The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-17
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPT. II, Is41.
The Arniistice.

The Baltimore American OF this mornings after the
usual fashion of the whg journals seems to assume that
General SCOTS consent TO the armlstice may have been
given because he Judged his force to be too weak to enter
the city. That journal says:
On the other hand that dstressiu contingency which has
pursued armies in Mexic like fatality, the dilemma
OF weakness from exhaustion at the moment OF victory by
of the heavy odds against which troops In every
have been obliged to contend may have so parayzed
enera Scott after his success that arise TO af
trd time recruit and to obtain strong position might
hare beeh Indispensable TO him.
But all specua,ions,s these stand in allegiance
until further facts are known. Nevertheless cannot bui
regret General Scott, instead of deerring any longer
government in whose consistency and sincerity no
confidence be placed and which has hitherto rejected
appropriation treat not IN condition to enter the
tyof erco oe and there to prescribe the terms Of an
adjustment. HIS force cas not sufficient for this
Everything in the accounts from the OF opera
TONS and the correspondence in relation to the armis-
tee ITSELF conclusively contradict the opinion that Gen
Scott felt himself in any way constrained by the sltua-
ton of his army to accede to it, Very manesy, the
amistice agreed to his part matter of policy
He was beyond all doubt in condition to take the city
at once, il he had considered that step likely than
amistice to peace. This is well put in the
following paragraph from the Journal of Commerce
Our views to the armstice finally settled, we
stated yesterday.
From the Journal of Commerce
Notwithstanding these brilliant results many INTEL gent
infer from the arnsce being proposed by Gen Scott,
that after ALL he felt unable TO cope with his multiudinous
enemy. We infer precisely the contrary 1t was because
he had whipped their best troops immense numbers and
driven them into thecy, capturing their most important
outwoks because the cannon which they had plant
ed for his destruction, he able to against
themselves; because he had materially reduced their
strength physically, and still more morally creating conster
nation where before confidence, that he could
afford to take the initiative perhaps at the solicitation Of the
British Minister for suspension of hostilties and the
oaon of peace. On the suppoon of the croakers, that
he proposed the armistice for his sake should like
to ask what advantage he could possibly gain by it; since
required both armies to remain IN statu quo neither
ceving reniorcements, erecting defences, going
beyond their existing lines. Gen. Scott knew well the
Mexican character, to trust TO emporizng policy, had
not the circumstances been such in the view of the
Nexcans to forbid the idea that he did it from regard
his safety He however wished avail himself of the
powerful incentive to peace which the crisis supplied
to the Mexicanshe other alternative being the
patton OF their capital by 900 flushed with vic
tory, whom the common people, men and women,
had been taught to regard set of unprncipled
rascals, ready to commit any crime for the gratf
cation of lust malice. In of serious resistance
the part of the Mexican troops within the city, then to
the modification of capture and the dread OF hostile
occupations would be added the horrors of a lombard
men For this Gen. Scott prepared and the capture
of Is heavy guns at Contreros and San Antonio made him
still more The Mexcans had chance of successful
ressance and they knew it. They had tried the only
of avoiding bombardment (f Gen. Scott should
fit nct it) and thad proved neectua They
his mercy whenever he chose let loose destruction
upon their devoted heads This they appear have well
understood, well himself Else why did they so
readily embrace the which, before the late battles,
they had scornfully rejected! Why did Gen. Valencia
conrive to escape with companions, if he had hoped
for victory within the walls Why did the Mexican official
paper the Diaro del Gobeo speak of said battles
wemng defeats and say that though the American forces
around the city, they had not get entered y inn
plying that they could do their pleasure No
gard the of Gen. Scott dictated chiefly by hui
many towards the Mexicans but partly also by policy,
which led him make OF the powerful lever which
cumstances enabled him WELD fot the restoration of
peace. IT, instead of making this overture, he had pro-
cecded capture the city, either by bombardment
au even by surrender without another battle, easy
that of the strongest motives in favor of peace