The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-21
The French Invasion Of Mexico and the
Silence Of Congress.

Silence OF Congress.
OF all the humiliations our country has seen
there is none to compare with the silence Of
Congress since the invasion of Mexico They
waste their time in everlasting debates about
the niger, while they permit the attempted
subjugation of q sister republic without SO
much a. protest against SO fragrant viola
ton of the law Of nations-so deadly blow
at republican institutions. We have no doubt
that Mr.. Seward has done his duty in the pre-
misses. and that he has sent an indignant remon-
STRANGE to the Tuileries. But if there was
spark of patriotism or public spirit in Con-
gress-if it was not the meanest body Of men
that ever pretended to represent the American
people at Washington-the Capitol would have
quent denuncations ofthe tyrants of Europe as
would make them tremble on their thrones.
The question involved is one of the
greatest Of modern times. 1t involves the
independence Of free nations, the fate Of
republican institutions on this continent, and
of human liberty all over the world. The
ruler Of France. overlooking the progress of
freedom for the last three centuries and half,
dsrcgarding even the principles of the French
Revolution, which first established his dynasty
in power and placed himself at the head Of the
French nation. initiates the course of Charles
", who, in the beginning Of the sixteenth Gen.
fury, sent ont Cortez with handful Of troops
to conquer and appropriate Mexico. The fact
Of Napoleon sending so few troops for such
purpose betrays great ignorance Of Mexico and
its people When Cortez invaded the country
he found the inhabitants semi-civilzed Indians,
their weapons being lances, darts and kind
of sword, but chiefly bows and arrows, sings
and stones At that time, too, they had never
seen horse, though now they excel all nations
in horsemanship. Cortez had not only small fire.
arms and cannon, but cavalry to put their I'M
disciplined troops into disorder. When Gene
raj Scott invaded Mexico, more than three
hundred years afterwards, be found
fare. taught them by their conquerors,
and their cavalry among the most effective in
the world. Being scientific soldier, Scott. by
his operations and battles, gave them new les
sons in all the modern improvements in the art
d war, and they have had great practice ever
since in their intestine strifes Such was the
military enthusiasm excited in the United
States by the war, that in six weeks one hun
dred and fifty thousand volunteers offered
themselves to the government. or these one
hundred and twenty thousand were accepted.
one-haf Of whom advanced into the heart OF
the country and upon the capital, while the re-
mainder operated in Northern Mexico and on
the Rio Grande, or were held in reserve. II
would therefore take two hundred thousand
French troops to successfully invade Mexico.
considering tho distance from France, and the
circumstance Of the men being entirely unac-
cliInated. Such was the sickness among Ameri-
can troops whose climate resembles that of
France, that when Scott reached Puebla nearly
one-fourth Of his army were on the sick list
What folly, then, for Napoleon to send such
a handful Of troops to take the city of Mexico.
II is extremely probable that not man of
thom will ever return to tell the tale, and
France, when she learns their fate, will
boil over with rage. Reniorcements can
not reach them, nor can they retreat
70 Vera Cruz; for the fortified pass OF
through which they gained
m entrance by treachery and breach Of faith
Is now held by the Mexicans, and they cannot
escape to the seabosrd; while the victorious foe
who has driven them back from Pusbla to ORR
liba is still pressing on their rear. The CON-
is completely cut of between the
achievements at Vera Cruz aud the army i'm
prisoned behind the impossible Chiquhuite.
Starvation. capture or total destruction by the
sword awaits them.
inc INVASION va. 2l.w was commenced need. at the wrong
season OF the year, and the army took the
wrong road. Scott began his march in the
middle Of winter. At this season the roads are
owing to the rains, and particu-
arly the road through the valley, between
fcra Cruz and Orizaba. 1t is deep mud, inf