The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-08-12

CRuizNe IN THE GuLr.-In commenting upon an
article on the subject o. american Commerce in
the Cult" that recently appeared in the New Or
leans Bulletin, the Pensacola Gazette OF the 22d
utimo, makes the following observations, interest,"
ing, we presume, to our commercial friends.-
During the existence of the West India Squadron
as formerly organized, one or more vessels, and
often the entire squadron, were kept cIuizng IN the
Cult OF Mexico Since the establishment OF the
" Home Squadron" Commodore Stewart has had
at various mes nearly every vessel OF his squadron
ia the Gulf The Falmouth and Dolphin were up
wards of year cruizlng between very Cruz ana
this port. The Vlncennes, only SIX months IRON
New York, has been two-tbirds OF that time In the
Cult of Mexico, visiting alternately Vera Cruz,
Tampco and Campeachy, and we are informed
that her services were not required at either place.
nor could her commander learn OF any instance, In
which our commercial marine" had been inter-
ered with
&Varlous statements have been made by masters OF
vessels, that during the recent difficulties between
Yucatan and Mexico at Campeachy, several Amer'
can merchantmen were forced, Tor want OF the pre-
sence of an American man OF war, to claim the
protection OF the French corvette La Brllliante,
then off that place II such was the tact, 1t Is very
singular that neither the commander OF that ship or
the American Consul at Campeachy, never heard OF
the occunence--and we are credibly informed, that
no such protection was ever required or asked ior
although fully satisfied that Commodore Regnaud
would have rendered all the aid in his power.
During the blockade Of Campeachy, the u s.
brig Dolphin visited that port, but her commander
did not deem it proper to remain after having been
notified by the commander in chiet OF the Mexican
blockading squadron, that the place was invested
by sea and land, and receiving assurances that
American vessels approaching the coast should ben
formed of the blockade, and ordered off without
further molestation. There IS nothing satisfactory
TO prove that those promises were ever violated
The condition and extent OF our commerce in the
Mexican ports bordering on the Cult, appear TO be
little known or understood at distance; compared
with that of ngand, France and Germany, our
trade with those places is but tIng In thefour prn
cipal PORTS, viz: Vera Cruz, Tampico, Campeachy
and Ma,amoras, there not to exceed three Amer
lean C ,Umercial houses OF any standing, who are
engaged in a purely mercantile business; indeed 1t
is safe to say, that with the exception OF highly re-
spectacle firm at Vera Cruz, there are none whe
really have any American interests at stake IL the
question is asked, how is this! the answer Is PLAIN
the unsettled state Of the country, by which the
smuggler and the lawless adventurer have been en-
abled IN the most open and undlsgulscd manner 10
carry their operations, to the great detrment oil
the honest Ame rlcan merchants, most OF whom have
thus been driven from the country.
Another serious objection TO cruising in the Gull
of Mexico is the situation OF its sea ports, which are
mostly at distance from deep water their entrances
being obstructed by bars, over which vessels draw
ing above ten or twelve feet water cannot enter
AT Vera Cruz the principal port men of war are not
by a regulation Of the Mexican Government, to an
Choir of SACRIFICES, barren Island nearly four
miles from the town.
A vessel of war in time Of peace can do much 10
prevent depredalOns upon our commerce, but to ell
feet that object she must be seen. Merely cruizng
about on the "high seas'' will not answer the pur-
pose Those upon whom it would be desirable to
make an impression, know nothing OF her or the
powers of the country OF which she IS the represent
alive, and in nothing is our country and commerce
much benefued as by the appearance OF her ships
of war in foreign port, surrounded by merchant
men, visited by its inhabitants, and interchanging
A do nod
business feels his securily-for in the event OF any
difficulty, he knows he can be protected
The few Americans residing along the Mexican
coast would obtain but trlfling protection from
ten or twenty miles of, they are obliged to do at
Tampico, Campeachy and Matamoras. For, how
great the force might be, OF what Use it, If it
cannot be made available Boat expeditions are
imprudent unless in extreme Cases, for what is to
become OF ship it overtaken Gas Is frequently the
case) by Norher, and the principal portion of the
officers and crew absent Why, inevitable loss.
There Is but one point against which our vessels
OF war could act with any certainty IN the Gull oil
Mexico, and that is at Vera Cruz, and then only
with large force.
No place in this section of the country is more
Interested IN keeping large naval force In the Gull
OF Mexico and the West Indies than Pensacola
But we would have this force SO organized and dis
posed OF as to render the greatest benefit to our
trade and commerce. Ii should be In this manner:
"A squadron or vessel, alter reftting and sailing
Mississippi, thence stretching overto Cape Antonio,
aong the north side of the Island Of Cuba, looking
into the different ports, which are all easy OF &C.
cess-passing between Cuba and ST. Domingo TO
the Windward Islands, thence returning by the
south side of Cuba 10 Pensacola. BY this route our
vessels OF war would be constantly in the track of
the merchantmen, as nearly al our trade In the
Cuffs confined TO that portion Oft which forms the
outlet from New Orleans, Mobile and the coast OF
Florida, to the Atlantic. They would thus be ena-
bed TO protect our commerce and assist vessels IN
distress In crulzlng in the Gull Cater passing be-
yond the Mississippi 1t Is not uncommon to pass
weeks at sea without ever meeting vessel or max
ing strange sail.
This, or some similar disposition would have
more effect in giving protection, than the present
system of cruizlng where the intervals OF visit are
necessarily great and the periods uncertain
News FROM The INTERIOR OF TExAs.-We have
endeavcred to keep sharp look out upon the mill
tary and naval sfalrs OF Texas, and congratulated
events 81 the "Guit" We have been too slow,
however, In keeping the run Of affairs, and feel
ST. Augustine, for the following brilliant achieve.
ment OF Com Moore. We entertain for the Com
modore, personally, the most unstinted regard. We
admire his courage, his bearing, and all those ele.
mens which unite TO make him a distinguished
leader in times OF peril; but we must express very
considerably sized doubt as to the truth OF the fol-
lowing fling from Texas journal. The mistaken
accounts OF the event goes to show what could be
SAID upon sucn conungency. speaking Oh Inc pat
tie with the British steamer Guadalupe, in the
Mexican service, the Redander says:-
The Commodore and his crew had strong induce.
ments to hazard all upon the cast OF siasle die"
We had anticipated an extraordinary effort by the
Commodore. but we dreaded the consequence. We
did not think it possible for him TO succeed, when
the chances were SO much against him, and hence
our decided disapproval of his dsobedlencs OF
orders, when the prospect OF accomplishing any
thing advantageous to the country, was so gloomy.
While we must ever disapprOve Of any inferior
officer disobeyng the orders of his superior, we
must, nevertheless, admire that heroic valor which
prompted the Commodore and his crew, to prefer
watery grave to the disgrace which would inevta-
bly, have been fastened upon them, had they failed
Of success
The capture OF the Guadalupe will be the cause
of much diplomatic quibbling Mexico will, no
doubt, (set on by Great Brittany contend in her
treaty with Texas, that the Guadalupe is not law
fu prize, from the fact that Com. Moore was acting
without the sanction OF his government. II would