Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-02-09
FROM THE NArIoxAL ,NrrLL,orNcrn.

1
his personal knowledge, gathered during travel in
foreign parts, and public service and experience
both abroad and at home, TO form sound judgment
on the subject Of which his letter treats, and who.
being friend TO the Administration, cannot be sus
pected being under any possible party bias against
It's proposed measures.
The name of the writer is familiar to all our roc
ders Of mature age To some of the younger class
OF them, 1t may be proper TO state that Mr. Poisett
was after returning from foreign travel for several
years Representative in Congress, and there dis
tinguished for his liberal and enlightened views
that he was the Minister of the United States TO
Mexico for several years. was, after his return from
that mission, for several years Secretary Of War,
TO which office ne was called by MIR. Van Buren,
and has therefore had every possible opportunity of
acquiring the information which authorizes him 10
express to the respected Senator from his own
State the opinions contained in the following letter
LETTER FROM THE HON ]. r. PoINsErr
STArEsnURc, Is. O. Dec IL, ls47.
My Dear Sir In compliance with your reoues,
and In conformity with my promise, / have deter
mined To give you very briefly my views on the all
engroSsng topic Of the dav. | was detained later
than expected 10 be in Columbia, and have only
this moment seen the Presidents Message and the
Report OF The Secretary Of War, and am surprised
TO perceive that they persist in recommending n
course of policy which will lead 10 still further
expenditure of blood and treasure and will finally
have to be abandoned. With the REASONING ON The
subject of the acquisition of territory have nohnp
to do, especially the President seems 10 think
Congress pledged 10 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 Presi-
dent says there can be doubt that there exists \
peace party in Mexico, and that il NAV become en-
pedient Tor our commanding generals to give ASST
RANGES OF protection TO such party; in short to
create party, make peace with it. and guaranty
1t In the possession ofpower Nothing can be more
chmerica ; nothing could be more insecure than
the execution OF such project. were it practicable
Sach party would bear no proportion TO the ma
ton. and the members oft would require 10 be pro-
tected from public Indignation and venoeace 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 ofevying contribu-
tons of any sort
| III the peace government should agree to nav and
subslst their protectors, they must, from the nature
OF things, fail to do either. Prav save us the dis
grace OF attempting such an intervention The at
tempt might lead TO an Intervention of different
sort. that would possibly prove more successful
The President is apprehensive of foreign interle-
renee, first in California and next in the establish
:nent of a monarchy in Mexico. There is not the
! slightest risk of the former, and if the Mexican
people are left TO themselves, no chance of the lat
ter. They We're SO entirely republican in 1900
that did not hesitate confidently to fora,elI the
downfall of lturbide. They are much moreso now,
and no scheme of that sort could nave even momen,
ary success, unless the leaders considered it rs the
only chance OF opposing us. There exists a strong
moEarchical party, strong in wealth and station
the priests, the former arisocracy, and the adhe-
! rents OF Spain We may drive the numbers under
their banners Still the President is wrong: our
armed intervention might bring on us a powerful
foreign foe but could not prevent the evil whereas
1t we hold back. my life for it, monarchy would
not exist in Mexico three years with fifty thousand
foreign bayoneis TO sustain it, The people are re-
publican.
The President says he is convinced that the best
means of bringing the war to an honorable close
1 will be TO prosecute it with increased enerrv and
! power IN the vital parts of the enemy's country
| Now. am persuaded that so LONG as we continue
to prosecute the war in the interior of Mexico. we
shall have no peace with the nation and all at
.empts to make peace with faction will place us
| IN worse position than ofopen war speak with
the authority Of a perfect knowledge of the nature
OF the country and the character of the people.
| was glad to find that the Secretary rejects the
| plan OF overrunning the whole country as too ex-
pensive; but was surprised to see that he only os
Inmates the number OF men it would require to do
this, or to maintain our present conquests at seven
ty thousand men for the first, and some thrtv-fve
or forty thousand for the second lie saws no,bino
OF the annual consumption of men during this pro
longed contest. During the most favorable period
| OF the Penhsuar war. carried on i'm country
friendly to them, the British forces lost annually
sixteen per cent one-urth of whom died of wounds
and casualties. In Mexico we should lose at least
twenty per cent. per annum Of regular forces. and
at least forty per cent Of volunteers. 7 remarked
IN the sthmus between the Caspian and Black
Seas that the Russian forces required to be recruit
cd entirely in three years, that is to saw they re-
CURED renewal of one third every year
The conquest OF that country nv Russia affords
lessons we ought to profit by. The Russian forces
overran the Caucasian country in 1896. and receiv-
ed the submission of the people. They conquered
peace. Well, in 1907 passed through the heart
OF the country which had been garrisoncd with
twenty thousand men for eleven Years at a cost of
between sixty and seventy thousand men, or six or
seven thousand men year. At that time it was
necessary to wait the departure Of train from post
20 post, as 1t was unsafe TO move with less than
two pieces of artillery and full company Of nfan-
try. This state of things continued until 1910.
whon the Caucaslan5 organized powerful Opposi-
ton TO their conquerors, and up TO the present DAY
, have commended against them with ADVANTAGE
The Caucasus does not contain more thana million
and half Of inhabitants. the Russian empire not
less than sixty millions. The Caucasians have No
y regular army; the Emperor six hundred thousand
weil-disciplincd troops
Both toe President aud the Secretary build up a
system of line defence, il is called. which they
easily overthrow. because no military man would
. suggest such anomaly. They suppose frontier
can ouly be defended by chain of posts bordering
on the line; whereas it is best secured by stronf
interior offences. But did not intend TO intrud,