Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-11-13
From the Piits5vrgh Ga.eits.
OUR WAR WITH MFXICO

Olh WAX WITH MEXICO.
/ From the magnitude it has only lately sssur,.
| ed, from the uncertain condition of opy gsIl,n,
army at Monterey, and from the vast expense A..
tending all ls operations, this war now attracts
the most intense attention from the people, and
the most anxious inquiries are daily made con-
cerning the various matters connected with il.
/ We now present the singular anomaly Of a
] free people at war with a sister nation, without
/ knowing the precise object for which il is waged,
and what conditions are TO be insisted upon as the
/ price Of peace. In the war Of the Reolution, we
/ fought for national existence, and in the last
war, contended for the integrity Of our flag and
the liberty and rights of our citizens on the high
seas. In both wars we had definite object in
view; just and tangible reason for resorIing to
the extremity Of arms. We fought for rights
justly ours, and when they were recognized, we
were ready for peace.
But this Mexican war has been brought upon
us by the usurped power of our President, who
has not seen proper to inform the people for what
definite object he is sacrificing the lives of our
people, and squandering their money. Our gal
liant volunteers, who march TO the scene of ac-
ton because they find their country in a state of
war and in need of their services, know not the
object of their tolls. They only know that they
are to whip the Mexicans, but what the whipping
is for, and what the Mexicans are required to do
to appease our wrath they know not Unless it
is war for conquest, we know not what it is for.
And has it come to this, that this free Republic,
with untold millions of acres Of land lying waste,
must wage war to rob our weaker neighbor of
her possession?
War is always great calamity. II should
never be resorted TO except for the defence Of
rights, and not then until every other mode of re-
dress had been exhausted. In this Mexican war,
there is no object to be gained at all adequate to
the terrible sacrifice of life, the untold individual
suffering, and the fearful expenditure of treasure,
by which it has been and will continue to be pro-
secuted. lnits inception and aims, it is akin to
those wars of aggrandzement formerly waged
by the crowned heads of Europe, in which the
people had but little interest, although they were
the only sufferers.
That our readers may form some idea of the
war as 1t is now to be prosecuted, we copy the
following outline of the coming campaign as it is
sketched by Washington correspondent of the
New York Herald. The main features cores
pond with the numerous statements on the same
subject which have appeared of late in the news
papers-but concerning the accuracy Of which
the official journal gives no official confirmation;
"Gen. Taylor is to be supplied with reinforce.
ments, munitions and provisions. The War De-
partment is purchasing transports, and issuing Or
ders at different points for potatoes, onions, flour,
and sourkrout. A hundred men and BOYS are still
employed at the arsenal of this city in making
cartridges for the army; and but yesterday large
schooner received on board a cargo of powder
and cold iron, sufficient to destroy dozen regi-
ments. Ten thousand men, regulars and volun-
teers, are to march TO the concentration at San
Luis Potosi-fve thousand from Tampico, up the
river Panuco, under General Patterson, TWO hun
dred and fifty miles, for one hundred of which
the Panuco is supposed to be navigable for light
draft steamboats,, certainly for barges which will
afford the means Of transportation of all the re.
quired munitions, artillery and provisions.
General Taylor, from Monterey, reinforced
by 5000 men, after garrisoning the city, will have
an effective division of 10000 men. As part
of his reinforcement we understand Gen. Wool
is to cross down with all despatch with his divi.
sion of 5000 men, to cooperate with the line of
operations from the depots at Camargo and Mon
terey. General Taylor will have a Journey
southward to San Luis of upwards of three hun.
dred miles, while the division from Tampico west
ward, with a march of not over two hundred and
fifty miles, tits calculated to bring up simultane-
ously with the main body of the army from the
north. SanLuis will thus be placed under con.
junct assault of 10000 men on the north and east
by Taylor, and by 5000 on the western side
from Tampico.
ain all this, the contingencies of an intermed.
ate battle or two by each division, are to be taken
into the estimate. 1t is expected that there will
be stout resistance to General Patterson and the
fleet assisting him at Tampico, which may detain
him three weeks before taking up the line of
march to San Luis.
"On the other hand General Taylor calculates
upon a heavy fight at Saltillo, and several sharp
skirmshes in the intervening passes. He will
then have some 250mies, over aparticular hard
country, the first hundred through sand plain
destitute of water, the residue through broken,
mountainous region. 1t will, therefore, require
nice calculation to bring both divisions to San
Luis with the arrival of the main army under
Santa Anna from the south.
"To do this, General Taylor must drive Ampu-
dia before him, or capture him, while the division
from the east will have to conquer the fortifca-
tons at Tampico, and the 5000 Mexicans said
to be stationed at that point, and leaving clean
path behind it, come up with the arrival of Gen.
eral Taylor from the north, to the attack of San
Luis Potosi.