Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-16
BRITISH VIEWS:

We Ike occasionally to glance over the Ia
cubrations of the British Press, to see, as a
matter of curiosity, what John Bull thinks OF
our doings in Mexico Sometimes we are a.
unused, and sometimes Disguised. The Gale
donia, whose intelligence we published last
week, brings a numberof English papers, and
amongst them that Napoleon of the British
press, the London Times. This is undoubt-
edly the ablest paper published in the British
Empire, or. perhaps, in Europe. In it we
find the following article under date of the
18th June. We think our readers will be in
tercsted in its perusal:
The MEXICAN WAR.-The conquest of Mexico
| is familiar story, even to our childhood. The
city of gold, of idols. and of human hecatombs,
the reckless Cortes, the unfortunate Montezuma,
and rich and popuous empire overthrown by
handful of foreign adventurers excite by tulns the
wonder, the admiration, the sympathy, and the
ambition of our nature. 1t will sometimes occur,
Would that we had lived in those days! How
did the world receive the successive reports OF
those incredible events 7" We can scarcely
PAID Our mind to the breadth of xpectaticn which
the discovery and the conquest of new world
must have universally raised. Perhaps, however.
many who may have INDUCED in these reflections
are entirely unaware that after three centuries that
history to wonderful coincidence. is acted over
again. At this moment the very path of Cortes
| is trodden by men who, if they present some
strange contrasts, not less heroic, not less
ident in the nfalIible fortune of their cause than
the famed conquestad,r. The flag of republican,
ism supplies the place of the cross, whose reign
the Spanish cavaliers chose to believe themselves
divinely commissioned TO enlarge. The prevail
ing destiny of the Union is article of faith a
cross the Atlantic and one for which many cltl-
zen would rejoice to be a martyr. Such is the
spirit and such are the men who are making their
! way with only shadow of opposition from Vera
Cruz to Mexico. Such is the enterprise of which
every three or four days now bring US fresh IT,
dings.
Hitherto the Mcxicans have represented rather
the ancient natives of their country than the con-
querors from whom they are really descended. On
their side it has been all defiance, obsnacy, and
rashness. The notes of preparation have been
loud, and the threats sanguinary. At the mo-
ment when these promises should be realised the
= bubble seems to burst. After the stand st Mon
terey there has scarcely been any where resls'
. lance worthy of an Independent nation. The
impregnable St. Juan d'Ullua was no sooDcl
known to be invested than tidings Of its captur.
e Mexico could not give it the means of resistance
: 81 ce that, every fresh occasion has proved both
S the ncapacity of the State and the degeneracy O
!, its chiefs. The battles of Beuna Vista and Ger
t. 70 Gordo have proved that whatever the numbers
u there is not the strength the morale in thu
Mexican Republic to maintain an effectual wa
of defence. City after city-Tampico, Tuspan
Matamoras Monterey. Vera Cruz and last of all
Jalapa-are in the quiet occupation of the enemy
4 AS for the Mexicans, is almost tempted tt
r. ask by what accident of birth or circumstance
3 they exhibit grotesque character in so serious
a drama. Last year they were standing out 70
4 empire and for honor. This year they fight 70
~ nationality and independence. But how are the.
g now meeting occasion which usually bring
:, out all the powers and all the virtues of
" Pomposity and weakness, turbulence and cow
- ardice, are the chief varieties of the scene. Al
III mics disappear with suddenness and complete
III ness which make it doubtful whether they eve
H. existed, except in the bon:bast of manfestos TIL
It COmmander-In-chief is man whose only pow
st to be that of raising expectations which h
J is the last to fulfill Himself decever, he is dece
we'd in return. The State which chose him for lac
:, of better, does not really trust him. While tn
A. war RACES in the frontiers and shores and pene
s. trateS into the Provinces the outer circle
those vast natural barriers that surround the cap
tai, that city is divided, harassed and weakene
re by civil strife Battles and revolutions the prt
Ill of invading army, and the conflict of dc
mestlc factions, are too much tor any natloI
ut Mexico bids fair to exhibit one of those tremer
st dous catastophes which stand out horribly di
re -,inct ia the annals Of human calamity. SAINT
" Anna and his colleagues are not men to be dele
red by any consideration Of social consequence
o. His present object seems akin to that Of The de
IN perado who blows up his stronghold the a
~, sailants enter. He wishes to involve the conque
as or and the conquered in a common ruin. III
~ proclamation of guerilla warfare, giving author
81, to every of rutfians to concert their ow
plans, to make their attacks, to compel Il
cooperation of the unwilling. to murder all Il
Americans they can find, of whatever age or col
dition, is the act of one who gives up honorab
war, ard would efface or eclipse the memory
or his failures by mutual and universal massacr
en- 1t is impossible TO say how the plan of gueril
en- warfare will work but Santa Anna is still ne
al enough to his antagonist to cause him serious a
nOyance OH his road to the capital.
he There, as we are credbIy informed, has Just O
,ol Cured of those acts Of absurdity which C;
at give air of the ludicrous to the most gloon
n conjuncture. The Mexican Congress has be-
no gravely discussing whether it should now acce
the mediation of the British government profe7r
~ many months siIce, and then CONTEMPORARY
~ clined. They who thought the matter could
= easily re-opened. realise as little the meanil
of of mediation they appear to do the meaning
war. This proposal was gravely and stoutly {
clined, not as being useless, but an attempt up
~ the sacred liberties of the Republic
III The prospects of the Americans are not witho
.e' their gloom, both far and near. AS they approa
ioi the capital, their army meIts away. War, ev
Dul with the Mexicans takes its quota Garriso
,Iy and communications make heavy draugbts. t
we summer must now begin to tell. Though the 8
I'M vancing columns have now passed the terra ca
the ente where the vomito is annual scourgc a
der is now in TERRA te,uDZ7dn amonp snow.canr
Ith mountains and elevated plains, yet the reinort
ments have to encounter all the perils of su
mers march though a tropical climate. Me,
while more serious cause is draining the arr
at q crisis when it most wants men.-The volu
ate teers returning, their period of service
nta plres. AS IN the ancient wars between Engla
far and Scotland, victory appears to be more dan
to Tous than defeat. III those good old days ofan
NV teur warfare, sooner did the licensed marau
lie touch the spoil, than he sought occasion to
all turn and enjoy 1t by his own Preside. In this "
rs the largest armies and the most successful expe
,ss tions would suddenly melt away, and prizes
w. moe harm than panic. Whether it be of eli
h. of spoil, the American volunteers are it appe;
III soon satiated. This Is no pleasant circumsta
1f for general, plunging into the heart of bite
:eA hostile country. But grant that he arrives
It, Mexico. That is only the beginning of trou
Ie": Wha; is he to do with his conquest How is
To II III eoyI l.