The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-08

ON the question. 1t il not unlikely that
the discussion will spread to this side of the
water There is public here quite ready to
grapple with it, and dispose of it in some new
way. But where are the men-divines, legisla-
tors, lawyers, or ply sicians-who possess a sufI-
cient knowledge Of the matter to pronounce on
the merits Of the existing or any new proposed
scheme of laws to check the admitted evil
The Santa Anna Bribe and santa Annals
Tactics.
Our Washington correspond ent gives us to-
day chapter from the secret history Of the
Mexican war; which throws deal of light upon
the late disputed question between several of
our Generals From the new point of view
which lie presented. il will be seen that all of
the parties have told the truth about the bride
to Mexican General, and that the only differ
ence between them arises from the different in
ferences drawn by each according to his point
of view of the same circumstances. Generals
Scott, Quitman, Pillow and Hitchcock, who had
each favored the public with his views upon the
subject, can now consider the matter settled so
far as they are mutually concerned; and the
only point remaining for future arrangement is
the little personal difficulty between Pillow and
Santa Anna That, we suppose, will come in
proper time.
The fact of the negotiations at Puebla had
always been conceded on all sides; but
the true reasons that gave rise to
them have probably remained known to
very few persons 1t now turns out
that Santa Anna brought to play upon General
Scott, through the British Minister and interests
in Mexico, little of that skill for intrigue
which he so largely possesses. He hoped to de-
coy Scott in an unprepared state into the val
ley, under promise to make treaty of peace,
only STIMULATING for a small sham fight to save
his own honor; and had he succeeded in so do
ing be might perhaps have changed the whole
face of the war Nothing on his part would
have prevented his giving Scott sound thrash
ing if in the course of things he should have
found himself able to do it. At all events he
got the ten thousand dollars in cash, which he
probably pocketed, as it his fashion to do.
He is seldom so FESTIVE under the accusation
Of having made profitable transaction as he
shows himself to be in the present instance; and
this arises, we suppose, more from the inoppor-
tune time Of the disclosure than from any new
sensibility on his part. He he is now engaged
in actively conspiring to get power again in
Mexico, and for this purpose has raised
the cry which he always has resorted to
when he wishes to draw off public atten-
ton from his own misdeeds. A crusade
against the encrOachment of the bsrbarous
= 4.
revelation OF his proposed negotiation for peace
and q million has damaging effect upon his
political prospects.
As he is 80 anxious for a war the best thing
our government can do, as soon as he re-
turns to Mexico, is to give him one. Our citi-
zens have unsettled claims against Mexico to
the amount of twenty millions of dollars and up
wards, and new cases Of outrage and spoliation
are offrequent occurrence in the small ports of
the Pacific, where the federal power Of Mexico
is little felt. 1t would be well to bring all these
things to point at an early day. Let the ad-
ministration, therefore, prepare new conven-
ton with Mexico, including not only the settle
ment of all these claims but the giving of some
support to the true liberals Of that republic in
their present efforts to save it, and if Santa Anna
should come back hold him to the practice of
his preachings against us, and quietly reconquer
the whole republic. 1t would be a much easier
task now than il was the first time, for a large
portion of the people desire to have US back
again, and would do much to help us. One
thing is pretty evident, that if the church party
gets the government into their hands, we shall
soon have a war with Mexico whether We will
or not