The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-19

from North Carolina, and Capt Campbell's company
the LIST inst on board the brig Forrest, Capt Fiands
for Brazos St. Jago. They in fine order, and high
paign. The following il a list Of the officers
Drdgoons.-Capt G. w. CALDWELL LIST Lieut., absent
on cruting service; I'd do j. r. Hsrrison Sd do, -
Infanry.-Capt. j. b. Campbell; LIST Lieut., j. NJ.
Dye; I'd do, Geo. Kirkpatrick; Sd do, - Crump-N.
0. Delta, 9th
The Effect In England OF tho Battle OF Bucna
Opinion relative to opening the Isthmus of
Tehuantcpec.
From the London News April 2sl
In military point Of view the news from America
which we published Saturday presents the forces Of
the United States in Mexico pretty much {" as they
Hbernia left them General Scott in the south with
land army Of $4,000, and naval squadron carrying
SUos hs to in nna
thcst. General Taylor, in the north with an army Of
5000 men, had beaten off Santa Annals attack and was
about to fall back upon Monterey for the purpose of
opening his line of communication with the Rio rande
The time required for efecting this task is specified
MARCO, and Tampico and the reinforcements arriving
some 20 900 United States troops, backed by strong
extends from the 10Th to the 26h degree of north at
tude, and which Is from April to November the seat OF
the pomto Preto In the middle Of March these forces
had good months work before them they could
set about ascending the rugged and abrupt ACTIVITY
which only two roeds practicable for wheeled car
riages lead to Mexico Aroper.
But If the military attitude of the United States in
relation to Mexico had undergone little alteration,
marked change was in progress in the political The
government at Washington preparing to carry into
act scheme of which the first not very obscure hint
to be found in letter addressed by the Secretary of
TENDER last
Tho scheme alluded to briefly as follows 1t Is pro-
posed at Washington that the United States army and
navy should seize every important port and place upon
the Gulf Of Mexico, or California the Pacific, and
open the way through the interior for the free transit
imports and exports" The ports and places thus
occupied to BIO opened, while military occupa-
ton may continue to the commerce Of all neutral
tions, well own, in articles contraband of
upon payment Of prescribed of dutesn 1t is
only the foreign trade to the ports however in which
neutral nations be allowed to participate 80 1t is
recommended for of obvious safety that the
Mexican coastng trade should be confined to own
vessels well the interior trade above any port of
entry in possession" The duties to DO collect
cd by the commandant Of the post, whether naval
military aided by the psymaster purser; and the
moneys to be accounted for not to the treasury
but to the secretaries Of war or Of the navy
tvely.n
This scheme is SO far matured and advanced towards
being carried into operation that the 23d ult Mr..
President Polk addressed formal official letter to tho
Secretary Of the Treasury requiring him to prepare
schedules Of duties and regulations for their enforce
ment. Tho requisition complied with the 30th
of the same month and in the letter which accompa-
mics the documents the Secretary Of the Treasury
pcitly declares that the object Of the government in
collecting these duties is for the benefit Of 60
vernment and people, to sustain the and prevent
that extent loans and increased taxation He
adds -" In view Of the fact that government thrown
upon the ordinary revenues Of peace with other ad
ditional but loans to carry the the in
to be derived from the system, which IL is be-
lieved will be large II these regulations adopted
would be highly important to sustain the credit Of the
to prevent the embarrassment Of the trea
sury and TO the country from such runous sacr
fees occurred during last year"
This colossal scheme lof commercial and financial
gulation sounds like talking in his sleep Where
are the and ships to from which occupy
all the ports Of Mssico from San Francisco to Tehuan
tepec and from Campeachy to Matamoras! Assuming
for arguments sake that the productive industry the
United states could bear such drain upon the adult po
paon and the pockets Of the citizens tho cost Of out
fit what Is the anomalous position in which the govern
ment Washington would be placed by executing this
project IL would occupy the ports Of Mexico in order
to maintain in each Of them corporations of smugglers
to carry on contraband trade with the States OF the
interior of Mexico American citizens alone to be
allowed to participate in this smuggling traffic. but ct
of ell nations to be permitted to carry supplies
to the smuRgers the payment OF certain customs and
tonnage dues The collected Is to form
sury apartor rather two tressures naval and the
other mlitary-over which the constitutional finance
minister Of the United States to have control The
officers Of the American army and navy are to collect
the moneys and pay their and account only to the
secretaries Of war and the navy The American COM
mandants at the ports and the american citizens in
elusive enjoyment Of the coastng and inland trade OF
Mexico will have interest in perpetuating this state
of affairs The citizens Of the Mexican confederation
and the traders Of Europe, Asia and South America
will be placed at the mercy Of holy alliance OF Ameri-
smugglers aud military and naval tax gatherers
1t does appear by what process MIR President Polk
monstrous arrangement. From the concluding para
graph Of his letter to the Secretary Of the Treasury II
would almost appear that he intends forthwith to give
directions to the war and navy departments to carry
his project into operation II So IL will be for the cti
Of the United States to consider whether their Pre-
sident does not thereby exceed his constitutional
powers The Secretary of the Treasury says that the
measure Is calculated TO sustain the credit OF go
vernment and not obscurely hints that It has become
necessary thus to bolster UP the credit Of the govern
ment because government Is thrown upon the ordi-
ofpeace other additional resources
but loans to carry the war In other words because
the cabinet proposal to impose war-taI on Tea ana
coffee was rejected-bccause Congress Handine upon
their constitutional right refused the head OF the exc
cutive government the supplies he asked-he, by an
extra f not contra constitutional act
has determined procure the supplies In defiance OF
them. The chief magistrate OF the Union " about TO
sent and Of that body In conjunction with
which alone he legally raise It, And he is leaving
congrcss out Of councils not because there Is time
to consult it, but with Fermentation me scheme Tor
collecting a revenue ut the Mexican ports matured
In the council ut Washington in September last: why
was the Of the congress which has since met and
separated not asked
On the assumption that President Polk intends post
ponc his taxation and regulation Of Mexican commerce,
until no has got leave from Congress to impose It, the
question will still remain whether foreign states TO
bmt TO such infringement Of their neutral rights
President Folks scheme would confer monopoly Of the
coastng and inland trade OF Mexico upon the citizens
of the United States The occupation OF the Mexican
be- de aeto blockade OF the wbolel Of coast not for
the legitimate purpose Of bringing the war TO close but
for the purpose Of converting the Interior OF Mexico into
vast Paraguay for the emoument OF United states
volunteers and retail dealers.
The impracticabity ofthe scheme and Its inconsistent
with the constitution Of the United statas and with
the prncsples OF international law-are no security
against its being tried IL h In fact not new, but only
reading Of the old declaration that European