Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-12
tCoNNuNIcArEn.~
To the wings OF the Mctropolitau
Congressional District.


Fcllow-Ciulens The Mexican war is tho absorbing
topic Of the day Were the difficulties with which pro-
eeuuon may be attended and the serious questions
likely grow OF it, adequately appreciated is poss-
bic that would excite greater than IL hs-
ready done. This administration has brought on the war
And TO estimate duly the amount OF Its on
that account II ~ necessary consider the difficulties
which 1t may involve the country. fear woiul m.cal-
cunuon has been made the extent Of those
difficulties.
Ii would form proper estimate OF tho difficulties
that may attend the prosecution OF this war; may well
10 consider the circumstances upon which the military en-
ercy OF nation depend To consider this point fully
would belong to treatise Political Economy. But
paualvew ct itmay not be uniting the purposes OF this
address.
The main circumstance upon which the military energy
OF State depends is the amount OF wake force il nam
lns IN the held OF course much depends upon the cha
racer OF that iotce-s skiiul dspOsitOn-its discipline
its Naloand the immediate impulses by which it actuaied
sense OF wrong will aid deficient discipline obsnacy is
often substitute for valor and national evaporation is
sometimes "nore terrible than an army with bannors."-
The amount OF warlike force welded by State is
however the main circumstance perhaps that de-
tormines ITS energy IN For among coterm-
nous zed nations, tho disparity in discipline
anu skill Is generally great. Or IL such be tho
case the commencement of hosilities between
them, that disparity sensby diminished the war pro-
gresses Nor Is there any great disparity national
Naor, although oTtuiods circumstances sometimes create
that appearance. Thorough discipline has won.
deHuly equazing influence upon dispartes in valcr-
The black regiments the British army when well off.
ceed Is found will storm edoub about well the
genuine Engshmen; and but little difference is observed
between the Sepoys or native troops OF India and the Eu-
ropcan In order TO form Just estimate therefore Of the
military capacity OF State war the most material
circumstance in general be ascertaned the amount of
warke force will be able main ain that war But
this circumstance Itself depends upon number of mino!
circumstances, 50 various and sometimes complicated
that partial consideration of them will be sufficient
convince how cult to determine with anv cor
'ainy the difficulties or hna results OF any war Ordina
riy the amount Of wnrkc force State is able 10 main
tsin depends upon the Of population and bears
certain proportion TO it. This proportion is ordinarily
40 ut per ccut-thaj, IL for every hundred persons STATE
n IL hv
an nyariablc proportion. Under some Circumstance.
State cannot maintain so large proportion per cent
u, Its population in the hed-undor other circumstances il
may maintain greatly more. Ordinarily, however, per CT
about large Of force a. a State can perma
neny maintain IN the held, and 1t IS pretty severe test of
me energies OF tue BODY pouc 10 put forth that amount
force. We find for example, that easy matter TO
maintain present force OF about 80, 900 men-apd
yet tins is only onchh OF per OF our POPULATION c
umatng that population az twenty millions. Great Britain
could not think, have had more than onc-ourth of ne,
cent engaged in the war OF the American Revolution On
tue other hand some nations nave, OF their wars
carried their military force much beyond France
during the Oi her Revolution, had per cent of her
population frequently in the field and for long periods
Prussia, during tie prodlgous which hor King Fred
eeN the Great involved her, could have had les than
the enormous amount OF per OF her population per.
maneny i'll II Is tfcu indeed set bounds 10 the
military capacity OF STATE Of mate force which
consists in the strength all It's able bodied male
These may generally be estimated 25 per
Of It's total population. For nehlf OF the population Of
country are generally and onehaf are rener
ally between the ages Is and As According to ,hes s
mates will appear that the military force country NAV
vary according 10 circumstances iEom less than - pcr
CT OF It's population How great, then, be the uncs-
tsIniy the energy which State may dsp,y d, war
when circumstances may such great variations in
the amount Of lis waTke force That those circust,nrs
which determine these vlril0ns would render this
address much TOO absifuse 70. purposes consider and
would more property belong a treatise on the Poiir,
Economical ELECTS OF war. The leading circumstances
may, however, be stated, in general way 10 be the ais
rom home At which the military are to be used
the habits OF the peope-her character and the effect
It, mai IF IN
The bearing Of the st OF these circumstances uD the
present with Mexico apparent requ re- com
meut. Ii obvious that nation can maintain larger
force at homo than abroad Hence the small amount of
force employed by Great Britain in her American var
In like manner IN this Mexican war; all arc TO
be employed abroad those OF Mexico al home We can
emp oy regular force oEyshe wicld the ordinary
militia well regulars. The bearing OF Tie v,, otbc,
circumstances upon this Will be noticed in other num-
bers.
Let us now make some application OF the foregoing re-
marks TO the existing between this country and Mex
eo-esma'ng The population Of the former 20 ana Of
Inc latter AZ millions The Ordinary calculations would
be somewhat # this The L. States can n,o,t,n
100000 men IN the field, as casyos MeTc, mantsin
e',VVu Ihey must therefore easily triumph her more
especially they superior her va!lr skill ard
monetary means. Bot let suppose that from some az al
O! the circumstances before Htonod Mex co should x
ert her inherent military paciue~ such degree as 10
send pc cent Of her population into the hcli would
then .avs lbvNn lighting mon, Per cent. 800 coo
u Per cent, $4,000, d l24 per cent 900 600 If in
genera. ouinu's OF national phrlnsy, .: which, any
people capable tie spanish are so should on,
forth her utmost strength, she would cud forth two millions
o; men % fight her battles and harass her invaders
Tho ordinary militia ot a country Is no doubt gen
orally little W'rc than i25 per cent. o. its populp
uon. But let us suppose that only this proportion
,l28 per cent? OF the Mexican population should be-
aroused 90 combat aud guerilla war, while per cent
Of is population shall be employed n regular force
shall we nd It easy conquer Mexico when thus defend
ed VIII 100000 be able keep down the national
spirit OF that country, when opposed by $4,000 rcgu ar
aud harassed by million Of rancheros Will Mr.. Pok
be able 10 mlntan ruch force 100000 men in the
heid Will 20 per cent and coffee the ncce--
sary revenue Wal long John Wentworth" yp'e for |
such bill Will the people OF this Country submit 10 de-
rect taxation, TO sutan the administration further acts
Of aggression towards Mexico Ought they to do 50 p
VII not the public interests, well motives Of human
y, demand from such acts on our part when
we shall have illustrated aims, doubt not we shall
do, By the present demonstration before Vera CRUZ
METROPOLITAN.