The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-19

SINGULAR CORRESPONDENTS - The TRUTH OF
HISTORY - THE REAL HERO OF THE MEXICAN
WAR.-We publish in another column remarka
BILE and singular correspondence between Mr.
Marcy, THE Secretary OF War, at Washington City,
and number of gentlemen of Wall street, headed
by William B. Astor, the millionaire. This cores
pondence purports to be an invitation to dinner
without saying where it is to be cooked and con
tains the reply Of Secretary Marcy, declining tt
come back to New York City to eat the dinner
but thanking them for their kindness and recollec
ton that he has an appetite. Mr.. Marcy has fire.
quently declined public dinners and private ones
before; and if, instead of being a number of mil.
lionaires in Wall street, by whom the affair was
got up, it had been an invitation from number OF
tailors on Broadway, to mend his breeches. proba;
bly, he-would have accepted the invitation.
But, badinage aside, this correspondence is re-
markable in one point of view, which Is, that w.
B. Astor, and the other gentlemen concerned with
him in this correspondence, have, for the first
time, discovered the fearful foresight and sagacIty
displayed by Mr. Marcy, in the conduct of the
Mexican war, and have brought forth, at thus late
day, the truth Of history" alleging that both the
brilliant campaigns of Mexico are severally the
result of the counsels which emanated from Mr..
Marcy, and are owing entirely to his genius Here,
then, is correction of history in very material
point, which all future historians of the United
States ought especially to remember. Heretofore,
it had been thought that Gen. Taylor was the hero
of the campaign on the Rio Grande, and that
Gen. Scott, in that brilliant march from Vera Cruz
to Mexico, had equalled, and even surpassed Fer
dinand Cortez. But, now, appears that all this is
false for several high and distinguished fnanclers
of Wall street, commencing with the name of
William B. Astor, men worth many millions of
dollars, have been cogtatng over the matter. IN
connection with good dinner, and have discoy.
cred that the chief part of the merit is due to
Secretary Marcy; and, though the gallant officers
and soldiers possess some merit, yet the conduct
Of the war, and the counsels which led to its sue
cessful termination, all sprung from the capaclous
mind Of the Secretary of War. This is a most
remarkable fact IN the history of the past events
one which has never, till now, been discovered bv
the most nveterate searcher and digger after facts
The world, therefore, is entirely mistaken in sup
posing that General Scott and his brother officers.
or that General Taylor and his brother heroes
have any claim to It's applause They must all
Stduu UdCh, anu diloW OcHeTdl MarcV. with his
pantaloons, to come forward and claim the highest
honor for the conduct of the war in Mexico. Suoh
is the discovery Just made in Wall street: and
such are the facts certified to by men worth thirty
millions of dollars, besides possessing much in.
telligence and understanding.
The morale of all this affair is simply and easily
stated Some miserable politicians who want 10
get some favor from Secretary Marcy, and wish
to enlist him in their interests, have been getting
up all this, and have been going round among the
fndnciers IN Wall street to get them to sign papers.
which they have done, very probably without
reading them through. There is, in fact hardya
single man in the list of those signing thus letter
who would not spurn the idea of detractine from
the merit Of the heroes of the war, for the mere
purpose of bosteripg up he very dubious conduct
OF Secretary Marcy, or putting cheap patch upon
his political pantaloons. What were the counsels
OF Secretary Marcy and those connected with hum
at Washington! Allabis counsels tended to lnjure
and disgrace our arms, and nothing else. Who
brought Santa Anna back to Mexico with a safe
conduct Secretary Marcy, and his fellow coun-
sellers. Who produced such state s6sbings as
forced upon us The unequal battle of In ista
Secretary Marcy and his counses. IN hole