The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-01-07
The Mexican yyar--.yh.n shall we have
Pence


The Oft asked question, when the war with
Mexico will be ended, may soon be answered
definitiveIy aud decidedly If the recent intell-
gence from the interior OF that country be correct,
there may soon be propositions for peace trans.
miited to Washington But, after all, Mexico is
a slippery nation; worse even than the kafrs.
Letus, however, look into the subject.
Our readers will rscollect the article we pub
lished short time since, in which we referred
TO the Mexican administration under Herrera,
the deposition of Herrera in consequence Of his
acceptance Of our proposal TO settle all the mat
ters in controversy between the two countries
peaceably by negotiation, by Paroles, who
got into power by exciting the military ardor
of the people, and exciting the rabble
against the United States-the refusal of
Paredes to receive our minister plenipotentary,
Mr.. Slide, on the ground OF informally in his
credentials and the succeeding events that led to
the breaking out of bostilities We proceeded
farther, and spoke of the downfall ofParedes, re-
turn oil Santa Anna, the election OF Constit,l-
ent Congress, a majority Of the membe rs of
which were friends of Herrera and the policy of
his previous administration, as well as tn G cleo
ton of Herrera himself member of that Con-
gress.
leans, the military ardor of that unfortunate and
nitay-chef-ridden people, had been worked up
10 the highest pitch by their designing leaders-so
much so, that we have doubt they consi-
derea it quite easy matter to thrash the
barbarians of the North and drive them from
The State of Texas which they were induced
10 believe was yet n province Of theirs, and
that Mexican people ought, could, and should
recover it, although it was annexed to the United
States by resolution Of our national Congress
on the one hand. and tho will of the people of
Texas on the ether, expressed in their general
election preceding the event. The battles of
Mexico with Old Spain were fought over ag ain
The victories acquired over the veterans of the
mother country were referred to in the NEST
glowing panegyric, and the acquisition of natl onal
independence by the valor and bravery of Next
cans, were all referred to as proof that there
would be no difficulty in the Mexicans achieving
all they desired by the sword, and that the recon
quest of Texas could be effected as soon as the
Mexican people willed it.
1t may be asked, how Is it possible that a nation
of nine millions Of people could be so easily led
astray in the manner they have been, by few
designing military men. But must be recolect-
ed that as body they arc a sunken and degra-
ded people. They know nothing OF the power
or resources of the United States, or of our past
history. Like the Chinese, they know but little
beyond the limits of their own territory. They
had little or no commerce with the United States,
and the majority Of them being ignorant beyond
parallel in all chrstendon, they had not the OPP
pcrtunity of knowing any thing about us by read
ing. Their public journals are under the control OF
the government and any editor who inserted any
thing in his columns that woud tend to oppose
the military chieftain who Happened 10 be at
the head OF the government, would suffer for his
temcrty by confinement in the Castle of Perots
or San Juan d'Ulloa, where he would be allowed
to cool his patriotism by long and severe i'm.
prisonment.
The liberal conduct of the United States for a
series ofyears previously in not promptly demand
ing and enforcing redress for the many injuries
and insults that were heaped on the United States,
and which we are sure no other government in
the world would have submitted to for six months
wthoat obtaining reparation at the lannon's
mouth if necessary, helped in great measure to
favor the schemes of the military scoundrels who
wished to play the feelings ofthe people, for the
purpose of furthering their own private views.
We all recoect the bullying and threatening let
tiers that were written by Bocanegra, the Mexi.
an Minister for foreign affairs, to the Govern
ment ofhe United States, in reference to the quasi
war then going on between Mexico and Texas.
He assumed the position that the Mexican
nation had been deeply and seriously wronged
by the people Of the United States, encouraged by
the government at Washington, whom it accused
OF violating treaties of amity and friendship be-
tween the two countries, and threatened the
power and vengeance of Mexico against us. We
recollect too the temperate and dgnifed rcspon-
ses Of Daniel Webster, then Secretary of State,
to those threatening communications, in which
he said that if Mexico commenced hostilities, on
her would rest the responsibility while the
United States religiously desired to remain always
on amicable terms with every power
the American continent, yet the people
and government OF the United States concev-
ed they were able to defend themselves against
aggression by any of them. The tone and style OF
the dispatches of the respective Secretaries con-
rasted strongly in favor of the United States, but
we do not think it an unreasonable supposition
that the dictatorial style in which the Mexican
addressed the United States, was assumed for the
purpose of having effect among the Mexicaas,
and showing them that the government of the
United States could be bued as they thought fit
These dispatches were widely published and Cir
culated in Mexico, and we can easily imagine the
effect they had on people who are VIGOROUSLY
degraded and cowardly.
It would appear then that our forbcarance in
remaining long unidentified for our losses,
and the insults heaped on us by Mexico, were
used as argument to convince the Mexicans
that we were unable to redress them by force;
and to impress them with the idea that we were
nd inohe ,Lo
ability to obtain satisfaction.
When Paredes had excited the ardor of the
people, he found that he could not control it.
Instead of the eagle and the snake of Mexico
triumphng over the stars and stripes of
the United States, they were compelled to
cover before them; and the Mexican armies,