Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-02-02

>A1SSS o ctIObA h1Oh0IChSdI PoItyS
n wealth and station-the Priests, the for
ner aristocracy and the adherents of Spain.
We may drive the numbers under their
banners. Still the President is wrong: our
armed Intervention might bring ca US a
powerful foreign foe, but could not prevent
the evil; whereas, if we hold back, ny
life for it, a monarchy woald ret exist in
Mexico three years, with fifty thousand
foreign bayoneis 10 sustain it. The peo-
pie are republican.
The President says he is convinced
III at the best means Of bringing the war to
an honorable close will be TO prosecute it
with increased energy and power in the
vital parts Of the enemy's country. Now,
am persuaded that SO long as we contin-
ne to prosecute the war in the interior OF
Mexico, we shall have no peace with the
nation, and all attempts to make peace
with faction will place US in a worse po-
sition than open war. Ispeak with the au-
thority Of perfect knowledge Of the ma
ture Of the country and the character OF
the people.
was glad to find that the Secretary re-
jects the plan Of oyerrunning the whole
country, as too expensive; but was sur
prised to perceive that he only estimates
the number Of men it would require to do
this, or to maintain our present conquests,
at seventy thousand men for the first, and
some thirty-fve or forty thousand for the
second. lie says nothing of the annual
consumption of men during this prolong-
ed contest. During the most favorable pc
Rod Of the Peninsular war, carried on in a
country friendly to them, the British force
lost annually sixteen per cent, one-fourth
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. | re-
marked in the isthmus between the Caspi-
an and Black Seas that the Russian forces
required to be recruited entirely in three
years; that is to say, they required re-
newal Of one third every year.
The conquest of that country by Russia,
affords us lessons we ought to profit by
The Russian forces Ovcrran the Caucas-
sian country in 1896, and received the
submission of the people. They conquer
cd a peace. Well, in 1907. passed thro'
the heart of the country, which had been
garrisoncd with twenty thousand men for
eleven years at a cost Of between sixty and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. uIcu year. ~ tldt
time it was necessary to wait the depar-
ture Of train from post to post, as it was
unsafe to move with less than two pieces
Of artillery and full company Of infan-
try. This state of things continued until
1910, when the Caucassians organized a
powerful opposition to their conquerors,
and up to the present day have contended
against them with advantage. The Cau-
casus does not contain more than a mill
ion and half Of inhabitants: the Russian
empire not less than sixty millions. The
have no regular army; the
Emperor six hundred thousand well-dis-
t,oops.
Both the President and the Secretary
build up system Of line defence, as it is
called, which they easily overthrow, be-
cause no military man would suggest such
an anomaly. They suppose frontier can
only be defended by chain of posts bor-
dering on the line; whereas it is best Sc
cured by strong interior defences. But
did net intend TO intrude my opinion on
military matters. Settle what territory you
intend to claim, and II Mexico you in
tend to keep it. She will buster and pro-
test, but never attack you. Her leaders
Will have too much al stake TO venture SO
far from the capital. She will have no
means to equip armies and maintain them
on long marches and distant campaigns;
and hazard nothing in saying that two
or three strong places in the interior Of
our line would keep them in check for half
a century. and in less time we might buy
a title, if thought necessary. By adopting
this plan peace would come at last with
present indemnity, and. instead of raising
thirty thousand men.you would have troops
enough to keep peaceable possession of
our new territory, and might dismiss the
volunteer force.
To succeed in levyiEg the military con-
fributions the President speaks of. and pro-
visioning the army by force. the troops
must be very much increased. 1t requires
a very large force to procure supplies with
ont paying for them. They can only be
gathered by formidable detachments. and
yur army never has been and never will
be sufficiently numerous to enable the
General to separate SO many
men from the main body.
Ihave given you my opinions very hur-
riedly. for 1t appears 10 me there is little
lime to lose in settling the course TO be
pursued. We can. at this period. with
draw our forces without dishonor; nay,
such an act would elevate us in the esti-
nation of the world The slightest re-
vcrse-a threat Of foreign Intervention
might render such an act difficult, if no:
Before our troops evacu-
ate the Mexican territory. that people out
10 be told what we intend to do. 1t is bare
" possible that they might be disposed to
peace upon Witnessing such movement.
With regard to the details cf.he defence
of the lne-not the line defence-they
can be determined very easily. and think
we might be certain Of remaining unmo-
Tested for twenty years; and forever. with
such precautions as might be taken at
little cost.
With great respect and regard. am.
my dear sir, yours, truly.
J. r. POINSETT.
Hon. 4. +. BUTLER, u. s. Senate.
WaShinrton