Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-03-01
THE CoNsrIrUrIoN-srArE RIGHTS.
RICHMOND DAILY WHIG.
By TOIER, ELLIOTT a co.
MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 1. 1897.
Army News.

ana Just lndlgnauon OF the hafbaftlCs OF the MCAicans,
as cvinced in their mal-treatment of the bodies OF the UNI
fortunate victims who fall occasionally into the hands OF
the guerilla bands. which, like those that proved so formid-
able to the invaders OF Spain during the Peninsular War.
hang upon the rear OF our army, and capture or ssy the
small detached parties which they occasionally intercept.
Thus we are told that the bodies OF several American Of
heer- and soldiers. who have recently been slain, have been
barbarously muulated, and their hearts torn out and os-
tentauously exposed in the most public places. From
such wanion acts Of inhumanity, we should infer the in-
tensity OF Mexican hatred-not less intense than that
which the Spaniard felt for the French invader. who so Of
ten experienced the mereilcss vengeance Of his captors--
rather than the natural toroclty Of the Mexican character.
But while we reprobate and dcnouncc the batbariy which
refuses TO a fallen foe a decent burial and a quiet grave,
we must not forget that war has a natural tendency to
arouse tho fercer and more malignant passions-espo-
caly in the bosoms OF an invaded people, who trace the
march OF the invader by numerous acts Of individual out
rage and violence. That a large portion Of our Volunteers,
who, less under the restraints OF discipline than the Reru-
lars, have been with difficulty held in check even at home,
where. on more than one occasion, they have set NJ def
anee, not only their commanders, but the officers OF the law,
have been guilty of such outrages. there can be no doubt.
The sGbIoined interesting letter TO the Editors Of the Char
lesion Mercury, written evidently by one who is an inieli-
gent as well as an accurate observer, reveals to some ex-
tent the causes which have converted every Mexican into
an enemy, aud given a keener edge to the luminosity which
he would naturally exhibit towards the invader OF hrs coun-
try, even were that invaders progress marked by no unnc.
cessary desecrauon 81 the altar and the hearth-stone. While
we dePrecate and denouncc tho wanton acts OF barbari,y
which the MeIicans have perPetrated, therefore, we cannot
be surprised at their occurrence. We ought rather to be
srauhed that they have been so unfreqlont, and that they
have been confined TO the rowing bands Of undisciplined
RGReheros, for whose atrocities we can no more hold the
authorities OF that country responsible, than thew can our
own Government and people Tor the outrages commiued
by our troops upon themselves.
The letter TO the Charleston Mercury contains other
| matter, however. OF dCep interest. We refer the readar
particularly 10 the writer's remarks upon the manner in
WATCH Mr.. Polk has ofhcerod the newly raised troops
merit and skill constituting with him no ground OF prefer
enee, but rather OF exclusion, when they came in compe-
uton with certain POLITICAL INFLUENCES. to which we are
c mpeled to ascribe the elevation to the highest military
: atoms Of men, whose claims to that distinction. fany thew
possessed, are unknown TO the county-whose very
names, indeed, had never been heard out Of their own
5aHiwicks, until they were decorated with the insignia OF
high military rank, and placed over the heads Of veteran
soldiers, many of whom, distinguished for military skill.
had likewise won imperishable renown upon the field OF
battle. We fear tina, the in President, making the appoint
ments Of the four hundred officers, which the recently
passed Army Bill conhdes exclusively to his discretion,
will continue 10 act upon the same unworthy principle OF
selecuon-which, indeed, would be the less deploruble #
the sole objection To II were its exclusion from public ser
: vice OF worthy and capable men, TO make places Tor the
parasites and courters, or their favorites, who bask in the
sunshine OF Court favor, ss the pnce OF votes and inHl-
eHCc, HERETOFORE oI hereafter = De gwen anu CNcrtCQ IN
obedience to Executive behests. This system OF fyont-
ism, by which merit is sacrificed to political considerations
"A system so detrimental. to the public service, as well as
: so unjust IN !tsei-has never, we venture 10 say, been so
b, openly and shamelessy prlcusod, by any Government On
o earth, or by our own, under any preceding President, as
by James h. Polk, since the commencement Of the Mex
lean war. Indeed, If the meaning o: the stereotyped ex-
hortauons and pledges to a d" vigorous prosecution Of the
war" are TO be interpreted by the acts OF the Executive.
we should be forced TO the conclusion that the Wings, "a
ther than the Mexieans, are regarded as the public enemy,
E whom tbs most desirable to terminate. Hence the pet.
2 y war against "WmS GkStRALs," by whom alone yic,o-
b res have been achieved, and the constan, effort 10 de-
prve them OF public confidence, in order that ,bey
: might be safely superseded By some court favorte-Gene-
o raj Butler, Che Presidents candidate fer the .uceession.3
having been first selected for that purpose. and subsequent
. ", when Il was discovered that THAT cock wouldn't fight"
Senator Benton, for whom, in order that both Generals
Scott and Taylor might be at once ovorslaughed, the new
Office OF Lieutenant General was proposed to be created
It's incumbent to be clothed with civil and diplomatic hIne-
I ions as well as with supreme military authority!
The writer OF the following letter nara,e. incident.
which show that this c~orruptng and fatally eneryarnr
system OF political iayoutism, descending from the higher
1 to the inferior grades, Is rapidly difusing the spirit OF dis.
content among the oficers-ihe surest method Of imnairnr
the efficiency Of an army, a. the emulation excited by the
hope and certainty Of attaining the only reward Of the
% soldiers tolls and wounds, is the most certain means of
rendering 1t invincible, Mr.. Polk eversss the practice Of
Napoleon. Instead Of comforting badges Of honor upon
those who have won them by hazardous service and bill
liant achievements, he contemporary passes by the war.
worn veteran, to decorate the pef1mod and pomatumed
spngs OF anstOcracy, IN the persons OF the sons, brothsrs
cousins and ~nePhews Of men who can pay him back in
votes, or 1t may be, in that current coin Of palaces. 20
grateful to the cars Of Presidents as well as Aings,-aat-
terry and adulauOn.
While we do not share IN the opprchensions expressed
by the winter II tie interesting Lsisr--from the perusal Of
which we have already ,ooiong ieis!ned the roader-in the
result Of the approaching attack upon tue formidable Castle
Of 81. Juan and the city Of Vera Cruz, % is not to be con.
cened that natural and physical obstacles, far more formid
able ihsn the cannon Of the enemy, are to be encountered
and overcome ny our gallant commander and his no less
gallant soldiers. In the carly part Of the present month.
the attack was expected to be made and perhaps, 5yenas we
write, the sound Of the cannon is booming over the wnieI.
Of the Gulf, and is waves are cnmsoned with the blood Of
the o~ontending forces. While we will not doubt that vic.
tory will crown our efforts, however, we confess that. when
We remember the various contingencies by the occurrence
Of any one Of which the wei-conceuei plans Of General
Scott may be disluauged and thwaued, We look forward
with unfeigned anxiety 70 the result Of hs psrIous enter
prize penlous In view alone Of the strong and brsting
rampafts, behind which the enemy will be sheltered, but
rendered far more perlous by The violent storms which 20
suddenly occur upon the coast of Mexico, and which may
prevent the timely concentration OF our forces. # they be
not e~ngulphed In the bosom Of the u]oacherous waters.
But to the lotsr-whieh we have reason 10 believe b.
written by an officer Of high rank and distinction ~ the
Regular Army
cov"p'HaeHo If ne cildssna H,rsey.
p Noun or RIO GRAND. FEB 4. fsi7.
The Division Of Con. Worth, 90 long in the advance az
i saIuio's now concentrating at this point 20 embark on
transports iof the ls.e Of bobos-ihe grand rendezvous Tor
me troops destined 60 attack tho strong hold Of the enemy
81 vera Cruz. We found on our marsh many melancholy
evidences Of The atrocities OF the Volunteers, IN he silent
: srees and deserted houses OF towns and Villages, the burnt
tataig and waste fields ol firms and Ranches. Monterey.
d "the Beauuu,"' the pride 0f Mexico. once the IovcFest
city in the world, now d.s6purod and polluted. can onIy he
recognized by the eternal Sfouas that no barbarian hand
can mafof detle. kinconnda, P~apsgayou. Punu.guda and
e other kanchos, ore either destroyed of deserted. 4 most
H atoiepidemic md The outraRes Of the Volunteer. drove
ne Inhabitants Of tho prcty village NJ Cerafyo d, thoit
lafm'i Oh" Indians fell upon them there, and drove them
back again 10 The destruction ot pesulencc, and 20 the en-.