The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-05
Our Relations with Mexico.

Our relations with Mexico are IN most ano-
rnalous condition. That country is conquered
that country is in the possession of the Ameri-
can army. Peace has been obtained for the last
few months, by hard blows but the future seems
10 be dark and obscure Rumors circulate every
where, that the projet of treaty has been agreed
upon by General Scott and Mr.. Trst and that it
only requires the concurrence of the Mexican
Congress at Queretaro, TO enable the negotia-
tors to send it to Washington. This rumor is
followed by the fact, curious fact, of an order
issuing from the War Department, assembling a
court Of inquiry on General Scott himself, and
others, and suspending him. of course, from the
command OF the army, until the result of that
court shall be ascertained All these important
rumors and facts are mixed up with the postionof
the two parties at Washington, the preparations
for the Presidential election next n November, and
the result of an ultimate and final appeal to the
people on the whole of those questions, en-
bracing also the annexation to the United States
of Mexico, in whole or in part.
1t is difficult to ascertain the facts in some of
these matters, but we shall try. Our own belief
is, from information received by us, that Major
General Scott, as Commander in-chef of the
American Army, has, avalled himself of his po-
sition to take some preliminary steps of negotia-
ton IN receiving projet for treaty. formed
on the bass Of the instructions given to Mr..
Trist last summer when he was sent 10 Mexico.
Mr.. Trist may have concurred with General
Scott in this movement, and at the last dates it
was generally understood that the projet of a
treaty only required the concurrence of the Mex
lean Congress, which were 10 assemble on the
first of January last, at Queretaro, to decide on
the matter.
OF this general fact there seems to be no doubt
1t is also probable, according to all appearances,
that General Scott has undertaken this mode OF
negotiating on his own responsibility, as COM
mander in chef of the American army, without
any special authority from the government at
Washington. We know il TO be fact, that some
time last autumn, more letters were writ
ten 10 General Scott, and concurred in by seve-
raj distinguished politicians of the whig party,
and some in the democratic party, being the
friends OF Mr. Van Buren,, advising General
Scott TO take the responsibility of such negotia-
tons, and thus TO head off the President and the
Cabinet In making peace with Mexico, and then
return 10 the United States with that treaty in
his pocket Whether Mr. Webster or his friends
are mingled up in this private movement we do
not know, but IT seems probable It may be
recolected that he took a similar course On
the Oregon question. In that crisis. he wrote
very important private letter to Mr. McGre-
gor, the Secretary Of the Board of Trade
IN London, requesting him TO call on Lord
Aberdeen,or Sir Robert Peel, and to represent to
them the necessity OF opening some kind of a
negotiation for the settlement of the Oregon
question, otherwise the two countries would be
preciptated into the calamities of war; before
they were aware of the condition of things
This fact we learned last summer in London,
and II was publicly stated by Mr. McGregor him.
self, when he went as a candidate for the present
Parliament, before his constituency in Glasgow.
FROM the success Of this movement, in en-
braclng the settlement of the Oregon question,
we would not be surprised if Mr. Webster were
concerned more or less in some movement of a
like nature, having Tor its purpose an indirect
negotiation with any authorities in Mexico. so
as TO bring about a settlement of our controversy
with that country, before the next Presidential
election. OF course, such an indirect mode of
negotiation would be managed with great deal
OF care and the probability is that the II ode we
have pointed out, in reference 10 General Scott
the head Of the American army, may have
been that which was selected. We are perfectly
sure tha tiers 10 that grave effect were written