Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-12-29
From the Baltimore ISnn.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
sOF WAR. ssss5

0F WAR. s 8.
In regardStof Culture proceedings, III
Secretary says: 80; ~. y.
z"Our frrther operations must, in m
opinion be conducted in ere of th
three following modes: take. and hol'
an indemnify line, to recede from al
places and positions now occupied il
advance Of it, and cease from all ag
gressive operations beyond thai line
secoad, to oyerrun the whole country
and hold all the principle places in.i
by permanent gafrisons; and, third, Il
retain what we now possess, open The
lines of communication into the interior,
and extend our, operations 10 olherim;
portant places, as our means and lhf
prospect Disadvantages shall indicate
Keeping a disposable force always sready,
within approachable limits, 10 annoy the
enemy, 10 seize supplies, enforce con-
tribu,ions, and fruslrale his efforts to
collect means. and assemble troops fol
the purpose ofprotracting the war. z
IA full discussion Of the comparative
merits of these modes of conducting our
military operations would extend this
communication to an unWarranlable
length; | shall, therefore, coaline my
remarks to few prominent consider a.
tions ieldtiYe to each.
"With reference, 10 a speedy peace,
with proper indemnify and security
the only object Of the wsr----ihe line
policy isregarded as Objectionable. II
our presept position cannot command
acceptable yterms Of pacifica,ion from,
Mexico, retiring to an indemnity line
would certainly fail 10 produce such a
result; it would weaken ,he inducements
Of the enemy To- oput3an end TO hostilities,
Restored, by our voluntary surrender,
10 the possession of his capital and im-
portant departments, and relieved from
the pressure ofour arms, and from all
apprehensions Of further conquest and
annoyance, ,beyondy,he limits we might
select ,shs would be !ei15wi,h moresabun-
:dant resources than he now possesses,
so prepare, al leisure and inesecntitY,.lo
strike ansefec,ive sbloa :.wiiihs coilcehs.
:trated
~ ~ ssss posts etaln pos
session ol SHE $saaporls we nov llay,!e,( (lf
.tharshonIdsfall. within the policy, and
incnrsions into the territories
which we might choose 70 apprePfla,es,o
ourselves, would, in my opinions require
a force as large as would suficesto nam-
.tain:what wesnow occupy, and 10 carry
our npelationssiil further in the interior
of the enelny's country, and make him
feel tie calamities Of war IN a way best
calculated 10 induce him to seek for
peace. But ifin this, am mistaken, and
the line policy should enable Us TO re-
duce the number Of our troops. still, il
vii, not, as ! conceive, thereby effect a
reduction Of our actual expenditures for
the war.
SIN consequence Of the interruption
ofinter cours, between the .seaports in
our possession, and the central parts Of
Mexico, The collections on imports have
hitherto been inconsiderable. II the
line policy is adopted, this intercourse
:willsrcontinne 10 be interrupted, and,
consequently, the receipts of revenue
from This source will be small.
..Under the operation Of the line poll
cy, all expectation Of lessening the bur-
den Of sustaining our troops, by deriving
supplies and contributions from the ene>
my, would be disappointed. Tha sup,
plies in'lhe vicinity Of our posts would
be Withdrawn from our reach, as soon. as
our design los seize and appropriate them
was ascertained OF! suspected. But,
we're j, otherwise, as our posts would be
remote from the wealth and resources Of
The country, the amount which could be
obtaned would oe inconsiderable. :
"So far from deriving advantage from
the line policy, by way q Obtaining as
sis,ance from the resources Of the ,ene-
.my,5 5lGwardsthe support Of our troops,
we should, IapPfehend, confer upon:a
portion Of the people of Mexico a direct
benefit, by opening to them at our posts
a market, in (which we should become
The purchasers Of their products at an
exorbitanlprice. These considerations,
without bringing into view others, have
led me TO look 10 one OF the other modes
of operation have mentioned, as pre-
ferableto that Of occuPping an iindemni-
ty line. - :
Sin regard to the second mode sug.
gesled--lhat of occupying the whole
countryside wide extent ofa territory
embraced in the Mexican republic; the
many important points TO be garrisoned
and theslong lines of communications tt
be kept open, present difficulties of; NJ nt
ordinary magnitude,if; our occupancy I
to be Of fsuchIa character as to'supcrsed'
The Mexican authority, and require th'
| ton,nnrory oc,nhii shmpnf nf riyiI Govern