The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-22
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
SATURDAY NIGHT, JAN. aa, Is4s


Hon Joel R. Ponsett, of that State which is given by
III. Inteigence document OF unsurpassed interest
and consequence" not only in view OF the writer's char
,eter and means OF information, but also because of the
fact that it comes from the pen Of gentleman 'who
beine friend 10 the administration, cannot be suspected
Of being under any possible party bias against its pro-
posed measures"
How far Mr. Poinseu deserves to be represented as
suppoer of the administration upon what his own letter
n,onounces to be the a-engossing topic of the day."
NAV be seen in the fact that he entertans the firm con
vietion" that the territorial acquisitions" to which the
President TO think Congress pledged" and which
he certainly conemplates in his message, will not add
to our strength prosperity" little further on in his
letter. Mr. Ponsett adds that "we can, at this period
,ethdav our forces scithout dshonor nay such an act
would elevate us in the estimation of the world" All
this amounts to Just about the Friendship the adj
ninration that which has been heretofore displayed
BY Mr. Berrien and Mr. Corwin upon the questions
II is the administration policy ntiitfed
II not surprising, therefore, that, starting from this
point OF view Mr. Ponsett should oppose the whole plan
Of procedure towards Mexico, which is recommended by
the Executive He is opposed to prosecuting the war
in the interior OF Mexico the ground that $50 long as
we continue" 50 to prosecute it, "we shall have no
peace with the nation" He is opposed to the policy of
military contributions to aid in sustaining the war and
provisioning the army as requiring larger force than
we send there But, most of ALL is he opposed to the
idea suggested In the message of our resorts in
all other means OF securing Just peace shall fail u.s.
OF army rendering aid countenance those friends
of peace in Mexico who may be disposed to erect re,
publican government able and willing to make peace
with US. o. 80 ground that any such aid on our part
must be utterly Intellectual and will. at the same time
invite iorei,a monarchical interference against u.s.
Rejecting all these modes OF procedure, Mr. Poinsett
sums up his own policy in the fol- owing simple shape:
"Setie whdt territory you intend TO eiuim and tell
Merieo you intend to keep it, She will bluster and pro-
test, but never attack you"
As mode of closing war, this is decidedly more
simple and summary than the renowned Bobadirs
plan OF fighting battle. "Just run your line wherever
you please" says Mr. Ponsett, "and it is all over
And he adds 81 speak with the authority of perfect
knowdge OF the nature of the country and the character
OF the people," Such an assurance, if not modest as
might be, is at least very consoling Beyond all doubt
this plan from South Carolina is, in the way of speedi-
ness and facility, most decided Improvement upon
anything which has occurred to the President or the
Secretary of War. Their plan is of a much older
fashion. They to think that the best way to end
war is to fight through to treaty, fast they can
But to the lights, things appear quite differently
The new wisdom is TO take up position your enemys
country and calculate that he icW modest you for
"halfa century," or at least "t,0snty gears"
Here is the entire process of the thing set down in
Mr. Poinsetfs WORDS as plain as Peter Parley's
lessons for children:
"Sette what territory you intend calm and tell Mex
leo you intend keep She will baster md protest. but
attack you. Her leaders will av much at stake
TO venture far from the capital Say will have means
to equip armies aud maintain them o.. Jng marches and
distant campaigns and hazard nothing in saying that
too or three strong places the interior of line would
keep hel in check for half century and in less time
might buy title, il thought necessary
Great IDEAS ripen slowly. We have here at last the
ultimate perfection of Mr. Calhoun's plan of 'defen-
sve line" lie, 1t will be remembered, both in the last
and the present Congress- proposed to station troops upon
his line, TO defend it. Mr.. Ponsett can do better He
will draw his Ine and defend it by troops posted some
rhere elseA The two three strong posts" to be
somewhere Gin The interior Of liner This is not
phrased with precision quite mathematical or military
we must resort to the following sentences fully to ex
plain it:
Both the President and the Secretary build upa system of
line defence it is called which they easily overthrow
They suppose frontier only be defended by chain of
posts bordring the line whereas is best secured BIZ
s'ronS iatero, deences. But did intend ntrude
my opinion on military matters.
"With regard the details of the defence of the ineno
the line defencehey can be determined very easily and
think might be certain of remaining nnmoiested for
t'ceny and forerer, with such precautions might
be taken at little cost"
With great Difference to Mr. Poinse he is little in er
ror here to of his Statements at least However
easily and completely the President and the Secretary
OF War may have ''orerthrown' the "sem of line de-
fence" deny that they have ever had the trouble of
budding it, up" 1t was ready male to their hands in
Mr.. Calhouns speech in the last Congress- Ard the
same distinguished notwithstanding, probably, how hi.
last years structure is '.overuroarn"-now avows his
readiness 10 set to work again at its reconsuction only
calling in COMMITTEE of senator's and council of
generals TO help him We opine that in such case his
advisers will tell him that instead of repairing the ruins
OF his old plan, he had better make a new one
But as 10 Mr. Poinsetts new idea of defending the
line assumed by strong posts "in the inerior'-of de-
tending the Paso del Nore, for instance, by strong
garrison IN the city of Mexico not more than two thou
sand miles distant-of defending the line from the
mountains to the head of the Gulf of California. bv
powerful guard at Monterey or at San Luis AS
TO this defence of the line" which, as Mr. Poinseu
truly tells u.s. is by means "he line defence the
RAPID march of the Mexican army from San Luis to
Duena VISTA and the equally rapid temperance of no
small part OF the same force under the same leader al
tell vary clo ho,,-u II.