Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-12

j
The Editor of the South Caronian, of Columbia,
rs. c. in copying from this paper the first Letter
Of Mr. PoINsETT to Senator BUTLER, with flatter-
ing notice of the ability and knowledge of the wri-
ter at the same time expresses his surprise that
so well acquainted with Mexico and Mexican af-
fairs should have hitherto maintained profound
~.Ienoe the subject of the Mexican war, when
every other public man has been giving free scope
to his thoughts and opinions through the medium of
the press.
Now, in justice to Mr.. PoINsETT, we state that
we have reason to know that, before the conflict
commenced, he desirous of offering his counsel
privately TO the Government, and, when Gen. Tay.
or moved from his position upon the Nueces to take
post on the Rio Grande, he wrote 10 Senator in
the confidence Of the Government that they ought
TO be prepared for War, as he was, sure that the
Mexicans would resent this invasion of the debata-
BILE territory. He urged the danger of the move-
ment and the expedieney OF Immediately raising ad-
ditiona regular troops. He answered, in reply,
that we should have no war with Mexico unless the
Oregon question produced rupture with Great
Britain.
That danger averted, not certainly by the
wisdom of the Administration; yet the war with
Mexico was commenced. Finding his private ad-
monitions unheeded, Mr. PoINsETT did give free
scope to his thoughts and opinions through the
dium of the press, and the Editor of the Carolnan
Will UnQ Ill LIE DOW valuable eCOmmerclal he
view a series Of essays upon the subject of Mex
leo and this same war, in which Mr.. PoINsETT put
forth thoughts and opinions which have proved pro-
phetic. They may be found in the july Septem-
ber and December numbers, of 1916.
In the first number the writer deprecates the War,
and declares from his own knowledge that it might
have been avoided. lie expresses his fears that,
however feeble, the Mexicans would be found obst-
nate foes; and that the natural obstacles to be en-
countered and the stubborn character of the people
would protract the war beyond the period contem-
plated by our Government. He stated then the
difficulties that would be encountered on the line of
advance proposed for Gen. TAYLOR, and advised,
should an invasion be determined upon il should be
effected with well-dsciplined troops and wel-ap-
pointed army, by the shortest and most direct route
( from Alvarado or Vera Cruz, along the pl;ins of
Apam, to the gates of Mexico. With such an army,
and by that route he foretold the success of our
arms, and prognosticated as well their victories as
the futile results of the lavish expenditure of blood
and treasure which those victories would cost He
has put forth another opinion in his letter TO
Senator BUTLER. 1t is, that there will be no peace
this continent so long the armies Of the United
States occupy interior portions of the territory of
I the Mexican Republic.
! We find, too, that he foretold the recall of Gen.
SANTA ANNA 10 lead the armies Of MeTico against
the invaders, should the be protracted express
sing the opinion that he was the most energetic and
most sklful of the Mexican leaders. He did not it
is true, foresee that he would be SO soon placed
there BY the President Of the United States.