Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-25

THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS IN MEXICO.

Orpha OF
OF officers Of the army, serving in Mexico, praying the
passage Of law authorizing the retirement of officers Of the
army from service certain conditions In presenting
these papers
Nh DIX said ] rise present two petitions to which /
desire invoke the attention of the 1t until
yesterday that appnzed OF their contents, should
have brought them here earlier day. They left
my table in the city week days ago. when
SENT sealed and addressed honorable Senator from Mis-
souri, Mr. BESroN, not in his place, who served for
many years chairman Of the Committee Military AT
fairs with distinguished honor himself and a the
country and greatly regret that he here T. ae charge
OF them am not in the habit sir you know, of accom-
panyng the presentation of papers with Introductory remarks
In ordinary cases doubtless proper 10 await the
non OF Appropriate committees the subjects 10 which they
refer But trust the nature of these be deemed by the
Senate to justify departure from the usual practice
They petitions signed by the officers of the army at Pu-
eba the first day of August last just before commenced
It's march towards the city of Mexico The first styled ga
petition for retiring list" 1t contains hundred and thir-
tyhree signatures and pays for certain legislative provisions
IN respect to aged and disabled officers which, without casting
any burden the public Treasury, would the opin-
ION OF the petitioners add greatly the efficiency of the
N.Y. and at the same time do justice those who perform the
drudgey and encounter the pers of military service in the
held will only say further, in reference this petition
that the plan suggested corresponds some extent though
not tuy with proposed by late commander of the army,
General Macomb and, believe, recently recommended by
the present Aduan General with view to the objects
he second Is styled ga petition for widows and orphans
II signed by two hundred and twenty-five officers and be
Ieve the names, far they go, Identical with those
borne on the first II is also dated Pueb the first day
OF August last almost the the army took
march for the valley Of Mexico; and, when considered
N connexion with the surrounding circumstances and the
brilliant events which followed with rapdity Of success
scarcely exceeded BY those which gnazed the first en-
trance of Bonapare Italy, addresses itself with great
force to the feelings well the justice Of Congress and the
country.
will not detain the Senate BY entering into any detailed
review OF these events, with enforce the appeal
tanned in the petition the attention. / hope however
may be INDUCED in saying in justice TO those who bore part
IN them that the first conquest of Mexico cannot as it ap
peas me, be compared with the second either as to the
obstacles TO the relative strength Of the nva
ders The umphs Of Cortez achieved by policy and
ny superiority IN discipline and IN the implements of warfare.
The use Of sam until then unknown by inhabitants of
Mexico was sufficient in itself make his force small as
was irresistible In the eyes Of that simple and supersitious
people he seemed armed with uperhumau power Other cir
cunstances combined to facilitate his success The native
tribes by which the distinct COM
nunies, not always acknowledging the head and often
divided among themselves by mpacabe hostility and resent
en' Coez by his consummate prudence and art turned
hee dssensons to his account he ured the parties
70 mem into MS own service and when he presented himself
al the gates Of hecy Of Mexico he al the head of four
thousand OF the most warke Of the natives as auxares to
me band OF Spanards with which be commenced his march
from Vera Cruz Thus his early successes were as much
me triumph OF policy Of General Scott and the gal
an band which he led had such advantages The whole
population OF the country from Vera Cruz to Mexico was
united as one man against him, and animated by the erces;
his own, often better disciplined occupying poons chosen
~ themselves strong BY nature, and fortified according to the
scest rules OF art These obstacles were overcome by his
SAN as tacucian, aided By corps of officers UNSURPASSED
or he knowledge Of the art of attack and defence and by
tae ndomtabe courage Of their followers With half his
o'e ie on the battlefield Or in the hospital and with less
na SIX thousand men, after Of desperate contests he
took possession Of the city Of Mexico coutaninp nearly ~
hundred thousand inhabitants defended by the remnant
ot army Of more than thirty thousand soldiers confess
Know nothing IN modern warfare which in brancy
af tha Avnav,
city OF Mexico. shall attempt 10 speak Of them in the
language OF eulogum They are not iii theme for sucb
comment Like the achievements Of General TAYLOR and his
brave men the Rio Gande, Monterey and Buena Vista
the highest and most appropriate praise contained in the
simplest statement Of facts.
Nh President, the gallant achievements in the valley Of
Mexico 70 which have briefly referred were due 10 the
chvarous whose are signed 10 this petnn and
70 their gallant the field The names Of the y
iuneer officers who nobIy distinguished themselves are
not borne on the petition. The subject concerns the regular
ohy and ne petitioners belong exclusively that
q NE service Al the head Of the list find Winfield Scott
v nham j. Worth, John A. Quitman, Gideon J. Pillow
DAVID T. Twiggs, James Shields George Cadwaader and
FeIser smith, all general officers Harney Clark RiIey
ana uaand among the Colonies and among the field and
d ana lower commissioned grades other Names too nume
ous y mehuon, which those who bear them have by their
mace familiar 70 their counymen have already
WY 'us Peuuon was signed at Puobla almos. at the mo
ment the army commenced march om thar citv far N.
valley q Mexico Sir, more than robabe that III l,s
tne many q hese gallant held pen was 10 nscrbe
et names uPon ms petition and when this appeal to Their
countrymen was made, in full confidence dor,ia ~, -
prayer would be heard, their hands thencefr,h dealt % s
the weapons with which they vindcatinu their
honor IN the field and which but Death the cononc
oi Us all, could wrest from their grasp
Mr. President | will not undertake "a Give : ,,,,, e
Inc contents OF this petition II very brief peparng -
Inc petitioners we're, for the unequal contest which awaited
e and Of which perhaps they alone did doubt the ISSUE
ihey had words 10 waste, on the subject nearest Ia
their hearts, will read il with the Senaes permission in
their own language