Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-08-21
Correspondence Of the Journal of Commerce.
WAsHrNaroS, july 26th.

AT the moment when the War Bill
passed, in May, ls46, a democratic Senator
remarked that the war would be a very
short one-that il would not last longer
than month. Mr.. Calhoun replied-"i,
will last three years, and cost us a hundred
millions"
1 have reason to know that Mr., Cal.
nouns opinion is unchanged-that he con.
siders the war as merely begun, and the
lengthening train of its evils as having been
scarcely yet manifested.
The views of the Administration and
ITS friends have undergone great change,
IN consequence of the obstinate refusal Of
the Mexicans TO make peace. The several
members Of the Administration do not
like, it is said, TO speak of the subject.
ihey have been as ignorant as any man
IN the whole country, and still are so as to
all that respects the chances of the ter.
mination of the war. During the late and
long continued cry of "peace, peace
the members Of the Administration did
not unite in the effort 10 delude the public.
They were at loss what to think of the
prospect of peace, and were more inclined
to ask the opinions of others, than to give
any of their own on the subject.
They deem peace as hopeless now, and
will, Of course, look about for some person
on whom 10 lay the blame of failure to
procure it. They have seized upon Gen.
Scott--his dilatoriness in marching on the
city of Mexico, and his delay in sending
forward Mr.. Buchanan's letter. That Mr..
Buchansns letter, written on the 18th of
April, was not transmitted to the Mexican
government on the lSthoi the same month,
is the only fault that the Union proposes
to find with Gen. Scott. This is the only
distinct charge, although limitations are
strongly made that Gen. Scott has refused
to move without an adequate force, and
has written several more silly letters.
While the Union alleges that peace would
have been made, if Gen. Scott had done
his duty in forwarding the dispatches
month before he received them-that is,
Immediately after the battle of Cerro
Gordo"-some other apologists for the ad-
impute the whole blame TO Mr..
Irist. l learn that the Secretary of State
exempts Mr.. Trist from censure, and blames
Gen. Scott for not having forwarded the
proposals for peace, while Mexico was
stunned by the defeat at Cerro Gordo.
The fact is, that all this is an afterthought
on the part of this Government, and of
those who, for some reason or other, chose
to assure the public, upon alleged authority,
that Mr.. Trist would make, or rather had
made, a treaty of peace, and that the
treaty, as ratified by Mexico, would be
here in twenty days.
Mr.. Trists mission had no reference to
The haftlo nf Corrn
lighting was expected after the fall of Vera
Cruz and the Castle. The intelligence of
the surrender of the Castle was received
here on the 10th of April, and the Presi.
den. believed this a suitable occasion to
renew overtures Of peace. 1t was known
that Santa Annals force at Buena Vista
had been destroyed and dispersed, and it
was not anticipated that he would so soon
after, offer any resistance TO Gen. Scott
Besides, Santa Anna, who was in the Cap.
tol celebrating his escape from the battle
Of Buena Vista, was not then deemed so
formidable and unappeasable an enemy.
The time had come when it was supposed
lie would, from policy fulfill his promises;
md the time had certainly arrived when
he three millions was more likely to be
potent with him than at any former time.
The defeat of Santa Anna at Buena Vista
Ind the fall of Vera Cruz were the occa.
hon of the overtures of peace. 1t did
lot occur to our Administration when the
proposition Of the 5th of April was agreed
'pon, that another licking would befal
santa Anna three days after, and still less
lid they believe that another total rout
would lessen his disposition for peace, or
Increase his means for carrying on the war. |
let now we are gravely told by the off,
ial organ, that if we had only offered
eace TO the Mexican government before
his terrible Santa Anna had got back 10
he city of Mexico from the heights of
;erro Gordo, we could have procured i'll!
Never was there anything so preposterous.
After Santa Anna had lost one army at /
'uena Vista, he was supposed to be willing
o make peace. But after he had lost
mother at Cerro Gordo, he determined to
'rolong the war! The more rational con.
fusion is, from all that has taken place in
dexico, that there has never been any fair
respect of peace since the war began;
hat Santa Anna is powerless 10 make
eace i he would; that he has been our
est friend in Mexico, having betrayed
rmy after army and stronghold after
into our hands; that the censure
brown on General Scott is but a lame
xcuse for not giving him means and men;
nd that the allegation that if Trist had
'een little earlier or later, he would have
aught the Mexican government in hu-
nor for peace, is intended only to cover
he reckless assertion that peace had already
Iaon nr about h. ..&.lo