Edgefield Advertiser

A Change.--The Union indicates (says
the Charleston Mercury,) a very important
change in the mode of conducting the
Mexican war, which is likely soon to give
it a decisive result. Napoleon's maxim
was, that a war of conquest should support
itself. Accordingly when he had overrun
a district, his first care was to establish a
government especially adapted to draw
out all its resources for the support of his
army. We have been acting on very different maxims in the Mexican war. We
were to contend against nothing but the
armed forces of the Republic, and in no
way to assume the privileges of conquerors, except by bearing all the expenses of
governing the conquered. The consequence
has been that the Mexicans have made a
great bargain of our invasion. Losing nothing, they have gained the privilege of
supplying our armies at enormous prices.
This is to be amended hereafter. The
Union quotes from VATTEL that
"Instead of the pillage of the country
and defenceless places, a custom has been
substituted more humane and more advantageous to the sovereign making war.' I
mean that of contributions. Whoever
carries on a just war, has a right of making
the enemy's country contribute to the support of the army, and towards defraying
all the charges of the war."
And the same paper adds, after laying
proper stress upon our offer to negotiate,
answered on the part of Mexico by an offer to wait:
As soon as the dilatory answer from
Mexico was received by the Government,
there is no doubt that the policy here indicated was adopted. The private property
of the Mexican people will be religiously
respected, except what may be necessary
for the support of our army. Their persons and property, with this exception, will
be sacredly protected. Their religion and
their altars will be respected as truly as if
they were Americans in the bosom of our
own country.