New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-20

We confess that We feel much anxiety resPect-
,ng the fate o. our gallant army in Mexico Its
condition by the last advices was by no means
aattering. The force under Gen. Taylor is threat
ened by Santa Anna with at least treble its nam
Der That disparity, however great as IT u.s. is not
alone the cause OF apprehepsion-PerhaPs should
excite none. For our brave soldiers have demon
s,ratsd to the world their ability 10 cope with such
odds, successfully.
Bat We are unacquainted with the condition Of
our forces at ssltiIlo-we know not its morale
whether it /. Efficient 10 meet the enemy in the
open Geld, or will be compelled, from want Of pro
ger supplies. 20 sustain Nm attack under the walls
and cannon Of saltillo. is a matter OF conjecture
We have no fear that Santa ANN can make
successful impression upon that place, with all his
numerical superiority any such attempt upon his
part we are sure is destined to defeat But we
are Apprehensive that the willy Mexican who pre-
ters 10 the achievements Of battle the victories Of
strategy, will, under mask Of continual attack, IN
tsrpose between Gen. Taylor and his resources.
snd either coop him up in saio, subjecrto all tbe
oriyations attendant upon inadequate supplies OF
compel hin, to battle under disady ambiguous cir
cumstances A defeat--ii We can imagine such
On event possible--ofour force under Taylor would
no, only be most fatally disastrous 10 the soldiers
who compose it, but il would inevitably protract
the war to wholly indefinite period and although
We cannot believe in such calamity. ITS possbl'
btv however remote, mus. necessarily aeltate the
mind. that contemplates the lnmentable oonse-
ouences 90 certain to ensue upon its happening
Nor from the position Of the forces under Gen.
Scott can we extract reasons for hope or encour-
seemept Forced by the Administration to take
the field without troops. and almost without the
means Of raising them, his whole service IL h'hsr'o
has been to organize and concentrate the raw
lsyies who have been struggling IN upon various
rendezvous. He has been emphatcally. almost
the whole time since he departed for the scene o
ho.tilities General in search OF an army. The
form OF one-sesh muscles, and sinews--he mas
finally succeeded in obtaining time and PATIENCE
aiscipHne and experience are all necessary 70 give
it consistency, action and vitality
But in the mean time. the garrison at Vera Cruz
is STRENGTHENING has strengthened Santa Anna
has turned the entire energies of his mind the iuii
extent Of his resources TO the desperate struggle
he is carrying on for political existence Aud
while he il menscing Taylor with vast SUPERIOR
~ OF force. he is fortifyng Vera Cruz for the ex
pecied attack, with good soldiers an experienced
general and abundant means OF subsistence.
With castle almost impreensble. loyal and pa
tient soldiery. Vera Cruz may not succumb, II II
succumb at all, without great and SO lar as more
plans Of conquest are concerned iTeparable loss
our attacking forces
The taking Of Vera Cruz might be OF no advan
tase tothe successful prosecution, or early tensina
tion of the war such II seems, is the opinion q
Tsylor OF Butler and other experienced officers. |
10 no part even of Col Benton's programme An'
II taken il can only be with much loss TO our army
as well as to the Mexican.
But il Scott should be checked there-ii his sol
diers. who would first perceive the difference be
tween lighting men in the open field, and on equ'
terms. and fighting men behind walls Of stone
guarded BY inaccessible cannon. shouldretrest iron
enemies they had no means OF reaching-whsi ca
cumstsnce could be more discouragng wha
more disastrous TO our arms or more fatal to our 81
pectations
No other alternative seems let, to Scott thanthI
\ costly victory without advantage, or d'sgrae
full defeat To such result the envy, or the imb
siity. OF the administration has compelled him
Would that no other Cause Of apprehension e.
,.tsd but the possible check of Taylor or Scot
We could reconcile. perhaps, the mind to total y
credality OF either such events, There Is moi
immediate more imminent, more dreadful osu'
of alarm. Ii is the probable and almost certa
fate of our force At Santa Fe; for while We wri
and give expression to our tvars, hundreds OF o.
solaiers may have ceased 90 breathe Butcher
ev an sxsspersted insurreCtioni an insurecsio
nroyoked or unproyoked wholly unexpected
- .Ian aataf al fsnf
aud insoieni superiori,y-our fellow eitiEens rsst
ordered TO an inimical locality without hope
suecor without the ability Of resistance, may hs'
psrished 10 q man ia the ungoverned heat
an extermuatirg s,rile--or far worse tste-be'
condemned after a fruitles struggle. to insts
aud dishonorable death Some Of us had irien
among these victims, a few may have had brothe
all had fellow citizens Their fate ii they ha
net an immature and foreign grave, while
moves oar keenest sympathy, should sroase 0
ysrmsst indignation against the SoVernme
whose extreme folly. OF hesrteo indifference,
subjected them to such an untimsly end
sxSos AroeaA.-- will be seen by cur te
graphic dispatch that this parsonage. whom \
Polk bad sent 90 Mexico with dispatches has
rived at washinston. OF sehor A. little se-rns
be generally Known We understand 'na'
10 South American and has resided 'h
time in this City. he has also been re
dent Of wsshiagtes. New-orlesns and Mexiea
We hear that he 10 an intimate and Persosslirie
ofsanta Anna and that he visited Havana twi
previous to the latter leaving 10 take command
the armies Of Mexico and it is supposed that
conducted. on the part Of Mr. Polk the embryo
rotiations said 10 have taken place with the vii
Mexican General before he LETT the gay Havana
r. The Albany Jcarnsl OF Thursday Sontsi
Mr.. Ashuaan's energetic jenaneission OF ingsr'
sud others who for oikes battered PFinciE
delivered on the last day OF the session OF G
rrsss. which We shall End time to copy
~ Mr. CLOVIS Of the Springfield aud Ne
Haven Line win soeep, our thanks Tor Boston paper