The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-20

that she sailed on the 9th instant This gives her
a passage of fifteen days.
Politics and I.iterature-General Taylor and
Buena Vista.
One of the cid philosophers has stated that
"misery makes strange bed-fellows." Following
in the same line of thinking, modern philosopher,
looking over the discussions OF the day, might as
naturally declare that ''politcs produce strange
opinions" Every one remembers the eXtraord-
nary sensation produced in this country, and, we
might say, throughout the whole civilized world,
by the result of the battle OF Buena Vista. Until
accurate intelligence of this extraordinary action
was received, the public mind in this country was
agtated with hopes and fears of the most intense
description When full account of the great
victory reached us, nothing but one general burst
of delight applause, and astonlshment, startled the
county, like a shock OF electricity from the clouds
of heaven Every man shook his nelghbor's hand,
land congratulated himself upon the noble and
heroic conduct of General Tayl and this wonder
full battlefield A similar feeling pervaded all
classes, both military and civil, throughout the
whole world The European journals expressed
the utmost establishment at the courage, skill,
bravery, and lndomitable energy of the American
chleftain, officers, and men,
But 1t appears that these natural workings
of the human mind IN contemplating such brilliant
achievements, are effaced, destroyed, obllterated
by the influence of politics and party broils during
the present contest. IL is hardly worth while TO
notice the stupid SANDERS which the venerable Mr..
Richie, of Washington City, has Illuminated
against General Taylor, whom he lmpudenty
calls
"The would be civilian the candidate, inexperienced
uninformed wholly incompetent inconsistent in his
pledges and nopedges unsettled in his opinions in
significant in the avowed OF his future Presi-
political guarantees everybodys representative, and
truly representing nobodyt is, say, honorable to
everywhere regarded with an indifference nd apathy
which the memory Of his brilliant batte-felds alone
prevents from deepening into something near akin to
contempt W Washington Union.
Such opinions, coming from hack politician,
who works in harness like a caIt-horse, for daily
wages in food and fodder, directed too, against the
most brilliant achievements of the age, and the
most modest and most talented men of the coun-
try, cannot create much surprise among those who
know the meahness, corruption, folly and blgotry
which exist among the political chques at Wash
ington, and elsewhere. Such opinions as these,
which are now enunciated by Mr.. Richie. and the
democratic editors are the mere echoes OF the same
opinions which were pronounced by many OF the
wing editors, who, since they uttered them, have
eaten their own words with more voracity than the
vulture Its victim. We might alude to the columns
OF the Express during the last spring. and to the de-
nuncetions uttered by the Brookss of that journal,
against the competency and talents of General
Taylor, as statesman and civilian. All these
matters are natural in the dirty pursuit of politics.
But when we see journal assuming higher tone,
and pretending to a more elevated level sinking
down to this degradation II strikes us with aston
shment that the general literature of the country
cannot be kept free from the dirty and mlserble
influence Of politicians and charlatans There is
literary journal published In this city, known as
the Democratic Rerier, which has hitherto been
regarded leading light in the elevated litera-
ture of the land. Heretofore II has maintained
fair character or lent, taste and scholarship, in
its columns, but during the last few months,
strange change seems TO have come over its des-
tiny In the number issued for the present month
Of September, there is a review published of a
book issued by Captain Castleton, called "The Bat
tie Of Buena VISTA" which treats upon the opera
tlons OF the Army of Occupation, during that Pc
Rod. The following extracts have been made'
which will be read with much interest and no lit
lie astonlshment-
almost in spite Of the General to whose mistakes
half of the slaughter Of the troops may be fairly at
tributed glorious victory achieved less by science
and military leading than by the determined nd i'm
aomitnbe ~'or Of the volunteer troops despite the
blunders Of oficers
what then did General Taylor do Did he pre-.
mare 10 give battle to the fatgued and thirsty
tMexicans from La Encarnacion), issuing out OF a
narrow pass after q march Of thirty Eve miles Not
80; he beats a hasty retreat upon Buena Vista.
Almost in the hour OF battle IL was
discovered the position wrong one, ard the men
were compelled to make forced march OF fourteen
miles, almost in the face Of an enemy TO regain po-
sition, from which, it appears they ought never TO
IL will be remembered that General ylor had been
idle eleven days at Aqua Nueva, whittier he had
TO fight Santa Anna, well knowing that Minon was
on his flank with two thousand horse and yet IL was
Until the slack OF the battle took place that he
left the field to look after the defences OF Salto
lie knew the 2lst Of February, in relation
TO the Mexican forces, than he had known thirty
days before yet the necessary duty OF making dspo
sition for the defence Of satlo was neglected until
nearly too late.
The Mississippi Regiment had been marched four
teen miles from Aqua Nueva on the I'D, five miles to
Saltlo and back sir miles TO stem the eruption of
the Me xicans and this marching and countermarch-
Ing the hour Of battle because the defences OF
Satlo had been neglected thirty days at least.
The crisis OF the battle very near turning In
favor Of the enemy, through the extraordinary "on
duct Of General Taylor in playing into the hands of
Santa Anna by becoming the dupe Of one OF his
shallow and dishonest tricks.
This was the result Of the generssbp Of Taylor IN