The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-24

AN ENGLISH VIEW OF MEXICAN AFFAIR

AN ENGLISH VIEW OF MEXICAN AFFAIRS.
From he L0adoa Times, Nor 5h.l
The Mexicans appear determined TO put Europe
in good humor with the theory OF anneTatlon-
That fertile and beautiful portion OF the naoltaplG
globe is now turned into such den OF thieves and
marauders that any change which may Oe lnuoc
duccd, by foreign coercion, into IT'S forms ol
| government must now be accepted an improve
ment by the civilized world Of the usual pusl-
ness OF life, there is an end IN Mexico. lne
principal cities appear now to be in the nanas Oh
one set of robbers, of another. Time was
! when the miserable faction fights which were con-
| stantly occurring from one end Of the country 10
the other at least claimed to represent some pollt-
! cal distinction Their party cries protessed 10
| imply something more dgnihed than mere pare
| faced rapine-than the proceeding OF the hlghWay
robber, who pointed huge ebel-shaPed blunderou5ss
at your head and called upon you to throw yourseH
on the ground with your face to the earth Whlle Ne
! plundered you of your property. There was plenty
OF robbery and plenty of violence, of course, undeT
the old system, but, at least, had you been robbed
| ten years ago the hills between Vera Cruz ana
! Mexico the Government Of the hour would nave
! expressed polite regret aud murmured something
! about troublesome times" 1t bad enough
! even then for the unfortunate foreigner who, al
lured by the fertility of the soil and the splendor
of the skv, ventured to trust his fortunes to the
chances of Mexican Of course, II there
| had been good many policemen about, few sol
diers garotte artist or two, and settled Govern
ment, most Englishmen, and all gentlemen from
Scotland or the North of Ireland could have made
fortunes in Mexico in an incredibly short space
Of time. Ask the result from those who have
tried it, Ask them to tell you the meaning Oh
! the word 'pronunciamepto!" The Parisians are
a tame, much enduring population, slow TO
take offence, averse to street fights, by the
side of the mobOcracv of Mexican city VINO
that has SCENT forget the alarm which made the
air electrical, the dropping shot so, the peallng
bells, the furling of the red umbrellas, the hurried
retreat of the monks to their drOneres, the coseo
houses, and the sharp struggle which ended in the
Subversion of one trumpery Government and the
substitution of another more trumpery still? NOT
must it be supposed that although few OF the rap
bic could get up respectable enough ProhuHcad-
nento at any time, the evils of upon large
scale unknown to this brilliant, i'll starred
land. 1t would be idle to run through catalogue
of the miserable revolutions which in the lifetime
of men of middle age have afflicted Mexico
with transitory desolation, for prolific is the
soil, vigorous is life in that bright land, that
desolation there can last but for brief time so
quickly does the kindly power OF nature restore
what the spasmodic frenzy of man had destroyed.
To enter, then, into the history OF Mexican re
voutons would simply be to make an idle parade
of familiarity with the battles between kites and
crows. As the result Oft these miserable struggles,
not any principle was established, nor, in the alb
sence OF settled principle, was even the arb1rary
power OF any individual who might in the long run
have evoked order out of confusion strengthened
and confirmed. The usufruct of political power for
the moment became the prize of the successful VIC
tor in every chance afray. The natural eonse-
quence followed. The country without SOW
erelgn, without an arstncracy, without that feel
ing of respect for established law which takes the
place ofinfuences more direct and personal in coun
tries more advanced in civilization. Every mans
hand was already against his neighbor when the
dispute with the United States, which ended in the
severance of portion of the Mexican territory, oc-
CURED, and served to make confusion thrice con-
founded. On a smaller scale the result follow
ed which appears to have been brought about at
the conclusion of the former Chinese war. Foreign
conquest destroyed the last lingering vcstige of
spect for the internal Government of the country;
and henceforward the rabbe of Mexico came to be
raw material to be worked up at the pleasure of
any bold adventurer who might be struggling, not
for political ascendancy-perhaps noble mistake
but for the sake of mere plunder and lust-a most
base and ignoble certainty.
The Times here narrates the capture of Tampico
by Cara, and his treatment of the merchants and
inhabitants in support of its positions.
Now may fairly ask what interest have we
in the defence of the Mexican Republic when such
Outrages committed against our fellow-suhjects
upon Mexican soil? Under ordinary circumstances,
we might talk of reprisals and redress but Of what
avail would anything that Mexico could give be to
us? No Government exists there from which we
could exact satisfaction To levy indemnity upon
the inhabitants of Vera Cruz would simply be to
plumber others we have been pundered ourselves.
We do not cOvet the possessions of square foot of
Mexican soil, which would to us be an encum-
brance-not an advantage. Why, then, should
interpose between the ambitious designs of the
Government of Washington and this wretched Mexi-
Republic? To us the establishment of any Gov
ernment, if it could enforce law and order in Nex-
co, would be an advantage loss. The Span
ish Monarchy in its decadencc is now fitting out an
expedition against Mexico; but this is, of course,
but farce, for the days of Cortez are gone by
Every gun fired the Mexican territory is fired to
the ultimate profit of the great Anglo-Saxon North
ern Confederation.
A MEXICAN BATTIE-The city of Mexico CORES
pondent of the NeC York Times gives the following
account of one of the recent battles in that coun
try:
Early on the morning of the 10Th, Gen. Blanros
forces being pncamDpd IutchilIOup a few miles
this side Of Chernavaca, they learned that the enc
my was near. BIanco at once put his forces in mo-
ton to continue his retreat, and as the enemy were
reported to be rapidly advancing it was found
cessary to leave one artillery carriage that out
OF order Blanco's forces fairly off, the patriotic
citizens OF Huitchilaquc conceived it time for
them to change their politics. and they hit upon the
expedient OF making bonfire of the abandoned car
riage. The whole population turned out to add TO
this demonstration against the Federalists While
this junction was going ahead, Gen. Pena, with the
Government van came hcroicallv on: he saw the
bonfire, and failing to in it anything friendly,
he set it down as some hcatheniSh ceremony of the
barbarous Federalists-perhaps the culinary de-
partment OF Blanco's camp. 1t was a case that re-
qured great strategy, and he therefore detailed his
most trusty arterymen to advance with cannon
charged with grape, while he placed as a reserve
several mortars to lombard the place, and fell back
himself to the rear ofh forces, in order to avail
himself of the best means of getting off if his plans
did not work well.
The patriotic citizens of Huitchilaque in the mean
time heaped up the bonfire and looked around for
those they were working to honor, little thinking
or dreaming ofthc military stratagem which was
then being executed against them. You nav
therefore, guess the astOnsbment of the Huitchila-
quenas when they received in their very midst a
volley of grapeshot knocking their lighted fire
brands in every direction, mutilang many of their
number, and tearing to pieces five of them. Seized
with CONSERVATION they fed but that even was at
tended with new horrors. The mortars had com
menced their work, and exploding shells came
crashing down amongst their houses, scattering ter
all sides. They, therefore, fell upon their
knees and implored the saints for their protection
General Pena having been advised of the success
of his stratagem thus far, ordered a charge upon
the place, and the valiant troops of the government
with fixed bayonets, readily obeyed his orders
knowing the position of things, and Huitchauue
fell to the hands of defenders of "Religion and Law"
General Pena, covered with dust and sweat (cold)
from this bloody and brilliant battle came in at the
head Ofhe charge and was enthusiastically received
amidst the screams of terrified children, the barks
of scared dogs, and the prayers and lamentations of
the wounded and the wives and sisters of those who
had perished. With great promptitude he penned
a hasty despatch to the government, very much af-
ter the laconic style Of Julius Cesar-ueai ridi,
Uici-the receipt of which here caused great iub-
lee, the greatest ever known by the oldest inhab-
tant. Such is the true history of the battle of
Huichilaque and such the srategetic talents of our
crack military men.