Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-01-26
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BuEN

/
Congress has adjourned without adopting any mea-
sures, as we learn, either for the vigorous prosecu
ton OF The war, OF for the renewal Of negotiations
for peace. Indeed, such are the divisions and
distractions among themselves, that doubt whe-
ther 1t is possible for them 10 unite in any thing
Thus the policy which have heretofore limited at,
OF worrying us out by course OF "masterly inacti-
vity," is likely to prevail, as the result of acciden-
tai circumstances, If not of design, and the effects
to US must be equally embarr assing How this
matter Is 10 end, therefore, is question of the
greatest difficulty, as well as of the most absorbing
interest. military occupation of Mexico would
be an expensive operation 10 our Government, and
wholly bootless for any just national ends and OBJ
jects while lis conquest and incorporation, with
its mongrel, depraved, and ignorant population,
could not prove otherwise than Iunous to our free
insttutions-an unmitigated curse to us. Our
Congress has certainly grave task before it, and
| can but hope that its wisdom will prove equal to
the emergency.
Sunday last was high day among the Mexi-
cans, being the Festival of their Patron Saint,
"'The Lady of Guadalupe" Twas no, in the city
to witness it, but understand the religious coremo-
imposing and the sports and amuscmens of the
evening, suppose, as matter Of course, CORES
pcndingy varied and animated.
The spirit of annexation seems to be gaining
ground among the natives. A marriage took place
rot long since in Monterey between an individual
hailing from Richmond, Virginia, and Mexican
damsel, and now another has just come Off in Sal
tlo, between an American and another of the Seno-
rtas. This last ceremony, am told, was attend
ed with good deal Of merry making among other
things, dance on carpet in front of the Church
| ludicrous occurred in the streets of the
latter place few days ago-A drunken soldier,
with a Mexican little more intoxicated
than himself, hanging on his arm, staggering along
and believing out at the top of his voice. "a Trea-
| ty of Peace and Alliance made between Mexico
and the United Sates!" The couple, as might
be supposed attracted no little attention among so
large and idle population, and drew crowd of
boys after them wherever they went, which appear
ed to he vastly amused at the exhibition.
had the pleasure of being present at a dinner
given to the Commander of the Division Colonel
! Hamtramck,) and Staff and other American off
GERS, on Tuesday, by DIR. Hewiison, an Irish gen-
tleman of wealth, who has been for many wears a
resident of Sa',illo. The Doctors wife is hIexi
can lady, and the dinner was served up in the best
Mexican style. | can only guess al the number of
courses-some of my friends say twenty-but such
was the feeling of enjoyment among the company
that none of lis seem TO have taken any note of
them. The dishes were, for the most part entire
, new TO me, and far too numerous even TO taste.
and reminded me very much of the French style of
cookery. They were brought in one at time, and
several of those of which partook, Were of the
| greatest dellcacy. The wines too were excellent
the Port Pariicularly-and ample justice, assure
you, was done to the liberal fare OF our generous
host. The occnsion was very pleasant one, and
on parting | could not refrain from Offering the fol-
| lowing sentiment:
''Old lreland-IIer sons are to be found every
where-and are every where at home and wha,
is more, they make their friends 500
| DIR. Hewi,son is one of the proprietors of the
large Cotton Factories, which have heretofore
spoken of, in the neighborhood Of Salto, and is
in every sense true hearted Irish gentleman.
| few evenings ago, party of us by way of a.
musement, attempted to ascend one of the noun
tain passes in the neighborhood of the camp, which
Is much used by the Mexicans, in packing wood
from the valley on the opposite side. We started
too late, however, we found, much to cur dsap-
Ponment, for the full accomplishment of our object
Such is the transparency of the atmosphere in Mex
leo that 1t is impossible TO measure heights or dis
tances with the eye, with any approximation to
accuracy, and what we thought to be a small task
! Of easy accomplishment when we set out, proved
10 be very considerable as well as exceedingly
difficult one. After ascending for more than
mile, the travel became so rugged and DANGEROUS
that we were compelled to dismount, and pursue
our journey on foot. The ascent was exceedingly
tollsome, and we had to make frequent halts to
recover our breath, and what was most disheart
ening the distance to our object, as we scaled RIDGE
after ridge, seemed but to lengthen as we advan
ced. We were very well compensated, however,
for our trouble. The scenes in which we found
ourselves embosomed, Were Of the widest gran
deur and sublimity, far, far exceeding any noun
tain scenery have ever beheld. About half way
up we encountered snow in the more sheltered ho-
lows two inches deep, while on the sunny ridges
found several beautiful varieties of the cac
us-some of them in fruit, others in bloom. One
Of them was in globular form, about the size of a
peck measure, thickly set over with spurs like
those Of chicken, and ano her in shaft three OF
four feet high, without branch or leaf of any kind
When we concluded TO turn back, 10 appearance,
within quarter Of a mile of the top, but
doubtless the distance was much greater and it
was well we did so, for it was dark when we reached
our quarters How the delicate little Mexican