The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-25

the science of war Based upon IL, In its influence
with the avowcd alliance with Santa Anna, were the
erroneous calculations of the results OF the batte OF
Buena Vistn. But, when victory crowned the skilful
dispositions Of General Taylor and the bravery OF
his devoted army and defeat dumped the hopes OF u
flushed enemy who was led TO expect triumph by the
combination of military force with the strength OF
diplomatic system, how stood the loss OF van
pushed and the gain Of a triumphant repubhci fes'
when 1t was seen by this system OF calculation
where the skill OF brave generals on the battlefield
was to test the error Of bungling statesmen on pa
per-by which the lives Of men were sacrificed us
the figures of arithmetic counted, and their blood
valued as you would estimate the hnty marks upon
| slate--when twenty-five thousand on the one side
20 far from subracting the strength from five thou
sand five hundred on the other served only to add to
It's vigilance and valor how stood this awful sum
Why terrible balance OF dead men to the account
Of the war; and nothing in favor OF peace. And
when this thing is disposed Of to the glory Of the
State the defenders OF the man who keeps this ac-
count OF blood In his palace at Washington, remote
from the associations Of the camp, and placed in the
centre of circle whose giddy round of pleasures
and ambition can have no sympahes from It's AFRO
gance with hardships and toll, claimed this victory
which was planned for defeat as his own.
As the battle Of Buena VISTA although not to such
Pan enormity was the battle of Cerro Gordo miscal-
cuated To effect the consequences OF such battle
was the mission Of Mr.. Trst principally directed
but the inauspicious time of his departure from
Washington, compared with the date Of the battle,
shows that the contingencies Of such event were
most enormously calculated. This demanded change
corresponding to events In the mode Of negotiation;
and what before the battle was intended to be mat
ter of mutual conference, resolved after the VIC
tory to be concealed.
If any one, after patiently examining oil this COM
plcated folly in diplomacy were seriously to inquire
the object of It, he could not be satisfied upon any
known rules of common sense. For its meaning II
Is to be referred to that absurd system which has
been adopted by the Executve--which losing sight
of the end in thousand sublimated views Of sue
cess, has combined all the dangerous theories Of the
old world with the most corrupt experiments Of the
new, to achieve failures. Misaking in this comb-
nation specious appearance Of finesse for brilliant
diplomacy, it seems to have forgotten If 1t ever knew
that union of sound Judgment and correct discrim
nation, with knowledge of the people with whom
we DEAL are better for the skul purposes Of praca
cal negotiation, than all the courtly arts Of the
rupt diplomat absurdly engraed upon the principles
of American craftsmanship. Convinced of this from
past failures will not the Executive in its future
transactions with the unfortunate country with whom
we are at war, adopt some udcious plan to bring II
to an honorable and speedy end? With oil its faults,
it was hoped that the mission of Mr.. Trist would
succeed; but after so much of snfuness In conduct
ing the war, even this last effort Of diplomacy was
not crowned with the blessings of peace!
ANTI-MACHIAVEL.