The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-07
DAILY NATIONAL WING,
WASHINGTON CITY.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY I, 1873

FRIDAY hrlEhNooN, JANuhhh - 1910
o. Those who desire extra copies of the
Wing containing the {" Rupture oflfhe lrist
Negotiations" can be furnished with them,
by an early application at this Office.
s
0S 1t is proposed topublish Mr., Clay's
Lexington Speech, withhotes and references
to historical events Of the country, upon
analogous points also Mr. Gallatin's pam
.phlet. The work will be put to press as
soon as sufficient number of subscribers
can be obtained. The list of subscription is
placed at the Office Of the National Wing.
Santa Ana, the AdmIplstratIo,l, and the
course pursued by the latter.
Santa Ana has issued a long and labored
defence Of his military conduct since Presi-
dent Polk sent him to Mexico to defend his
country. He throws the whole blame Of the
successive defeats he encountered, from the
landing Of Gen. Scott til his retreat from
the city Of Mexico, to the cowardce and
disobedience Of his generals. He admits
that he had under him 80 pieces of cannon,
10000 men, including 5000 veterans Of the
army Of the North, and the "a pieces Of ar
tillery brought by Gen. Valencia from San
Luis Potosi. "Thereioe,D he says, " on
the 18th Of August, when the enemy show
ed himself in the neighborhood Of the Penon
our situation was imposing, and confidence
and enthusiasm were visible in every coun-
tenance." And yet with 6O0O men Gen
Scott conquered this large army, and sue
ceeded in bearing down every thing before
him till he entered the city Of Mexico in
triumph. In almost every instance Santa
Ana says his orders were disregarded, and
defeat was the consequence. Had they been
obeyed and his instructions followed, the re-
suit would have been very different. This,
we think, is most likely, and to whom
should the shame and disgrace Of such
a result be attributed Assuredly to the
Administration who, Notwithstanding all the
efforts Of the gallant ScorT to increase
his force, seemed to lend deaf ear to his
opportunities, and to act as if they wished
his defeat and dishonor. What are the peo-
pie to think OF such an Administration and
especially of its head--wio foolshly involved
the Nation in war, and to render that war
disastrous, sends the best general the enemy
possesses, to organize powerful force, and
to resist and subdue the troops he orders to
carry on his unjust war!
According to every statement, official or
otherwise, Gen. Scott never had engaged in
any Of his sanguinary conflicts with the en-
envy, a larger available force than between
six or seven thousand troops Of all kinds.
The Wings in Congress had performed their
duty by granting men and money, though
the war was deemed by them unjust and un-
constitutional Fifty thousand men and ten
millions of dollars were voted, for the pur-
pose, it was thought, Of bringing the war to
a speedy close. And what has been the re-
sulti The ten millions have been expended,
and the whole military strength Of the coun-
try does not exceed, at the present moment,
this time, to dwellupon the unconstitutional
ity and injustice Of the war in which we are
now engaged with sister republic. That
is a point that has been demonstrated, we
think, to the satisfaction of every dispassion-
ate mind in the county. The war was con-
ceived in folly and the ambitious lust Of ter
ritory, and has been prosecuted with imbe-
cility Of purpose and ,eebleness Of action.
The history Of this war will show to pos
terity and the world that the gallantry and
indomitable courage Of our armies alone
saved the nation from disgrace and dishonor,
md form splendid contrast to the inertness
and imbeciGty Of those who brought the war
upon the country Some future Tacitus will
be able to portray the character Of him who
to the misfortune Of the nation, has been
placed at its head, but whom nature never
intended to elevate above the condition Of a
mere pettifogger or lomenter Of village
vexation." This example may, however,
have salutary effect, and impress upon flu
ture generations in our country the absolute
necessity Of always selecting, as their Chief
Magistrate, a man whose intellect is not less
prominent than his patriotism. He perhaps
deserves impeachment more for the manner
in which he has conducted this war than for
commencing it, as he did. He has repeat
eddy endangered the safety Of our armies in
every part Of Mexico, either Intentionally,
from feebleness of purpose, or pusianimity
of mind. He cannot plead ignorance as .
Justification Of his most disgraceiul conduct
in this whole matter, because the commands
| ing officers in Mexico have kept him, OF
his Minister Of War, constantly informed Of
the condition of the armies under their COM
mand, and the vastly superior numbers ar
rayed against them. They have repeatedly
besought him to send them reinforcements to
fprevent disaster which, under any other
circumstances, would have been the con-
sequence. No necessity, no importantly
would enable them to see the impending
danger, or to stimulate Mr.. Polk and his
Cabinet to action In quiet security them
selves, they conceived that the danger was
imaginary, and that handful of men would
do as well as the largest army that could be
raised, and they neglected or refused to send
the aid required, in contempt Of solicitation,
and in defiance of public sentiment every
where expressed, except among the mere
tools Of party. The capture Of Monterey
astounded the President and his Cabinet
here as much as il did the Mexicans them
selves. 1t was not, and perhaps could have
been expected, from SO small force, but
| still Gen. TAYLOR was ordered to advance. -