The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-01 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

NEW YORK, MAY 15.—My last letter, dated the 11th
inst., by the propeller Sarah Sands, announced the defeat
of General Santa Anna by General Scott, at Cerro
Gor !o. Since that affair General Scott has advanced ,o,
and taken possession of, Jalapa and Perote, without cp-
pisition, the Mexicans having abandoned these posts.
General Worth emend Perote on the 22d of April.
Perote is about 40 miles in advance of Jalapa.
There is a rumour, not believed, that orders have
been issued and forwarded to General Scott, directing
him to halt, and not to enter the city of Mexico. If
such an order has been issued, it will probably be of no
avail, as Scott, it is supposed, will have taken the city
before the order can reach him. There is another
rumour, more ridiculous, that an extra session of Con-
gress is contemplated.

The inquiry, in the American community, now is,
having conquered all that is important or valuable of
Mexico, what is to be done with the conquered territory ?
The opinions on this point are conflicting. The high-
toned portion of the Administration party insist upon
the Government holding all they have or may conquer
until the Mexicans pay the expenses of the war. They
say the army shall be supported by contributions levied
upon Mexico, &c.
On the other hand, there is another party that advo-
cates an abandonment of all conquests, or substantially
so, contending that whatever territory it may be deemed
expedient to retain shall be honestly paid for, at its real
or true value. Between these two extremes there are a
variety of opinions. What are the precise v;ews of the
Executive is not known. It is considered, I believe, a
State secret.

One thing, however, many think is definitively settled,
so far as the Administration is concerned. Not an inch
of territory of any value, which they may have the
power to hold, will they ever surrender. Every ace,
every movement, indicates such a design. What the
American people will ultimately require their Govern-
ment to do, is in the womb of Time. I yet hope and
believe that they will indignantly spurn the idea of
being recorded on the pages of history as freebooters
and robbers.

In the present state of public affairs, I shall bazar
no other opinion as to the future policy of the Govern-
ment on the question of peace or war, than that above
expressed. The partisans of the Executive are amass-
ing fortunes. They will, therefore, continue to laud
Mr. Polk and the war. I neither know nor hear of any
honest effort by those in piwer to terminate the conflict.
A few weeks will probably develope more fully the
views of the President and. his Cabinet. The latest
accounts &cm Mexico would lead us to the conclusion
that they were preparing for a guerilla warfare.
On the 28th of April it was rumoured at Jalapa that
Mr. Bankhead, the British Minister, has renewed his
offers of mediation between Mexico and the United
States, and that when the last diligencia left the city of
Mexico the Congress wai acting upon his propositions,
whatever they may have bee..
Notwithstanding the fixed and denunciatory tone of
the press, there is a peace party in Mexico. and there
may be something in this report of English intervention,
in the distiacted affairs of that country. But this Go-
vernment will reject all or any interference in this ques-
tion. To admit it, would probably defeat the views and
policy of the Administration. It would certainly jeo-
pardise them.

The following preamble and decree have been passed
by the Mexican Congress:—
The sovereign constituent Mexican Congress, it, use
of the full powers with which the inhabitants of the re-
public have invested it for the sacred object of saving its
nationality; and as a faithful interpreter of the firm de-
termination with which its constituents arc decided to
carry on the war which the United States are now
making on the nation, without desisting on account of
any kind of reverses; and considering that under these
circumstances the first public necessity is that of pre-
serving a centre of union to direct the national deft nce
with all the energy that circumstances demand; and to
%void even the danger of a revolutionary power arising
which might dissolve the national union, destroy its in-
stitutions, or consent to the dismemberment of its terri-
tory, has determined to decree as follows:

" Article I.—The Supreme Government of the union
is authorised to dictate all necessary measures for the
purpose of carryir g on the war, defending the nationality
of the republic, and saving the federal republican form of
Government under which the nation is constituted.

" Article 2. —The preceding article does not authorise
the Executive to make a peace with the United States,
conclude a negociation with foreign powers, nor disrose
in whole or in part, of the territory of the Republic.
" Article 3.—Neither does it authorise him to make
contracts of colonisation, impose punishments, or confer
any civil or military employments other than three
whose appointments are expressly entrusted to him by
the constitution.

Article 4.—Every agreement or treaty shall be null
and void which may be made between the Government
of the United States and any authority whatever, which,
subverting the actual order of affairs, should set aside
or take the place of the legally established supreme
powers of the union.
" Article 5. —Every individual is declared a traitor,
let him be a private person or public functionary, who,
either in his private capacity or invested with any autho •
city, incompetent or of revolutionary origin, may enter
into treaties with the United States of America.

" Article 6.—ln the event that the actual Congress
finds it impossible to continue its sessions, a permanent
Committee shall be immediately installed, to be com-
posed of the oldest individuals then found present of
each deputation.
" Article 7.—This committee. in the absence of Con
gress, shall perform the duties of a Government Council;
,hall appoint, in case of vacancy, the person who is to
take charge, temporarily, of the executive powers of the
republic ; shall regulate the counting and taking of the
votes in the election of a rew president ; shall give pos-
session to the elected p rson, and shall call together the
national representation.
" Article B.—The powers which the present decree
confers on the Government shall cease as soon as the war
is concluded."

A most unpleasont collision has taken place in Cali-
fornia, between Commodore Stockton and Lieutenant-
Colonel Freemont on the one side, and General Kearney
on the other. I pretend not to judge who is in the
wrong ; but I may safely state, that public opinion is
strongly against the Commodore, and in favour of the
General. When Kearney presented his authority as
Governor, Stockton refused to recognise it, and defied
his authority.
One charge against Colonel Freemont, it is said, is
making improper and incorrect reports to the Adminis-
tration for sinister purposes. It is further said, that the
General is only awaiting the arrival of troops to sustain
him, and he will then, probably, arrest Stockton and
Freemont as mutineers. Within the last ten days, it is
announced, the Cabinet have had two conclaves on this
serious subject. Freemout is the son-in-law of Colonel
Benton.

It is also stated, that Mr. Marcy, Secretary of War,
sustains General Kearney, while Mr. Mason, Secretary
of the-Navy, deems it his duty to uphold the acts of his
subordinate. This is, for the President, an unpleasant
dilemma, to say the least of it, as it may produce un-
happy results. _

MI:. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, is afflicted
with an alarming complaint, and has not attended the
two or three recent Cabinet meetings. Without being
very ill he is losing his voice, and is now scarcely able
to speak so as to be heard. He recently visited Balti-
more for medical advice, and it is said he is instructed
to converse but little.

In a former letter I remarked that the temperance
cause had received a check in consequence of legislative
interference, The State of New York, through the
importunity of certain fanatics, passed what was termed
an excise-law, but which was. in fact, a law prohibiting
the retailing of spirituous liquors. The independent
portion of the community (many of them tem-
perance men) denounced this law as oppressive,
and a violation of the rights of the citizens,
and so loud and long were their denunciations,
that a few days since, just before the adjournment of
the Legislator,. they took up the subject arid promptly
repealed the Excise or License law, and all Acts proh-
biting the sale of spirituous liquors. On the motion I
repeal, the votes stood:—

Ayeg Nayes
In the Senate ......
In the House of Representatives 68 38

Such is, and ever will be, the effect of coercion, when
substituted for persuasion, especially if the rights of the
citizen are supposed to be invaded. A repeal of this
odious law will promote the cause of temperance.—
Times. A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.
T,

_'HE ..,EASOR.—PROSPECT9 Or THE eltOrS,--The
accounts contained in the provincial papers from all quarters
of the country coincide in describing the prospect of the har-
vest as most favourable, and the effects of the present genial
weather as most beneficial. The crops are everywhere look-
ing remarkably fine, and no doubt appears as yet to be enter-
tained of an early and abundant harvest.
It is a sad fact, that from the very large quantity
of game preserved on the Duke of Marlborough's estate at
Blenheim, some of the corn-growing land in the locality will
not produce a bushel of corn to the acre. His Grace has some
hundreds of acres of arable land in his occupation, which is
now unproductive, and which has not this season been cul-
tivated.

John Gorman, Dennis Gorman, James Coffee, John
Gilbert, and Catherine Gorman, were finally examined at
Westminster Police .court, on Saturday, on a charge of com-
mitting a desperate assault upon the police, and Ellen Gorman
was charged with attempting to rescue one of the other pri-
soners. The first five prisoners were fully committed to
Newgate for trial on the capital charge of assaulting and
wounding with intent, &c. ; and Ellen Gorman, who wa,,
proved to have tried to rescue her husband, was admitted
to bail.

ABERGAVENNT.—We rejoice in being able to state
that the colliers have returned to work to Cwm Celyn (the
works of Messrs. Cruthwell, Allies, and Co.), while the be-
ginning of the week, at latest, will, in all probability, find
them busy at Coalbrook Vale. The restoration of a good
understanding between the masters and men is hailed with
very considerable satisfaction by the tradesmen of Aberga-
venny, and the poorer part of the population have to con-
gratulate themselveson the reduction of the price of flour from
18s. a week or two ago, to from 14s. to 15s. 6d.—Herelbt d
Times.

By a memorandum of this month the shabraque-
of heavy cavalry are discontinued, and the hussar saddle and
sheep skin are to be used. We hear the epaulette is to be
done away with for officers, and the scale worn in marching
order, and an auguilette and shoulder-knot in ball rooms and
reviews. The helmets at the new issue are also to be
changed, and made somewhat similar to the Life and Horse
Guards.—United Service Gazette.
THE PITT CLUB.—The anniversary of the Pitt
Club was celebrated on Saturday at the London Tavern, and
was both fully and most respectably attended. The Hon.
Captain" Duncombe, R. N., 111. P., presided, and was
supported by the Earl of Eldon, President of the Club; Sir
IL R. Farrel. Emr.;23"q
John; Croft,-Bart.. Sir Brooke Bridges, Bart., Sir R. P. Glyn,
Bart., Colonel Sibtholp, M.P., Joseph Neeld, Esq., M P.,
the Club, and several' Mr.
Samuel Fisher, Secretary to
G. W. J. Repton, Esq., M.P.,
other members. The dinner and wines
gave great aatiafactio
B.