The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-08

THE TREATY AGAIN-ANoTHER SECRET OF THE
ADMINISTRATION LET OUT.-Our readers will per-
ceive by the accounts from Mexico, that according
TO all appearances and the opinions Of the best in
formed political men throughout Mexico generally,
there is scarcely the shadow of probability that
the famous-we might almost say the notorious
Trist treaty, which Mr.. Polk so eagerly snatched
up, and the Senate so hastily passed, will be ac-
cepted or ratified by the Mexcans.
This was our opinion from the first, and we ex-
pressed as much. We earnestly desired peace, in
common with every friend of humanity ; but we
saw no legitimate government in existence with
which to make peace, and no legitimate treaty or
ueaty-maker in the document sent into the Senate.
The plain truth is, that the only dc fdcto govern
ment now in Mexico is the government of the
American army The power is in its hands and
at all times, in all countries, where the power is
there is, de facto, the government. But what ter
rible dilemma is this in which we are. We anx-
iously desire peace and it fees far from us. What
is to be done There being no further hopes of
peace, we have choice out of the two categories,
expressed in the two simple words retreat and occu-
patton. But will any prudent statesman recommend
that we should entirely withdraw our army THAT
We should leave the country to be torn to pieces by
contending factions-eave it, perhaps TO fall, I'M
der the power of some military chieftain and our
selves TO be laughed at and insulted for having
"come, seen, and conquered" and then run off
again, and left them, without obtaining any of
the things we demanded nothing in the shape of
indemnity for the past, of security for the fu-
ture 1t seems, then, that, by the necessity of
circumstances, we must retain possession Of all
Mexico.
If, then, this ls-as evidently il is-the only alter
native and our wisest policy, it would be well TO
lose no further time, but TO proceed TO put down
every remains of the Mexican military, to organize
the country throughout all its departments TO pro-
mote commerce. tranquility, and security of life
and property, TO developc the resources of the
country Of all kinds TO gather in the revenues to
pay Tor all our expenses, not only present but past
and to pay herewith the claims and debt due to us,
and to hold the country for the people till all this
IS accomplished and they are ready to take il
back into their own hands, having become wise
enough by experience at length 10 be able to govern
themselves.
We have every reason TO believe our govern.
nent will pursue neither of these alternatives
retreat or occupation We believe the intention of
Mr. Polk TO be, (when il is ascerained that all
hopes of peace are at an end } TO take up with half
of these two things-tha is, TO decide neither
upon retreat nor upon occupation, but upon
half-retreat and half-occupation. That is, he
will withdraw the army partially within certain
limits, and not occupy the whole temporarily to ac.
complish definite purposes, but seize upon certain
territories, viz: those specified in the treaty for a
permanent possession. lie will leave the Next
cans all the rest of their country as an arena
wherein to fight among themselves, or TO organize
the means to prepare for another war, and TO fight
against us
This is, we believe the secret of tho cabinet and
the policy intended TO be pursued, and it will be
called by them acting upon the treaty of peace,
and treating II az ratified and in force But this
will be bad policy 1t will have the appearance of
force, robbery and spoliation; whereas a temporary
occupation OF the whole country, and a sequestra-
tion Of all its revenues, until we paid in full and
the people brought 10 their senses-and thcnit NAV
he after hundred years--a surrender to them Of
all their country without the forced abstraction of
an acre would be- conduct which no one could rea-
sonaby complain OF, and which the whole world
including Mexico herself, would applaud