The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-12-07

find in the ST. Louis Republican, OF the 22d ult an
Interesting letter from Puebla, giving portion of the
secret history of the last campaign in Mexico-some
of the details Of the councils Of war held on the march
from Vera Cruz 10 the Halls of the Mon,ezumas.
The letter in the Republican, although of an date,
(''Pnebla, Aug 6, 1s47,'D contains intelligence which
is even now Of a novel and startling nature. Many
OF the expressions of the writer evidently dcta-
ted by party bias, and he may be entirely mistaken
as TO the particular fund proposed TO be appropriated
but, for The .ake of the story, we overlook all these
and proceed to quote as follows
q" observe, from the papers, that an idea Is preya.
lent among the more intelligent portions of the Uni
ted States that Gen Scott s vested with high diplo-
mRiic powers Whatever may have been the case,
previous to the arrival of Mr. Trst, since then all
such powers have been vested in Mr. Trisl alone He
was sent here as confidential political friend of the
administration, as the dlsburser of the three million,
fund.- and with the expectation that, by Judicious
application OF II, psdc. eonldbs speedily purchassd
from people 0per tchom standard had foaed
victorious in ererysngagenent had had nth them
mention this because believe that the administra-
tion fearing the nfamy that will attach to peace
procured upon such terms have cunnngly devised the
plan to create, and allow the impression to become
prevalent, that Gen. Scott possessed the diplomatic
power, and that upon him must rest the responsible
~ of any such termination of the war
"A short time since things We're in fair way thus
to be ended. The application Of this fund was to be,
upon certain contingencies, IN bringing about the ap
ponment OF commissioners 10 treat with for peace
and those who had secured this result 10 be the
recipients of certain portions of the fund. To this
Mr.. Trist committed in full, and so far al con-
sent Went, Gen. Scott in part. council of war was
decided upon and called. 1t convened al the head
quarters of the army OIL Saturday evening" the l7lh
Of July last past. Those who were present at this
council, were the Gen. ra-n- Chief, Major Generals
Pillow and Qulman, Brigadier Generals Twiggs,
Shields and Cadwalader. The justly distinguished
General Worth was not present. in consequence of
most unfortunate disruption OF the friendly rela
tons that had existed for ihrty-fve years Between
him and Gen. Scott. Bnt Of this, more anon.n
The principal topic of discussion ut this council
was tchtther the Application Of portion Of the
S3,000,000 find to The PURCHASE of a peace, tsould
be JUST abie under the peculiar circumstances of the
case. The deliberations this point are thus de-
scrbed IN the letter of Gomez
"The Genera-n- Chief, with his usual bland, I'M
pressive, and, may add, eloquent manner, first went
over the whole ground, bringing in support of his po-
sition every argument To which tact, much reflection
and strong mind could give birth. To these consi.
derations he added the great and pressing anxiety
urged in all their communications by the AdminisIru-
non to terminate, BY any means, II possible This war
Upon his concluding, the opinions Of the different
Generals present, were called for according To rank
General Pillows was the first given, and was favorn-
Bile TO the plan proposed. Gen. Qultman followed,
but objected in toto 10 H. on the ground that il would
lnfct a slain upon our national escutcheon that
turtles could not wipe out OF the BrIgadicr Gener-
ais, Twggs was the first to express his views and by
regarding II TO u great extent as political quss-
tlon,' he declined giving any opinion. Gen. Shields
was next required TO give his views; he at
from his seat. his whole cOuntenance lit up with AMI
nation, and in that bold, fearless, uncOmpromlslng
manner that so strikingy illustrates his whole public
career, denounced the whole scheme IN the most un-
qualified terms. He insisted that the application of
this fund Tor any such purpose, was no, only lmmo Il,
but debasng. That, while for purposes of sel
fence, It was, according to the uSages of m
warfare Juslihabe i'll one nation 10 employ as .p.
the subjects Of the other belligeren power, yet there
was no state of circumstances that ever had could
exist, that would warrant our brlblng or hiring the
officers or tunctionaries Of that begeren power for
the sake OF benehting u.s. 10 cut the lhroats of their
own subjects And he boldly declared that rather
than see the country of his adoption thus disgraced,
he would prefer by far 10 witness the continuation Of
the war Tor tel years, and i'll every battle fought
lose five thousand men. The one would admit re.
medy; the other was an evil, from the consequences
OF which, ms n nation, we never could recover
Seen. Cadwalader simply remarked, Iha, General
Shields had exhausted the subject, and he fully con-
CURED with him ia the conclusions TO which he had
come. Thus terminated the council Of the evening of
the l7lh Of July. What followed is soon related:
'The next day Gen. Shields had long interview
with Mr.. Trst. What occurred at that interview, !
have no means Of ascertainng, but the subsequent acts
of Mr. Trist can leave but LILLE doubt upon that sub
ject Two days afterwards Mr.. Trist withdrew all
papers connected with this manner of terminating the
war. And from that hour 10 this an immediate march
upon the capital so rs Gen. Pierce came up, was
determined upon, and all hopes of an early pence
abandoned.
81 have been thus particular Ill relating the pro-
ceedngs of what regard by far The most important
council of war that has convened since the existence
OF hostlIl,les between the United States and Mexico
because believe my country has been saved from be-
ing plunged into abyss of namy, from which there
would be no exrlcation and for the that those
who regardless of consequences to themselves, have
eyfT}Sa al ef%s R9uhSJ CLAY sSdh Fh, a
ever be extended IN offering as bride, either directly
or indirectly any portion Of this three millions 10
Santa Anna or any other Mexican, for the purpose OF
procuring peace, may. before II accompshes its OBJ
jecl fall palsied by his side; and that mark more
than that placed upon the brow of
Cain, may be deiby fixed upon his, that so long as
his unworthy life is spared, he may be the object OF
eXecratlon Of all his indignant countrymen."
The following additional paragraph, from the same
letter, will be read with interest
al intend giving you an account OF the cause of
dlsrnpl IL between Generals Worth and Scott, but
the length of this communication forblds II. Ii grew
out of the terms of communication entered into by
General Worth, with the Mexican authorities OF this
place, taking possession Of the city. have copy
of the capuatlon, as well rs of the finding of the
Cour, of Inquiry, which was adverse 10 Gen. Worth,
both of which may embody in my next coinmuni-
cation. | am happy in being able 10 say, that there
is now some prospects of a reconciliation between
them. GOMEZ
This difference between these two great Captains,
we believe, has been happily, some time since, ad-
lusted.
MEXICAN ArrAIRs.-OpimionS Of Offers just re-
turned from MeJico.-The New Orleans Bulletin, OF
the 25h ultimo gives the following as the result of
conversations with several American officers JUS, re-
turned from the seat Of war -
In converslng with various officers who arrived in
the Alabama, have found, without one exception,
hat all of them consider the idea of peace perfect
" nryus he pt Inn frpp
them, 10 the state and prospects of affairs in Mex-
co, only 10 render more difficult the solution of
the problem as 10 what is, or what ought 10 be done
with Mexico.
To attempt further active and more extended ope-
rations-to hold on to what we now have, or 10 re-
rogade to line OF defence, all appear 10 be equally
surrounded with difficulties Of the most formidable
nature.
On all these points, learn there is great diver
sity of opinion in the army, even among the officers
of higher ranks, and whose opinions Justly emit
tied 10 great weight All, however, agree that
large additional force must be thrown into the cOun-
try, particularly if further active operations de-
tefmined on.
large portion of the better part of the population,
dread the withdrawal of the American army, for
fear that il would be followed by scenes of anarchy
and lawessness, as the country is literally without
government, and yet, whilst such the sentiments
of the sober minded and thinking portion, the grea,
bulk of the people retain feelings of the most bitter
rancor and hostility towards us, and would wreak
their vengeance upon NIL those of their own nation,
who are supposed Ill any way To favor the Amerl-
cans so soon as an opportunity offered for so doing
Another dread that exists IN Mexico, is, that this
guerilla system will result in n permanent aud gem
cra organization of regular banditti throughout the
country, which will be kept up long after the diff
culies with the United States Inny be settled and
which it will be inpOssb 10 eradicate. Ii was the
same in Spain, where the guerilla bands moi
put down for years after the French were expelled
and only by most vigorous and energetic measures