The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-01-26
New YoRK. Jan. "a. 8. p. M.
COM. PERRY AND THE WAR.

Much mas been said IN private and by the press,
of plan proposed by Com. Perry. for carrying
on the war against MeXco. and as every thing
bearing upon the question is read with interest,
we here give the plan embodied in letter
from correspondent at Washington, to the New
York Evening Post:
" A few words will suffice 10 make il plain
Abandon all expensive. sanguinary and doubtful
projects of further invasion So far as regards
the interior Of Mexico, let Us content ourselves
with the occupation of the provinces already CON
qnered. or so much of them as we may intend To
keep az decentralization for the war On the
other hand. let us take immediate possession Of
all her ports both on the Gulf and on The Pacific
and occupy them conquered territory. MI she
shall cnme IN just and honorable terms Of peace
Open them all to a free commerce. first plac-
ing in them COLLECTORS of our own, and establish
ing suitable tariff Of specific duties by means of
which we shall levy, from The Mexican nation
itself. revenue fully adequate to cover all the
expenses, naval and military. of such occupation
In regard 10 Yuratan, which is constantly blow
ing hot and cold between Mexico and ourselves
compel that province at 10 its election be-
tween the two. IL il shall abide by the fate uf
the former. include its ports likewise in this
system, and in either case, extend a Gordon of
military occupation across the ishmus which CON
necls it with Mexico, sn as 10 cut off the Mcxi
hle article of salt ) which they now derive from
The cunning and double dealing Yucatecos. When
we have onr enemy thus shut in all sides. let
us hold him so, like a froward child shut up in
cnset or held firmly and patiently by the arms,
till he Games To his senses, begs pardon. and
promises To he good
"The beauty Of this plan is that .Mer;co her
self irH hare TO pay its ohote expense. while at
the same time our people and commerce will
he greatly benefited bv it, 1t will he idle for
her TO prohibit the further diffusion throughout
the country Of the goods TINS introduced into her
ports. They will circulate certainly and al
most as freely as though they had passed regular
ly through Mexican. instead of American custom
houses. The government monopoly of tobacco,
from which they now derive considerable por-
llon of their revenue, would be brnken up by the
competition of the cheaper and belter supplies
with which the country would he flooded. The
cotons for which they now pay forty cenis
yard, they will buy freely at ten. Their own
poor manufactures, absurdly sustained by high
" protPction,' will fall like so many bricks in
row; while the people will be taught practical
lesson in the philosophy of free trade. which,
after the termination of the war, they will not
forget.
- The number of ports on the Gulf which ought
to be thus occupied is about eleven. namely,
Matamoras, Soto la Maria, Tampico, Tuxpan,
Vera Cruz. Alvarado, Guasacoalcos, Tobasco.
Laguna, Campeachy and Sisa of these. Mata-
moras Tampiro. Tobasco Cor Frontera) and
Laguna. are already ours. The rest can easily
he taken. and with the support of the navy, as
easily kept. About five thousand men will serve
TO take and garrison the towns. and dozen small
ships, with half dozen small steamships for the
coast service, armed with two heavy guns each
Will he all the naval force required This force
could be bought for little more than the cost of a
frigate. and maintained the coast at less than
half the expense, and with more than ten times
the efficiency OF the greatest squadron in that
quarter.
L" Whether the vessels of other nations should
be admitted, with their cargoes, into the ports
thus occupied. according to the Commodore's
view.) as well as own, would be question
fur Congress 10 determine. Liberality, as well
as proper desire Ia satisfy the other members of
the great commercial cnmmnnity Of nations and
to repel The impuiatun of undue sel6shness, would
seem 10 dictate affirmative answer to this
question. On The other hand it may perhaps he
said that to exclude all other than American yes
sells would be but the exercise of belgerent
right, while IL would tend to interest other ma
lions TO exert their Influence upon Mexico in ia vor
of peace.
Suppose this plan carried into effect-what
can the Mexican government do? Shut mp her
meticay, they would he utterly poweIless for
injury. This state of things might be prolonged
for twenty years, without The least mischief or
expense To us. In the form of tariff imp position, ,
both Of import and export, on their entire foreign
commerce. they would pay US large annual
tribute, which would more than cover the cost Of
the system. Our own constant uffer of peace be
Ing before them, their government would soon
Ire OF such state of things, and would soon =,
Ike the cIUspied child, beg to be let ont and
promise To behave themselves.