The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-07-02


commanding general who possesses the conf
dence Of the army, and whose abilities for his
position are already beginning to be illustrated
in the field, Harper's Ferry has resulted In
securing us the most desirable of all things de-
manded by the exigences of the day.
In view OF the speedy expulsion of the rebel
forces from Pennsylvania and Maryland, and
in view of the necessity which will then COM
pei General Lee to take the back track to
Richmond. we should think that the wise heads
Of the War Office have had experience enough
in our past campaigns in Virginia to know
what to do They know by this time all the
highways and byways along which an army
may get out of the Shenandoah valley into the
country east Of the Blue Ridge; and how an
army, even after crossing the mountains, may
be intercepted ON the road to Richmond.
First, however, let US await the issue of the
movements of the opposing armies in Penn
sylvania and Maryland, and then, with the ex-
pulsion Of the enemy back into the Shenandoah
valley, the failure Of the War Office 30 to CO.
operate on the enemy's flank with the move
ments Of General Meade upon their rear will
result In public demand for reconstruction
at Washington which President Lincoln will
| be able no longer to resist. On the other
hand, let the War Office seize the opportunity
and secure the defeat and dispersion of the
rebeFkrmy of Virginia, and all the past blum
ders and acts Of negligence on the part Of
Messrs. Stanton and HalleOk will be forgotten
in the general exultatisns Of : grateful people.
It is the army of Lee that Is now N danger;
and now that the government has the mem
| volunteers and militia-and the means at hand,
| for the overthrow and dispersion of his army
now is the time to bring them all into action.
The CITY OF Mexico In Possession Of the
French.
We have the most exciting news to-day from
Mexico. The French are in occupation of the
capital, having found no obstacles in their
march after the capture Of Puebla, which is In
itself very suspicious circumstance. The
Mexican troops withdrew four days before the
French entered and the church party rendered
their allegiance to Napoleon. The seat of gov
eminent, the treasure and the arms and NUM-
tions of war have been transferred by Juarez to
San Luis de Potosi, which lies considerably
northward, among the mountains, in the direc-
ton of Texas, where resistance can be continued
to the progress Of the French arms with greater
advantage than in the capital, which the Mexi-
can government desired to save from lombard
| ment. By moving in this direction Juarez will
be enabled to fall back upon the Southern con-
| federacy if hard pressed, and to form an alliance
with it. The new seat Of government, moreover,
is the centre OF the mining region; and it is evil
| dent that by taking possession of this point
Juarez does not mean to give up the contest.
This is further plain from the fact that the
twenty thousand men who garrisoned the
capital have been withdrawn to Cuernavaca
and to intermediate points around the city, for
the purpose of carrying on guerilla warfare
for which the Mexicans, like the Spaniards, are
famous, the geographical character Of the coun-
try of both nations being favorable to this
mode of hostilities. With the aid of small
British force Of thirty thousand men the Spanish
guerillas drove . large French army out OF
Spain. With the aid Of an army Of twenty
thousand Confsderates the French could be as
easily driven out Of Mexico Any person, by
consulting map Of the Mexican republic will
see that the territory lying south Of the capital
is about one-fth, while fourfths of it are north,
including the most valuable mines. The French
do not occupy even the southern portion of the
country, but merely the road from Vera Cruz
| to the Halls Of the Montezumas, and the Mexican
army is still intact Cortez in bis expedition con-
quered ignorant Indians, unacquainted with fire.
arms or the use iron. General Scott succeeded
rapidly in his conquest because the Mexicans
were well aware that the American government
did not want to destroy the independence of .
sister republic, but merely to obtain redress
for wrongs, and they submitted because they
hated the yoke Of Santa Anna. The manner in
which they fought for their independence
against the mother country, and their resist
ance to ambitious rulers, who have since sought
to establish despotism over them, are earn
ests of what Napoleon has to expect before he
can sx2sdue Mexico.
General Forey, too, has already thrown of
the mask by issuing decree coniscatng
the property Of all who have been or are in
arms against the French; aud q new journal
started in the interest of Napoleon, states that
"the occupation of the city of Mexico settles
with absolute certainty that 1t is necessary to
extirpate by root the democratic element, and
no longer need there be even dream of popu
lar sovereignty
Will the Mexicans submit TO this? Never
But IT fully reveals what are the de
signs Of the Emperor Of the French, and how
deccitful are his circulars, denying that he ever
intended to interfere with Mexican independ
cnce. Now that'he has been compelled 10 show
his hand, be will pretend that his object is to
educate the Mexican people, like Algeria, into
selfgovernment, Of which they arc at present
incapable. And 10 this end he will construc,
railroads and set on foot other public works ia
develop the resources Of the country. II ID
already announced that he intends to unite the
Atlantic and the Gulf Of Mexico with the