The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-03
Interesting War Intelligence.
SOMETHING NEW FROM MExIco-THE COUNCILS OF
WAR, &c.
ICorrespondencs of the st Louis Republican,

ICorrespondencs of the st Louis Republican,
PurnLA, MKrIco, Aug 8, lSa7
Weeks have transpired since last wrote YOU arising,
you must be well aware from the only caussthst all
Communication between the army and the ssscoast has
been cut on, since the middle Of June last, by
private expresses through ut great expense still
greater hazard Not having authority to incur that
though frequently possessed Of information ofthe utmost
Importance and not even yet made public through any
other channel write now, fronaindicstops about the
headquarters Of the army that at distant period
train and suncient escort will with but little notice to
this public, be despatched from Vera Cruz.
Prssuming that all items Of general interest made pub
lie throughout the camp, will from tins TO time reach
you through the columns OF the New Orleans Delta and
Peayuns both OF which have indstigable eorrespon-
dents With the army shall 90 niue yssf to
you aud your readers to few occurrences that have
transpirsd behind the scenes, and which intimately
connected with the present and future progress Of this
While at Jalsps, announced 10 you the fact, that
an estrsngenuent, well % some pretty sharp
popd.nce, had taken place between Cen Scott Mr.
Negotator Trst arising from mo- less singular than
former. That dascnity, am hsppy to say has long
since ceased to exist, and Mr.. Trst regards Cen
Scott As the Of ths army Of the United
States and in that capacity from time to time consults
him In ell diplomatic matters connected With the object
Of his rnission.pssee; Ispssk aayiasdIy whom ! q.
when he FIRST reached not approved ut Wash
ington either by the President or Secretary Of War
sth month"; invested not only with ae power
Of making between these two high functionsrie
but bore directions to Mr. Tris that in tho future pro-
gress Of his negotiations he must from tms to time
consult with Majors General Scott and Pillow
observe, from the papers, that an idea is prevalent
the intelligent portions Of the United States
that Cen Scott is vested with high diplomatic powers
What may have been the previous to the
vested in Mr. Trist alone He sent here as the CON
hdentia political friend of the Administration the
., ans three ana with hs
could be speedily purchased FRONT people whom
standard had doated victorious every engagement
We had had with them. mention this, because be-
ievs that the ADMINISTRATION fearing the infsmy that
will attach too peace procured upon such terms have
ounningv devised the plan to create and allow the i'm
preston prevalent that Gem Scott
tho diplomatic power and that upon him must the
responsibility Of any such termination of the war
short time since things In fair way thus to be
ended. The application Of this fund to have been
upon certain contingencies, in bringing about the sp
and those who had secured this eeut have
the recipients Of certain portions Of the fund To this
vent Cen SCOTT part council Of war wa: dsoidsa
upon, and called. 1t convened at the headquartes of
the army on Saturday evening" the 18th Of July last
past Those who were present at this council, were
the Chief Major Generals Pillow and Quit,
man. Brigadisr Generals Twiggr, Shields and Cadwsla-
SENT in consequence Of most unfortunate disruption
OF the friendly relations that had existed for thirty Ave
years between him and Gen. Scott. But Of this more
anon.
At this council OF war; two propositions presented
for the action Of it, member. The FIRST Was whether
be delay until the arrival Of General srcss command
who then known to have left Vera Crux for this
portion OF the three millions in the manner above sps
cited BY me- would be ustinable under the peculiar cir
onmssnoss Of the CASE
unanimously decided In the Affirmative, all cencuring
in opinion that Il the part Of both prudence and
discretion to await the Of General fsrcss
column
The second proposition presented in It's consideration
an entirely different spectacle: All evidently
siby impressed with the Importance Of the
step and the Idea Of great and victorious nation at
tempting to bride the leaders Of whom
they had triupphed. to make peace upon almost any
terms, was for the nrst time in conflict between civil
ised nations, about to be resorted to.
The Gsneral-in Chief, with his usual bland impress
sve and, may add. eloquent manner, first went
the whole ground bringing In support Of his position
strong MID could give birth To these considsrssion,
he added the great and pressing anxiety urged in all
their communications by the Administrssion to term-
nate by any means, II possible, this Upon his
GLIDING the opinions Of the different Generals present
called for according to rank. Gen Pillows was
the Arst given, and was favorable to the plan proposed
Gen Quifman followed, but objected in 1910 TO It, upon
the ground that 1t would inct stain upon our ma
tionsl escutchson that centuries could not wipe out
OF the brig ,disr generals Twiggs the hrst
press hs views and BY regarding It to great extent
s'political question" he declined giving any opinion
Gen. Shields next required to give his views he
once rose from his seat his whse countsnsncs lit UP
with animatien and in that bold fearless uncomprs.
public career denounced the Who'll. scheme in n. most
unqualified terms He insisted that the application Of
this fond FOL any such purpose was not only immoral
but dsbasing That while FOR purposes Of SELF efsuce
it vas according to the usages Of modern warfare usti
fable In one nation to employ SPIES the sub.
jects Of the other bsgerent power, yet there
state Of circumstances that had could .xshat
would warrant our bribinR or hiring the officers
fonctonsries Of that bsgsrent for the sake of
bsuetting to cut the threats of their subjects
And he boldly declared that rather than the country
of his adoption thus dracsd, he would prefer By far
In every battle fought, lose Eve thousand men The
would admit Of q remedy; the other was an evil
from the consequences Of which, Is nation,
Gen. Cadwaladsr. simply remarked, that Gen. Shields
had exhausted the subject and he fully CONQUERED with
him in the conclusions to which he had come. Thus
terminated the council Of the evening Of the nth Of Ju
ly. What followed is soon related.
The next day, Gen Shields had long interview with
Mr. Trist. What occurred At that interview have no
means Of ascertaning but the subsequent Of Mr.
Trst can leave but little doubt upon that subject Two
days Afterwards Mr. Trist withdrew all papers oonnso
ted with this manner Of terminating the And from
that hour ths immediate march upon the capital
and - hopes Of an early peace abandoned.
have been thus particular in relating the prscee dngs
OF what regard BY tar the most important council Of
war that has convened since the existence Of hostes
between the United States and Mexico, because be-
ieve my country has been saved from being plunged
extrcation and for the reason that those who. re-
EArdles Of consequences to Themselves have avsrted
that blew should receive the credit Of It. For mysslr
sincerely hope that the hand that shall be extend
ed In Offering as brbc either directly or Indirectly
any portion Of this three millions to Santa Anna or any
other Mexican, for the purpose Of procuring peace
may before accomplishes It's ob.c fall pasied By bis
side; aad that mark more dssinguisdabs than that
upon his that long his unworthy life IL spared he
may be the object Of execration Of all his indignant
countrymen
The city Of Mexico must DO taken q government
must be organised by the commander-in. chief OF our
armies laws based upon republican principles will have
to be enacted and enforced the whole the
country collected and applied for the maintsnaucs Of
this new government and oar armies will have
main In the country and sustain and protect that new
government until every portion Of this imbscs naten
shsil be made TO fsel and acknowledge its ppotency
and from consciousness Of It's weakness the
benefits that are to be derived frsm again establishing
amicsble relations upon . perms nent basis between
them and u.s. These ends must be accomplished and
until they are deuds not yourselves or your seader
with the hope or expectation OF a speedy peace
Could Gen. Scott have advanced from Psrote imme-
diately upon the city Of Mexico with the despatch
that be advanced from Csrro Gordo upon Jalapa and
ferote the capital months ago wsuld have been In our
possesson and win the shedding OF far less blood than
1t will now cost to take But from hearing reau copies
Of bis correspondence with the War Department am
enabled to assert that the acquisitions he made have
never been filled, the promises the part Of the
administraton redeemed Gen Scott required len
thousand to take Vera Cruz and an additional ten
thousand with two thousand Dragons advance upon