Washington telegraph., 1847-12-29

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Gus victories achieved by any nation within
so short period Our army regulars aud
volunteers, have covered themselves with
imperlshable honors whenever and where.
ever our iefcrs have encountered the ene.
my; though hr was in vastly superior nun.
bers, aud often enlrcnched in inrihrd pnsi.
lions oi his own selection, anI Of great
strength he has been defeated.
Too murh praise cannnt be he cs,uwed
upon our officers an men, regulars and
volunteers, for their galianlry, discipline
indomnitabe uourage. aud perseverance.
all srrkinR the posts oi dangsr aud Niring
with each other N deeds ui noble dariug.-
While every patriot heaH mlsl rNnl' anl
Just national pride animate eseIl husum IN
behulding the high proofs ol cou@gr, eun.
sun,ale military skill, steady discipline ant
humanity 10 the vanquishsd enrmy erhih
tied by our gallant army. the nation has Ia
mourn the loss ol many brave officers aud
soldiers who have fallen IN deieurr Ol iheif
country's honor aud interests. The brave
dead met their melancholy late in iofeign
land, nobly discharglng then duty, aud with
their eounlry's flag waving triumptaully IN
III, lace oil the ioe. Their palr,utir dreds
are justly appreciated, aud will long br re
menhered by their gIalelnl eounlymen.-
The parental care Of lhs Government they
loved and served should he extended 10
their surviving families.
Shortly after the adjournment oi the last
session oil Congress, the galiiy M inlelii.
grnce vas fecrIysd OF the battle ui Buena
Vista, aud OF the tall OF Vera CnA, aud
the Castle of San Juan d ioa, by which
Il WAS defended.
Believing that after these aud ohet
successes. 81 honorable Ia out arms aud su
disastrous 10 Mexico, the period was prop.
lious 10 afford her another opportunity, II
she thought proper 10 embrace It, lu enlef
inio negotiations Tor peace, a acunmissiuner
was appointed 10 proceed To the hrajq laf.
lers Of our army, with full power To enef
into negotiations, aud 10 conclude a jusl
and honorable treaty oil peace. lie was
no, directed to make any new ovrItutes oi
peace, hut was tho bearer OF despatch
IRON the Secretary Of Stat. of the United
States 10 the Minister OF Foreign Ail,irs ui
Mexico, I'm reply 10 one received lrpm the
latter Of the 22d Of February, lSi1,l in
which the MEXICAN Government was in
formed oi his appointment and ol hi. pes
cnce AT the headquarters Of our army, aud
tha, he was invested with full power To
conclude definite treaty oipeace " heney.
OF the Mexican Government IN GUT signify
a desire to do so. While was unwilling
TO subject the United States 10 GnOher in.
dignanl refusal. | was yei resolved that the
evil. Of the war should not be pfulaeIed n
day longer than might DO rendered abso.
lutely necessary by the Mexican Govern.
mcn,. Care was taken 10 give ~ lnslruc.
iions 10 the commissioner which could IN
any way interfere with our military ener.
gies in the prosecution Of the war lie
possessed no authority in any manner 10
control these operations. He was author.
lied 10 exhibit his instructions To The gene
raj in command Of the army, and, IN the
event OF treaty being concluded aud rali
fed on the part Of Mexico, he was dIrec.
ted to give him notice Of that iacI on the
happening Of such contingency; and, On
receiving notice thereof, the general in
command was instructed by the Secretary
of War TO suspend lurlher active military
operations until further orders. These
instructions were given with view To in.
termi, hostilites until the treaty thus ratified
by Mexico could be Transmitted 10 Wash.
ington and receive the acton OF the Gov.
ernmrnt OF the United States.
i The commissioner was also directed, Oh
reaching the army, To deliver 10 the gcncr.
al in command the despatche. which he
bore from the Secretary oi War 10 the MIN.
ister ofForeign Affairs Of Mexico, anj on
receiving il the general was instructed by
the Secretary oi War 10 cause It to be
transmitted 10 the commander Of the Mex
, ican forces, with a request that il might he
communicated 10 his Government
The commissioner did no, reach the
headquarters ofthe army until another bril-.
liant victory had crowned our arms at Ger.
ro Gordo.
The dispatches which he bore from the
Secretary OF War to the general in com
mand oi The army were received by that
officer, then at Jalapa, on the 7lh day Of
NAV, ls47, together with the dispatches ol
the Secretary Of State 10 the Minister Of
Foreign Affairs OF Mexico. having been
transmitted 10 him from Vera Cruz.
The commissioner arrived at the head
quarters Of the army lew days afterwards.
His presence with the army aud bis dlpo'
matte character were made known 10 the
Mexican Government, from Pueba, on the
l2lh Of June, ls47, by the transmission OF
the despatch from The Secretary Of state 10
the Minister OF Foreign Affairs of Mexico.
Many weeks elapsed after its reception
and no overlures were made, nor was any
desire expressed by the Government ol
Me,ico To enter into negotiations Tor peace.