Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-05-06
ny CHARLES III. LEWIS.
LETTER FROM wADDY THOMPSON,
ESQ.
GaxExviLLr, April 8, i847.

LETTER FROM wADDY THOMPSON,
ESQ.
GssEsvILLr. April 8, iS47.
GxxrLxMrs: In the articles which were
published IN your paper only designed 70
point out some Of the difficulties which would
b presented In further prosecution Of . war
Of invasion, and in the conclusion very brief
ly suggested what regarded a. the only plaa
Of conducting the war with any hope Of favor
able resul,s--the occupation by line Of mili-
larry posts Of such portions Of the Mexican
territory ~ il 10 our purpose 10 retain. ! then
thought and still think, that every considers
ton Of policy, Of honor, and Of honesty would
restrict this line TO the Rio Grande. do not
believe that out Of our country an impartial
tribunal could be Organized in the world which
would not Instantly reject our claim Of title
to the country between the Nueces and the
Rio Gsande, and therefore, would not even
take that, but certainly no rood Of land beyond
il. There are other considerations which
would induce me TO reject any further acqui-
sition Of territory, even If it was rendered to
US; and that is, that slavery will never exist
10 any States beyond the Rio Grande. wheth.
er resuieted or not by Congressional legisla
ton. Slavery is forever prohibited there BY
laws more Fixed and interchangeable than leg
islative enactnsnts, for they may be repealed;
slavery there will be worse than Improbable.
Ihave never suggested, and donot approve
Of, the expedition to Vera Cruz, with the view
Of collecting duties there after it 10 in our pow
session. The cost Of the expedition and Of
keeping up sufficient garrison will be twsn-
~ times o. much a. the amount received from
duties; 10 say nothing OF the enormous waste
Of human life. When learned that the col.
lection Of duties at Yea Cruz was favorite
plan of the Administration, suggested TO
YOU, and to more than one member Of the
Cabinet, other modes Of accomplishing the
same object. which though; were preferable.
First, that BY which Gen. Jackson check
mated South Carolina notifications by the es-
Enlistment Of a floating custom house. Two
men of-war in front Of Vera Cruz would DO
all sufficient for this purpose. II we have the
night 70 blockade. we have the right to relax
he blockade, provided the conditions entorc-
ed operate equally on all nations. Such
MEASURE would not be objected to by any ma
ton. for il would be favorable 10 the CON-
n,erce Of all.
Secondly, by the establishment Of custom
houses At Tampico and Matamoras. and the
blockade Of the other ports on the Cult. The
distance from Tampico to Mexico 10 the same
a. from Vera Cruz to Mexico, and Tampice
Is much nearer to all the wealthy internal de-
par,ments where foreign merchandise u con-
sumed. Shutting up Vera Cruz by blockade
will throw its commerce into Tampico, as
damming up one branch Of creek throws all
the water into the channel. We mad posses
sion Of Tampico, and ii is much more heal
thy and eligible position.
I do not think that any considerable amount
will be realized BY this measure. One thing is
altogether certain, that merchandise landed At
Vera Cruz will not pass into the interior to
any considerable extent, without the conni-
vance Of the Government Of Mexico. There
is but one road from Vera Cruz to the city Of
Mexico. and, for much the larger part of the
route. no other practicable passway. The
road is cut through and over lofty and rugged
mountains. The rough and often precipi,ous
ground on both sides, covered with Recount
less va.ieties Of the prickly pear, is literally
impassable. There are military stations all
along the route, and two large cities and many
small towns to pass through. One of these,
Tuet 4, where il may almost be said that all
the manufactures ofMexico are concentrated.
Is il to be expected that merchandise can be
transported on this route without being seized
and forfeiedl |! this be true, how ridiculous
" absurd 10 the idea which has been sug-
gested, Of imposing duties on the sixty articles
the importation Of which has always been
prohibited by the Mexican tariff, to suppose
that they will relax their prohibitory system
for US, when no exigency Of their own has
ever induced them to do it2 If the Govern
ment Of Mexico sanctions the reception Of
goods upon which we have received duties,
il should admonish US TO hesitate to adopt a
measure so agreeable to them. Mexico would
only do this from pressing and absolute neces-
si,y. Ifsuch necessity should exist, we should
certainly derive more benetit from it in coer-
cling peace Than the small amount received
from duties would be worth 70 US. The COM
paratively low rate of duties which it is pro-
posed 70 charge would leave foreign merchan-
die subject TO another Mexican tariff of an
equal or even greater amount, and the aggre.
gate of the two would be still lower tariff ,han
the Mexicans are accustomed to. They
would derive as much money from the mea-
sure as we should, and one dollar is worth
more TO them than ten is 10 US. | have little
doubt that this will turn out another Que Of
those blunders Of which the Administration
has made 50 many--resuluug as | believe,
from want of accurate Information as to the
character of the Mex iian people, the situation
and circumstance Of the country, and a re-
lance for this Information upon persons in
every way unworthy ofcon6dence. Ny OBJ
ject 10 writing TO you was principally to cor
rect the misappiehensiou that had advised
this expedition 10 Vera Cruz. Allow me to
say word on another branch of the subject.
Every body is tired Of this war and anxious
for peace; not 50 much for treaty Of peace
az for actual peace not treaty Of peace and
actual war, but actual peace. with or without
a treaty. The plan which have heretofore
suggested (and only claim the credit Of being
the first TO indicate iD will, beyond doubt,
give US this peace. What are the evils Of
war7 Carnage, expenditure Of money, and the
deprivation Of Mexican commerce. With a
line of posts ganisoned with fifteen or twenty
thousand men land our regular army numbers
twenty-five thousand does any one man alive
suppose that Mexico will ever assail that line1
The last rally has been spasmodic effort, pro-
duced by the invasion Of their country-as the
most timid bird will defend its nest; but it
would be nothing less than impossible to raise
and march Mexican army Of fifty thousand
men to the Rio Grande. There will then be
no more fighting, no more bloodshed, no more
expense, as our regular army will man the
posts, and that army must be supported some