The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-29

and Ireland for universal suffrage, and repeal
OF the Union, or something more, may have bro
Ken out II even that brief space of time.
The Glory and Shame OF the Mexican War
The more we OF the correspondence that
took place between our Generals in Mex
leo, after the enemy was defeated and a
series of victories achieved that would con-
fer immortal honor and renown the arms of
any country, in any age of the world, the more
sick at heart it makes US. 1t developes the most
puerlle, foolish and boyish spirit-one which we
never would have supposed had existence in the
breasts of the officers who wrote those letters,
previous to the lamentable fact being known.
The campaign from the city of Vera Cruz to
the capital OF Mexico, is ecidedly the most brill
liant in the annals of modern warfare, not only
for the almost unexampled display of military
science and skill which marked its conduct, but
in the bravery, gallantry, and heroic vaor which
were displayed by officers and men, In carrying
out the plan of the campaign, and all the ar
raugements, from the greatest to the most
minute. 1t astonished the world, and proved to
the satisfaction of our worst traducers, and the
conttmners of our political system and institu-
tons, that the great western republic, as a mill
tary power, has power and resources, in a mill
tsry point of view, sufficient to carry success
fully foreign war-a war of invasion in dis
tsnt enemy's country-as 1t possesses to resist ag-
gression and defend the security and integrity of
Its own territory. This fact was long disputed
and doubted by the statesmen of the old world;
but their doubts were one by one dispelled, as
town after town and castle after castle surren-
,ered to our invinclble army. We would be
glad if we could stop here-it nothing had trans
pired to mar the beauty of this gorgeous picture.
We would be glad if the end of the volume
had been reached with the successful
entry of our troops into the great and
far-fsmed capital OF Mexico; but truth, and
our duty as a journalist to record the events o.
the day, without fear or favor, compel Us to
turn over another leaf, and record events which
tend as much to the shame of the Mexican war
as the aforementioned acts of galantry, skill
and indomitable bravery, tended to its glory.
No sooner was the army ofthe enemy scatter
ed to the four winds, and their great general
had fled before our victorious troops, having
scarce "a place whereto to fly for his personal
safety, than our generals ara officers common
ced among themselves a scramble for the mono
poly of all the glory which belonged in common
10 DOM Objects duu IHcu, duQ Vi WHlCu tlcIc
was abundance for each and all. From that
time to the present, chickering's, courts mar-
tlal, courts OF inquiry, elimination and re-
elimination, have been the order of the day,
and no one can predict when the dlsgraceful
business will end. Letters which should never
have been made public, are brought to light, and
matters which alone interested the parties i'm
medistely concerned, have been published to
the world, and commented upon in all the bar
bers' shops and groggeries of the land, the fire..
quenters of which make their own comments, in
their own way, what they read, in favor of,
and against the officers, who from their servi-
css in the field, had identified themselves with
the glory of their country, and excited the adj
miration Of both hemispheres. If the parties
themselves are to blame in this matter, their
partizans in Congress are equally culpable. They
have taken up the quarrels among the officers in
Mexico with as much earnestness and display, as
much pickering and .ill-feeling in their speeches
and controversies, as the parties among whom
the quarrels originated; and it is to them that
the country is indebted for the publication OF
the correspondence which has thrown this shame
on the Mexican war. But there are others, also,
equally as much TO blame-for the President, the
Secretaries the negotiator Mr.. Trist, and others,
are each and all identified with it, and have yet
each and all to answer to the public for their
participation in the business.
We would not be surprised to Fl nd that these
quarrels will yet be the means OF defeating the
ratification OF the treaty by the Mexicans From
present appearances, there is every likelihood of
such being the case. II they do, the country will
know who to blame. We apprehend, how
ever, that such a result would not be disagree.
able to Mr.. Polk, who commenced the war, for
il would reopen the question of the annexation
OF the whole of Mexico, and be brought into ques-
ton IN the Presidential canvass, and form an is
sue which slipped from him, by Mr.. Trist's
conduct in negotiating that treaty without the
concurrence and in express violation of the or
deIs OF his government.
Out OF the whole batch OF our officers who
conducted this most brilliant war, only two Of
them seem to be possessed of that prudence, self
rcspect, and sagaclty which ought to have dis.
tnguisbed them all. We allude TO General
Taylor and General Wool, who fought side by
side IN the glorious battle of Buena Vista. and
stand eide by side TO this dsy'in the ranks of
friendship and good will. Their conduct stands
our IN bold relief to that of Genera Scott and
the officers associated with him, and entities
them 20 more merit than has yet been awarded
them. When the former conceived himself to
be Injured by the administration, he wrote a
hgnlhed rcbuke, and then threw himself and