The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-02-09

"a
ter yet, on due reflection, | see nothing
to induce me to regret the course | pur-
sued.
The proposition on part of Gen. AM
pudia, which had much to do In deter
mining my course in the matter. was ba-
sed on the ground that our government
had proposed to his to settle the existing
difficulties by negotiation. (which knew
was the case, without knowing the re-
suit. which was then under consldera-
ton by the proper authorities, and which
he Gen Ampudia had no doubt would
result ~favorably, as the whole of his peo-
pie were in favor of peace. If so, | con-
sidered the further effusion of blood not
only Unnecessary, but improper. Their
force was also considerably larger than
ours: and from the size and position of
the place, we could not completely invest
it; so that the greater portion of their
troops, if not the whole. had they been
disposed to do so, could, any night, have
abandoned the city, at once entered the
mountain passes, and effected their re-
treat, do what we could! Had we been
put to the alternative of taking the place
by storm, (which there is no doubt we
should have succeeded in doing,) we
should in all probability, have lost fifty
or one hundred men in killed, besides the
wounded,-which | wished to avoid, as
there appeared to be a prospect of peace,
even if a distant one. | also wished to
avoid the destruction Of women and chill
dren, which must have been very great,
had the storming process been resorted to.
Besides, they had a very large and strong
fortifcation, a short distance from the
city, which, if carried with the bayonet,
must have been taken at a great sacrifice
of life; and, with our limited train Of hea-
w or battering artillery, it would have re-
quired twenty or twenty-five days to take
it by regular approaches.
That they should have surrendered a
place nearly as strong as Quebec, well
fortified under the direction of skilful en-
gineers,-their works garnished with for
ty-two pieces of artillery, a~bundantly
supplied with ammunition garrisoned by
1000 regular and 1000 irregular troops,
in addition to some thousand citizens ca
pable OF, land no doubt actually bearing
arms, and aiding in its defence,-to an
opposing force Of half their number, scam
tily supplied with provisions, and with a
light train Of artillery-is among the I'M
accountable occurrences of the times.
AIN decidedly opposed to carrying the
war beyond Saltillo in this direction,
which place has been entirely abandoned
by the Mexican forces, all of whom have
been concentrated at San Luis Potosi; and
| shall lose no time in taking possession
of the former, as soon as the cessation
of hostilities referred to expires,-which
| have notified the Mexican authorizes
will be the case on the 18th inst, by d.
rectlon of the President of the United
States.
If we are lin the language of Mr.. Polk
and General Scott under the necessity of
~''conquering a peace" and that by taking
the capital of the country,-we must go
to Vera Cruz, take that place, and then
march on the city OF Mexico. To do so
in any other direction. | consider out of
the question. But, admitting that we
conquer a peace by doing so,-say, at
the end of the mex twelve montt.s-will
the amount of blood and treasure, which
must be expended in doing so, be COM
pensated by the same! | think notes
pecially, if the country we subdue is 10
be given up. and | imagine there are but
few individuals in our country who think
of annexing Mexico to the United States.
do not intend to carry on my opera
tons Gas previously stately beyond Saltil-
10, deeming it next 10 impracticable to do
so. 1t then becomes a question as to
what is best to be done. 1t seems to me
that the most judicious course 10 be pur-
sued on our part would be to take posses
sion at once of the line we would accept
by negotiation, extending from the Gulf
Of Mexico TO the Pacific, and occupy the
same, or keep what we already have pos
session of; and that, with Tamplco,
(which | | hope TO take in the course of the
next month, or as soon as | can get the
means of transportation, will give us all
on this side of the Sierra Madre, and, as
soon as | occupy S%altillo, will include SIX
or seven States or Provinces, thus holding
TampIco, Victoria, Monterey, Salulio,
Monclova, chihuahua, (which | presume
General Wool has possession of by this
time,) Santa Fe and the CALIFORNIA;, and
say to Mexico, ''Drive US from the coun'
try''-throwing on her the responsibility
and expense Of carrying on offensive war;
at the same time closely b~lockading al
her ports on the Pacific and the Gull. A
course Of this kind. If pe~rsevered in for Z
short time, would soon bring her to hel
proper senses, and compel her to sue foI
peace, provided there is a Government II
the country sufficiently stable for us tt