New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-08
opiaisns 1t washington.


eson changes with new sivices frcn the seat Of
hostiiities. varies with every report Today it
tans i.s face toward peace, Tomorrow wii sssarae
q belgerent cozrtenance.
We are, however. Of decided opinion that the
zeal hope Of the Executive is for peace. Peace.
The country deuaads. the infatustion. that early
tsagh. him 70 believe political capital could be
made from prosecution Of this war. IS iesying,
even II il has 90. left. bis mind; and experience
has made him a sane ia the expectation,
futile as nnost OF rs are forced 20 believe that the
presence Of Santa Anna might extncste the country
from the rashly enteredinto war Bis onguided
councils had provoked the President permitted and
secured the safe return Of that marauding chief
To relieve himself frora the embarrassment inso
which his folly and unregalsted ambition bad pre-
cipitated the country, he was willing 20 resort to
tho only expedient which. doubtful as it was in
character. promised some hope Of escape. To gain
peace, hs encountered the danger Of more vigorous
war.
The country desires peace. and the Executive
knows it. Before be again meets the Represents
.ivss of the people he hopes 70 bring the war 70
saccessful issue.
Predicsted upon this hope is the nomination Of
Coz Benton 10 asemi.miitsTy. semi.cvil capacity.
The President intended him no exclusive military
capacity: the late gszetsed Major General had
himself no such solitary intention.
II Col Benton 20 10 Mexico, he carries 10 one
hand the sword, in the other the olve-branch, or
rather the golden branch with which he hopes to
enter Mexico IS easily now, as formerly his great
ancestor, the "pious Eneas," the gates Of Hades.
Al day Ioug on Fidaylss the President awaited
with characteristic patience the expected approach
Of Col Bentou 20 conference mutually agreed
upon. In that conference were 10 be arranged the
terms upon which the Mssounsn Cesar would
engage 10 conquer. or purchase peace Of Mexico.
As latest advcss left him, the President was eager
70 cloihe the impromptu hero with all the plenaTy
power the late act Of Congress enabled him to
depute. Nay, he was willing lin. the opinion Of
Constitutional lawyers TO go farther and transcend
his delegated powers. lie was ready to give this
"neophyte" Of Major General the absolute con-
trol Of the 600 voted TO him by Congress for
specific purpose at least to promise the rsthca
ton Of all sipulaons entered into for the dIspos
, ten OF said sum
To the Presidents regret, and all ofhora sur
prise, the moody Missourian hcpt not ryst' he
saw not the President on that day appointed nor
held, by other means, communication with bnI
The cause Of this obstinacy was merely surmlsed'
Il was rot underelood at Washington. The gene
raj opinion. however. seemed TO be, that the pro
nisod Pacihcator held himself alooi, with purpose
Of meaning. He thought to enhance the value OF
his services by an afectation OF their withdrawal.
For TO all his many military qualifications and civic
virtues the Colonel is said to add one OF the most
pleasing traits Of the softer sex "Hc would be
woed. and not unsought BIO won"
Every days additional observation, every shadow
that each incident casts upon the mind induces us
TO believe that the President Is willing TO obtain
peace on other terms than he lately boasted tocon-
mand. The retirement Of Congress terrsfes HIM:
he can no longer under cover Of such body, seek
to avoid responsibility. he fearful OF inadequate
supplies before its rsassembing toprovide for PRO
babe deficiency in such supplies, he is still more
fearful to anticipate the prescribed period OF It's re-
turn. He is in a peculiarly perplexing dilemma
To carry on his operations, Gen Scott makes re.
QUESTION of the Department for fifteen thousand
mules, seven thousand five hundred tons Of hay and
other oonveniencies OF the kind All these, and
more. he thinks will be necessary for his conteu-
plated march upon those o-wellknown Halls
OF Montezums. This requsition has sequence
insepsrabls from it, not most agreeable to the Pre-
sident He has made calculation, by which BIO
arrives at the result, that this array of mules
with tho oalledior train Of three thousand wagons
would extend the distance OF SIX miles "a dedue
ton that sstounds him! How large an army he
might slso ask himself. would be required to guard
this long arrayf
The impossibility Of retaining the territory.
towns. or places, that may be conquered is 10 tho
President another inducement 70 peace. He finds
now that territories acquired by proclamation must
be kept, II at al. by severer measures He gives,
therefore instructions to Gen. Scott to deuiolish,
after he has taken. the defences ofVera Cruz and.
tina; done. 10 abandon the City
Whom the enemy spares the pomito will devour !;
and ,he President. kindly regardiul OF the health
and lives Of the soldiery. directs his General to
pose them no more and no longer than necessary.
He has declared that this is no war OF conquest it
10 bat intended for assertion oiour strict rights.
To accomplish these ends it Is unfortunately his
daty to worry. harsss and slaughter. through his
commanders. al the Mexicsns possible; he wishes.
however no unnecessary exposure OF his own coan.
uyman's lives His Office, under the Constitution,
it u.s. to heap up in hecatombs the unburied bodies
Of the enemies Of his country sense Of humanity
equsly active in his determinations bids him save
the lives Of his constituents.
Now il Col. Benton go TO Mexico. be goes 10 ne.
gotiate more than fight. The Colonel has arrived
at an age when the fever Of passion, whether Of
love or war, for the continuation destruction Of
our species, subsidies He has no military mania
or, il he have 10 litter candidate for the Lunatic
Asylum than the head Of an army. He may gain
lsurels by a satisfactory peace. he may sain that
peace by liberal largess and more liberal promise.
With Scott and Taylor he cannot hope to contend
Ia military conduct but the lsarels they have &C
aoired IN successful may be transferred with
brighter oolors TO his own brow by successful peace
Cor "psaec has its victories 10 less renowned than
war" The Roman laws. more careful than our
own of its citizens gave proper reward TO him who
saved the life Of even single citizen; Col Benton
vii deserve better than ever Of his country if he
spare any farther unnecessary efiason otblood.
We have sacrificed enough to vengeance Let
ne render something 70 Justice.