Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-01-22
A LETTER FROM THE HON. J. R. PoINsETT.
SrarrspuRc, Is. C.) DEC. II, ls47.

My DEAR SIR: In compliance with your request,
and in conformity with my promise, have deter
mined to give you very briefly my views on the all
engrossing topic Of rhe day. | was detained later
than expected to be in Columbia, and have only
this moment seen the Presidents Message ana The
Report of the Secretary Of War, and am surprised
10 perceive that they persist in recommending
course Of policy which will lead TO still further USE
less expenditure of blood and treasure, and will
finally have to be abandoned With the reasoning
on the subject of the acquisition of territory have
nothing 10 do especially as the President seems to
think Congress pledged to these conquests. | can
only express my regret and my firm conviction that
these territorial acquisitions will not add to our
strength or prosperity.
The recommendation that most seriously alarms
me is contained in the paragraph where the Presi-
dent says there can be doubt that there exists
peace party in Mexico, and that it may become ex-
pedent for our commanding generals to give assur-
ances of protection TO such party; IN short, TO
create party make peace with 1t, and guaranty ii
in the possession of power. Nothing can be more
chimerica; nothing could be more insecure than the
execution of such project, were 1t practicable.
Such party would bear no proportion TO the ma
tOn and the members OF II would require TO be pro-
tected from public Indignation and vengeance for
long years to come, by force not less formidable
than that now in the country, without the chance Of
any indemnity, or the power of levying contribu-
tions OF any sort. Ii the peace government should
agree 10 pay and subsst their protectors they must,
from the nature Of things fail to do either. Pray,
save Us the disgrace of attempting such inter-
vention. The attempt mightlead to an Intervention
OF different Sort that would possibly prove more
successful. The President is apprehensiye of for
egn interference, first in California, and next in the
establishment of monarchy in Mexico. There is
not the slightest risk the former and if the Mex
can ne0pla left IN thrnselyas M chance IF he
latter. They were SO entirely republican in 1922
that dld not hesitate confidently to foretell the
downfall of lturbide. They much more so
now and no scheme of that sort could have even
momentary success, unless the leaders considered il
as the only chance OF opposing US. There exists a
strong monarchical party, strong in wealth and sta
tion-the Priests the former arstocracy and the adj
herents Of Spain. We may drive the numbers un.
der their banners. Still the President is wrong
our armed Intervention might bring on US power
ful foreign foe, but could not prevent the evil
whereas, If we hold back, my life for it, monarchy
would not exist in Mexico three years, with fifty
thousand foreign bayonets to sustain il. The pe0-
pie are republican.
The President says he is convinced that the best
means of bringing the war to an honorable close
will be TO prosecute il with increased energy and
power in the vital parts OF the enemys country.
Now, am persuaded that so long as we continue
to prosecute the war in the interior Of Mexico, we
shall have no peace with the nation, and all attempts
TO make peace with faction will place US in
worse position than open war. | speak with the
authority OF perfect knowledge Of the nature of
the country and the character Of the people.
| was glad TO find that the Secretary rejects the
plan Of Overcoming the whole country, as too ex-
pensive but was surprised to perceive that he
only estimates the number Of men il would require
10 do this, to maintain present conauests at
seventy thousand men for the first and some thirty
five or forty thousand for the second. He SAYS no.
thing Of the annual consumption Of men during this
prolonged contest. During the most favorable pc
riod Of the peninsular war, carried on in country
friendly to them, the British forces lost annually
sixteen per cent one-fourlh of whom died of wounds
and casualties. In Mexico we should lose al least
twenty per cent. per annum OF regular forces and
al least forty per cent of volunteers. ! remarked
IN the sthmus between the Caspian and Black Seas
that the Russian forces required TO be recruited
tirely IN three years that is to say they required
renewal o. onc-third every year.
lhe conquest Of that country by Russia affords
US lessons We ought. to profit by. The Russian
forces oyerran the Caucasian country in 1896, and
received the submission Of the people. They con-
quered peace. Well, in 1907 | passed through
the heart Of the country, which had been garrisoned
with twenty thousand men for eleven years, at
cost OF between sixty and seventy thousand men,
- - =
II was necessary 70 wait the departure Of train
from post to post il was unsafe TO move with less
than two pieces Of artillery and full company OF
infantry This state Of things continued until ls4O
when the Caucasians organized powerful opposi-
ton 10 their conquerors, and up 10 the present day
have contended against them with advantage. The
Caucasus does not contain more tlian a million and
a half of inhabitants the Russian empire not less
than sixty millions The Causasans have no reru-
lar army the Emperor six hundred thousand we'll
disciplined troops.
Both the President and The Secretary build M a
system Of line defence, as il is called, which they
easily overthrow, because no military man would sug-
gest such an anomaly. They suppose frontier can
only be defended by chain Of posts bordering on
the line whereas il is best secured BY strong in.
terror defenccs. But 1 did not intend to intrude
my opinion on military matters. Settle what ter
ritory you intend to claim and tell Mexico you in
tend 70 keep it. She will buster and protest, but
never attack you. Her leaders will have too much
at stake TO venture 50 far from the capital She
will have no means TO equip armies and maintain
them on long marches and distant campaigns +; and
hazard nothing in saying that two or three strong