Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-09-26
NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE GULF.


The annexed remarks Of the Journal of Com
merce, in regard to the operations of our naval
squadron the coast of Mexico, consderate and
just tits easier to rail apparent failures than to
appreciate difficulties, in distant service, on a
coast such as that of Mexico and it is due TO the
reputation OF brave men, periling their lives in the
public service, that any untoward accident should
be well understood before an unfavorable judgment
is pronounced on it.
FROM THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE.
Some Of the New Orleans papers exceedingly up
on Commander CPRrEsDER for losing his brig the Truxton,
OIL Tuspan and then giving himself up, and his TO the
Mexcans The statement of the which publish to-
day from Norfolk paper, shows how unreasonable such
censures As to the proprey of employing Mexican
captain who had been taken prisoner pilot the brig through
the breakers, well Judge this distance but in
none of the letters there the slightest nmaon that he cast
her away Intentionally Had he done So the judgment Of
the officers of the Truxton he would have paid the penalty
with his life and this he well knew If then concede to
him good faith in the discharge Of this necessary duty the
~ further question is, who would be likely to be found on
hostile coast more competent 10 such service than he he
had succeeded carrying the brig safely through the breakers
who would have thought Of consuming Commander Car
pender for employing him When affairs go wrong, every
body discovers the mistake instant and how the thing
should have been DONE
Complaint has been made Of the inefciency Of naval
operations generally in the Mexican Gulf 1t is tue not
much has been accomplished, beyond the enforcement OF
blockade and this about all that the demanded
Our military operations required naval support in
single instance lat Point Isabel and then promptly
dered would have been the height of folly to attempt the
capture Of Vera Cruz Tampico just before during the
season, would be impossible to hold them
without immense sacrifice of life, if there
other enemy than Yellow Jack within thousand miles, By
far the best policy respect those places that which has
been pursued let the Mexcans furnish victims yell
low feveras they have in fact done frightfu extent
instead of furnishing them ourselves When cool weather
comes unless peace should in the time be concluded
we anticipate stirring events in that quarter and such
will show that the American navy has not degeneated since
the war OF Sl2l5 is true there poor chance for
val operations the Mexican the harbor of
Vera Cruz and around the Castle Of Ulua for of
But what cannot be accomplished in way be in
Their and orders shall be given for the capture either Of
Tampco Vera Cruz including the Castle of Uua be-
ieve they will be captured When say this, fully
Of the formidable character of the dences at Uua and
ie For the sake of humanity sincerely hope it may be
motions Tampco and Avarado and gallant
officers ready for any thing which may be required hem
and capable Of achieving all that achieve.
For time previous to the battles of Pao Alto and Re
de la Palma General Taylor much censured for
inefciency the Gulf squadron is There may be
besides those above limited at why that squadron
should make decided present and why IT
should have remained essentially inactive for weeks past
The revolution which has been in progress Mexico, the
restoration of Santa Anna and the renewal of negotiations for
peace, among the We advise people to wait
little before they make up their minds that the navy has lost
its chivary or its efficiency.