The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-01-27
rom the Boston Traveller.
J. Poinsett on the War.

1
having be, Minister to Mexico for several
years, ansubsequently Secretary of War
during administration of Mr.. Van Buren,,
has writtea letter to Mr.. A. P. Butler, one
OF the U. Senators from S. c.. giving his
views of t, Mexican war. The letter, dated
at Statesbg, S. c. on the 18th of December,
is publishe in the National Intelligencer. and
is worthy extensive republication and at
tentiye peisal. tits highly interesting, and
the views hich it presents are particularly
valuable acoming from one whose personal
acknowledgement experience enable him to speak
with authty. He is moreover friend to
the Administration, and his sentiments there
fore are mt obnoxious to the charge of party
bias. Wgive the letter below, in full:
sArEsBuRe, Is. CO. Dec. IL, lS47.
"Mg Lar Sir:-In compliance with my
promise, have determined to give you very
briefly myviews on the all-engrossing topic
of the day was detained later than 1 ex.
pected to ,e in Columbia, and have only this
moment sen the Presidents message and the
report of he Secretary of War, and am sur
prised to erceive that they persist in recon-.
mending course of policy which will lead to
still farther useless expenditure Of blood and
treasure, ind will finally have to be abandoned.
With the reasoning on the subject of the
ac9uisit|on Of territory have nothing to 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 President says that there can be no doubt
that there exists peace party in Mexico, and
that it may become expedient for our COM
manding generals to give assurances OF pro-
lection to such party in short, to create a
party, make peace with it, and guaranty it in
more chimerical; nothing could be moro
insecure than the execution of such project
were it practicable. Such party would bea,
no proportion to the nation, and the members
of it would require to be protected 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
ievying contributions of any sort. If the
peace government should agree to pay and
subsist their protectors, they must, from the
nature of things, fail to do either. Pray,
save US the disgrace of attempting such an
intervention. The attempt might lead to an
intervention of different sort, that would
possibly prove more successful.
"The President is apprehensive of foreign
interference, first in California, and next in
the establishment of monarchy in Mexico
There is not the slightest risk of the former
and, if the Mexican people are left to them
selves, no chance of the latter. They wer,
so entirely republican in 1922 that did no
hesitate confidently to foretell the downfall o
Iturbide. They are much more SO now; ant
no scheme of that sort could have ever
momentary success. unless the leaders con
sidered it as the only chance of opposing us
There exists a strong monarchical party
strong in wealth and station-the priests, tn
former aristocracy, and the adherents of Spain
We may drive the numbers under their ban
ners. Still the President is wrong; our arm
ed Intervention might bring on us powerful
foreign foe, but could not prevent the evil
whereas, if we hold back, my life for it,
monarchy would not exist in Mexico three
yeap, with fifty thousand foreign bayonet
to sustain it. The people are republican.
"The President says he is convinced tina
tie best means of bringing the war to al