wilhelm, Hist. of Eighth U. S. Infantry, I. 299; *W. J. Worth, Order, November 19, 1846, War Dept. archives, Mexico; *id. to Gefe Politico, Saltillo; November 23, ibid.; *id. to Puebla Ayunt., May 18, 1847, Ayunt. archives; id. to First Alcalde, Puebla, May 21, 1847, ibid.; *Col. G. H. Hughes, Jalapa, series of
