The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-07
LATEST NEWS BY THE MAILS.
WASHINGTON. May 5, 1876.


Ii is now well asccrtained that Gen. Mejia has
1900 of the best Mexican troops with him at Mats-
moras, and that it is his intention to attack Gen.
Taylor forthwith, if he has not already done So
The opinion here, in well informed circles, is that
a skirmish has taken place, and that Gen. Taylor
has met repulse with some loss; but, as the head
OF the War Department keeps every thing close
that he can keep in that way, it would not be pro-
per to say positively that such has actually occur
red. Three mails from the South arrived here last
night, bringing the packages for the war depart
ment, already mentioned, which were Of little or
no interest. believe, however, that Gen. Jones
received by that mail information of importance.
as he was seen to from the Post Office for the
State Department, and communicate en- PEASANT
with Mr.. Buchanan, on the subject of military
matters. He rode oil after a few moments inter-
view. for the War Department, in rather hurry.
There is evidently a shaking going on among the
dry bones, in the neighborhood Of the Executive;
for, if there were not, why all tins excite
ment among military men and others connected
with the War Department.
Il was the steamer Hunter and not Lieutenant
Hunters steamer Union, as stated by me last eve
ming, that brought the dispatches from Corpus
Christi To New Orleans
if not with England, the President has recon-
mendcd, through the Secretary OF the Navy, in q
report made TO Congress few days ago, reduo-
ton Of large number OF captains, lieutenants,
and midshpmen, in our navy. About thirty
captains he recommends to be raced, and tho
others in an equal proportion to their rank and
numbers in the service. This IS about tho fun
NEST and most parodoxical piece of tomfoolery
that has ever been practiccd upon any people.
What! reduce the navy now, nearly one third In
the number of its officers, while there is report
| from the Navy Department, falling upon Congress
to expend $40 900, 900, upon some forty or fifty
steam vessels! and another proposition from tho
same quarter, to build ten large class steamers to
carry the mails, and act vessels if so requir-
ed? 1t would appear evident, from this srange re-
commentator of Mr.. Bancroft, that Mr.. Polk
belongs to that class of bipeds who blow hot and
cold with the same breath. "Now we will and now
we WON'T seems to be the text of all his actions not
knowing, ofcourse, whether he will be Of the same
opinion tomorrow that he was to-day. Only think
OF the sublimity Of the idea, for moment, Of the
Secretary of the Navy, by the Presidents direc-
ton, or il not, with his knowledge and consent,
making estimates for building forty steamships,
and furnishing them with officers and men, about
one month ago and now, when the notice has
been sent out to England, and our ships probably
wanted to lombard Vera Cruz, the President
wants to reduce the effective force Of that branch
Of the service about 200 men, belonging entirely
to the commissioned class. have otter heard 1t
remarked that it takes fools to govern nation.
but never saw il so clearly exemplificd AZ under
this administra- tion ARikL.