Arkansas intelligencer., 1847-08-14

The London Times and Mexico.

"The conquest of Mexico is 4 familiar story
/ even - our childhood. The city of gold, OF
idols and Of human hecatombs, the reckless Cor
tez, the unfortunate Mon,ezuma and rich and
popuous empire overthrown by handful of TO-
reign adventures, excite bv turns the wonder, the
admiration, the sympathy and the ambition of our
nature. 1t will some times occur-"W ould that
we had lived in those days! How did the world
receive the successive reports Of those incredible
events!' We can scarcely expand our minds to
the breadth OF expectation which the discovery
and the conquest Of new world must have uni
| versally raised. Perhaps, however, many who
have indutged in these reflections are entirely un-
aware that, after three centuries, history, to a
wonderful coincidence, is acted over again. Al
this moment the very path Of Cortez Is trodden
by men who, if they present some strong con-
trasls are not less heroic, not less confident in the
inialllble fortune Of their cause than the famed
Conqrestador. The flag of repubIicanism supplies
the place OF the cross, whose reign the Spanish
cavaliers chose to believe themselves dvnely com
mIss'oned 10 enlarge. The prevailing destiny of
the Unon is article of faith across the Allan
tic, and one for which many citizen would re-
Joce to be martyr. Such is the spri, and such
are the men who are making their way with only
a shade of opposion from Vera Cruz to Mexico
Such is the enterprise Of which every three or
four days now bring fresh liIings.
Hitherto the MeXicaEs have represented rather
the ancient natives of their country than the con-
querOrs from whom they are really descended
On their side II has been all defiance. obstinacy
and rashness. The notes of preparation have been
loud, and the threats sangu!narv. At tho mo-
ment when these promises should be realized the
bubble seems to burst. Atier the stand at Monterey
there has scarcely been anywhere a resistance
worthy of an independent nation. The mpreg-
nablc San Juan de Uiua was no sooner known TO
be invested than udngs of its capture arrived.
Even where courage was not wanting, Mexico
could not give it the means of resistance. Since
that every fresh occasion has proved both the inca
pacity of the State and the degencracv of its
chief. The battles of Euena Vista and Cerro
Gordo have proved that Whatever the numbers
there IS not the strength the morale in the Mex
can Republic 10 monan an eectual war of de-
fence. City after city. Tampco, Tuspan, Malta
moras, Monterey, Vera Cruz, and last Of all la
apa, are in the quiet occupation Of the enemy.
At the last date Gen. Scott was advancing por-
lion Of his army to PuebIa, on the road to Mexico:
while another division had occupied Perce, on
the parallel route. Judging from The past and
from the prudence which seems al! a!ong 10
nave guided the invaders. nothing is more probable
than that The few days march still intervening
has long since been passed and that Winfield Scott
IS now issuing his appeals 10 the peaceful tastes
and republican sympathIcs Of the MeXicans from
the cIy Of Montezuma.
As for the MeXIcans, one is almost tempted 10
ask by what accident Of birth or of circumtances
they exhibit so groesque character in serious
4 drama. Last wear they were standing out for
empire and FOR honor. This year they figh, for
nationality and independence. But how are they
meeting an occasion which usually brings out all
the powers and virtues of man? PomposiIy and
weakness, turbulence and cowirdce. are the chief
varieties OF the scene. Armies disappear with sud-
SuddeAncss ana completeness that make tdoubtful
whether they over existed, except in the bombasl
Of yaanifestoS. The andor-n-chief is man
whose only power seems to be that Of raising cX-
Pccta,ion which he is the last TO fulfil. Himself
dcceiver. he is deceived in return. Tho State
which chose him, for lack of better. docs not
really trust him. While the war ragos on the
and shorcs and pcnctratcs mo the provia-
ccs over :he outer circle of those vast natural
barriers that surround the capital, that ciIv is d.
vded, harrasscd and weakened by civil strifc.-.
Battles and revolutions, the presence Of an nvad-
ing army, and tho conflict OF domestic factions
are too much for any nation. Mexico bids fair
10 exhibit one of those tremendous catastrophes
which stand out horribly distinct in the anncIs of
human calamity. Santa Anna ard his colleagues
are not men to be deferred by any consideration
social consequences.
THE DIFFICULTY AT llAvAHA.-Thc Union has
an article which shows very clearly tha: no dif:
fcu!ty is likely to grow out of the late unpcas.
ant affair al Havana; that our Government con.
siders that Liouts. Twiggs and Jones were in the
wrong. Although the facts of tho case are not
new to US, copy the UniOn's article 10 show
the view taken of the affair by our Government:
n. o. Picayune.
| 1t is probable, and it may b, certain. that the
boats crew supposed that they had PERMISSION to
land; but it appears, officially, that they were mis-.
taken. We understand the facts in the case to
be these: That the ship chartered transport
10 take "a detachment Of marines 10 Vera Cruz
from New York, appeared off the harbOr of Ha.
vana. A boat with three lieutenants Of marines,
and Mr.. Twiggs, with boats crew, left the
ship, and after some parley at tho Moro Castle
thew entered the harbor, and landed at tho steps
at the port captains office. The American off
GERS did not intend TO enter in violation of the
laws Of the sland but they did enter without law,
ful authority and in violation of the sanitary
laws; for which they were arrested. The penal
ty was fine Of 5000 each The consul (Gen
Campbe) requested of the governor (Gen. o.
DonnelO TO remit the fine. The governor agreed
to do this if the master of the vessel would make