Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-02-10
LETTER FROM HON. J. R. PoINsETT.

J
My Dear Sir: In compliance with your re.
quest, and in conformity with my promise, |
have determined 10 give you very briefly my
views on the atl-cngroSs'ng Topic Of the day. |
was detained later Than expected 10 be in Co.
lumbia, and have only this moment seen the
Presidents Message and the Report Of the Sec.
reIary Of War, and am surprised 10 perceive
that they persist in recommending u course Of
policy which will lead 10 4 sill lurher useless
expenditure Of blood and treasure, and viii fl
nally hayeto be abandoned. With the reason.
ing on the subject OF the acquisition Of territory
have nothing 10 do, especially as The President
seems to think Congress pledged to these meas.
ures. 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 President says There can be no doubt that
peace party exists in Mexico, and that il NAV BE-.
come eXpeJIent for our commanding generals
to give assurances Of protection 10 such a parry;
in shorl, 10 creae Il parry, make peace with il,
and guaranty ii IN the possession Of power
Nothing can be more chimercal; nothing could
be more insecure Than execution OF such a pro.
Jacl, were II practicable. Such parry would
bear no proportion to The nation, and The mem.
bors o! It would require 10 be protected from
public indignation and Vengeance lor long years
10 como, by force not less formidable than
that now il the country, without the chance Of
any indemnity, or the power OF lelyng conlri.
buttons OF any sort. Ii the peace government
should agree 10 pay and sub'iSI their protectors,
they must, liom The ualure Of things, fail 10 do
either. Pray, save US the disgrace Of ailempl-
ing such an intervention. The attempt might
lead 10 an intervention of a different sort, rha,
would possibly prove more successful. The
President is apprehensive Of Foreign interer.
GLce, first in California, and next in the eslab-
Iishment of Monarchy in Mexico. There is
not the slightest risk in The former, and if The
Mexican people are left to themselves, no chance
Of the latter. They we're so entirely republi.
can in 1899, that did not hesitate confidently
10 foreteIl the downfall OF lurbide. They are
much more SO now; and no scheme Of that sorl
could have even momentary success, unless the
leaders considered il as The only chance Of op-
posing us. There exists q strong monarchcal
parry, strong in wealth anh slaon-lhe priest.
the former arslocracy, and the adherans of
Spain. We may drive the numbers under their
banners. Sill The President is wrong: our
armed intervention might bring on US power
/ lul fereign foe, but could not prevent the evil /;
whereas, if we hold back, my life for it, mon
archy would not exist in Mexico three years
with fifty thousand foreign bayonels TO sustain
it. The pc ope ale Republican.
The President says he is convinced that the
best means Of bringing the war 10 an honorable
close will be to prosecute it with increased en-
ergy and power in the vital parts orlhe enemy's
country. Now, am persuaded that so long us
we colinue 10 prosecute the war in the interior
Of Mexico, we shall have no peace with the ma
ton, and all attempts 10 make peace with fac
ZION will place US in worse position than open
war. speak with the authority of a perfect
knowledge of the nature Of the country and the
character of the people.
! was glad 10 find that tho Secretary REJECTS
the plan Of overrunning the whole country, as
TOO expensive, but was surprised TO perceive
that he only estimates the number Of men II
would reauire TO do this, or maintain our present
Iconquesls, at seventy thousand men for the first
and some thirry.fve or forty thousand for The
second. He says nothing Of the annual con-
sumption of men during the Prol ougcd contest
Daring the most favorable period Of the penin
suar war, carried on in country friendly IL
them, the British forces lost annually slXtcer
per cent, one fourth Of whom died Of wounds
and casualties. In Mexico we should lose a
least twenty per cent, of volunteers. remar
ked in the ishmus between the Caspian AMI
Black Seas that The Russian forces required Ic
be recruited entirely in three years; that is Il
say, they required renewal of one.third olev
cry year.
The conquest ofthat country by Russia affords
us lessons we ought to profit by. The Russian
, forces overran the Caucasian country, in 1876
and received The submission Of the people,
They conquered peace. Well.in 1907 pas
; sed through the heart of the country, which ha
been garr soned with twenty thousand men 70