The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1847-02-04


! am decidedly opposed tocarrying the war
beyond SaltIlo in his direction, which. place |
has deem entirely abandoned by The Mexi-
can forces, all of whom have been concenira-
led at San Luis Potosi; and | shall lose no
time in taking possession olthe former as soon
as the cessation Of hostiIites referred to expir-
es-whieF1 have notified the Mexicans au-
thorites will be the case on the 18th inst.
by directions ofthe President of the United
five are Gin the language of Mr.. Polk
and Gen. ScoiD under the necessity of ''con-
quering peace" and that, by taking, the
capitol ofihe country, we must go to Vera
Cruz, take that place, and then march en-
the cityo of Mexico. To do SO in any other
direction | consider Out ofthe question. But
admitting that we cengaor apeace by doing
so-say, at the end ofthe next twelve months
will The amount of blood and treasure
which must be expended in doing so, be
compensated by the same? think moi, es-
pecialy if the country we subdue is 10 be
given up. and imagine there are but few
individuals in our country who think of
annexing Mexico to the United States.
| do not intend to carry on my operations
as previously stately beyond Saliillo-
deeming il next to impraeticable 10 do So.
II then becomes a question as TO what is
best to be DONE Ii seems to me the most
judicous course TO be pursued on our-part
would be TO take possession, at once, of the
line we would accept by, negotiation, extern
| ding from Gulfof Mexico 10 the Pacific, and
occupy the same or keep what we already
have possession of; and that with Tampico,
| (which hope to take in the course ofthe
next month, or as soon as can getthe means
of transportation will give US on this side
| the Sierra Madra, and as soon as occupy
| Saltillo, will include 6 or 7 States or provin-
ces, thus holding Fampico, Victoria, Monter-
ey, Saltillo, Monclova, Chihuahua, (Which
presume Gen. Wool has possession of by
this time,) Santa Fe, and the CaliiorAiasi--l
throwing on her the responsibility and ex-
pense of carrying on offensive war-at the
same time closely blockadng all her ports on
the Pacific and the Gulf. asfaa ..yll
A course of this kind, if persevered in for
/ a short time, would soon bring her TO her pro-
per senses, and compel her to sue for peace
provided there is Government in the
country sufficiently stable for US 10 treat with
which, fear, will hardly be the case for many
years 10 come Without large reinforcements
of volunteers from the u. States--say ten
or fifteen Thousand, Chose previously sent
out having been already greatly reduced by
sickness and other casualities,) [ do not
think it would be advisable to march beyond
Saltillo, which is more than two hundred
miles beyond our depos on the Rio Grande
IA very long line on which TO keep up sup.
plies, over land route in country like this,
Tor large force, and certain 10 be attend ed
with an expense which will be frighllu TO
contemplate, when closely looked into.
From Sallllo 10 San Luis Potosi, the next
place of importance on the road TO the city OF
Mexico, is 300 miles-l40 badly watered,
where no supplies of any kind could be pro-
cured for men or horses have informed
the WarDepartmentt that 1000 efficient men
would be necessary TO insure success if we
move on TO that place-a city containing a
population of $4,000, where the enemy
could bring together and sustain, besides
citizens, an army of $4,000, a force which |
apprehend, will hardly be collected, by us
with the train necessary 10 feed it, as we'll as
dance and munitions of war. a
In regard TO the armstce, which would
have expired, by limitation, in a few days
we lost nothing by it, as we could not move
even now, had the enemy continued TO occu-
Ply Salhllo; for, strange 10 say, the first wag-
on that has reached me since the declaration
of war. was on the I'd inst, The same day on
which | received from Washington an ac
acknowledgement of my despatch announcing
the taking of Monterey; and then received
only i25, so that | have been, since Nav
last, completely crippled, aud am still SO foI
want of transportation. After raBing and
scraping for miles the country around Camar
go, collecting every pack-mule and other
means of conveyance, could bring here on
ly $4,000 ralions, (6fleen days supply,) witt
a moderate supply ofordnance, ammunition
&C., 10 do which all the corpse had to leave
behind portion oftheir camp equiPages ne
cessary for their comfort, and, in some in
stances among the volunteers, their persona
baggage. moved in such way, and will
such limited me ans, that, had / not succeed
ed, should no doubt have been severely re
premanded, il nothing worse. did so tc
sustain the Administration. aH
! OF the Two regiments of mounted mer
from Tennessee and Kentucky, who left the
respective States 10 join me. in June, the lat
ter has just reached Camargo; the former
f had not got to Maiamoras the latest dates
i from there. Admitting that they will be a;
long in returning as in getting here, (to say
Y nothing of the time necessary to recruit thei
horses,) and were to discharged in time tc
: reach their homes,they would serve in Mex
CO but very short time. The foregoing