Alexandria Gazette

VERY LATE FROM MEXICO.
The New Orleans Picayune has a file of Vera Cruz papers as late as the 22d ultimo, received through the same channel as the intelligence given in another column from the Gulf Squadron.— From the Picayune's epitome of their contents we extract the following:
In the first place, we may say, in general terms, that in no paper which we have opened do we find any token of submission on the part of the Mexicans in their conflict with this country.— Their losses are enumerated in detail, to found thereupon more urgent appeals to the patriotism of their citizens to give up every thing for the support of the war. It is not too much to say that there is the warmest enthusiasm apparent in all that we read—whether in editorial remarks or the military addresses with which the papers are crowded. The spirit of all is, "war to the knife." But this shows the surface of affairs only. We shall have occasion to note incidents which lead us to suspect the country is by no means so united as the crisis in her affairs would seem to demand.
The news of the arrival of Santa Anna at San Luis Potosi which we gave the other day, was at least premature. He did not reach there till the 8th of October. As every thing in regard to his movements is sought after, we annex his letter announcing his arrival:
Liberating Army of the Republic,
Headquarters, San Luis, October 10, 1846.
Most Excellent SIR:—On the evening of the 8th instant I arrived at this capital, accompanied by my staff, and established therein the Headquarters of the Army of Operations, destined to repel the unjust invasion made upon the Republic by the Army of the United States of the North.
I have the pleasure of saying to your Excellency that my entrance into this State was made amidst the congratulations of a magnanimous people, who have not ceased to bestow upon me profuse marks of consideration, and the same remark will apply to the authorities and public functionaries of all classes.
Oblige me by communicating these facts to his Excellency the General charged with the supreme executive power, and accept assurance of my consideration and esteem. God and liberty!
ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA.
To the Secretary of War.
One of the first acts of the wily generalissimo was to supply himself with funds. This he did very effectually by seizing upon a conducta of specie, thereby getting hold of two millions of dollars. His pretext was, that it was unsafe to forward this large amount of money to the sea-coast in the present state of affairs. He gave receipts for the money and his individual bonds for its restoration. It must be confessed that this mode of supplying his coffers is infinitely more expeditious than advertising for a loan, and more acceptable to the people at large than a forced loan, from the clergy. The accounts we give of this great financial stroke we do not derive from Mexican papers, but we have entire faith in the facts.
We regret to say that the papers give us no clue to Santa Anna's plan of operations. But while on his way to San Luis he wrote back from Queretaro, on the 3d of October, as follows:
".The disaster which we encountered at Monterey is not so great as I at first thought. Our troops have left for Saltillo, and have already occupied the principal points of the Sierra. So far from the troops having become demoralized, I am assured that great enthusiasm prevails among them. Their success has cost the enemy, according to incontestable evidence, more than fifteen hundred men. Our artillery was well managed, and it is said that the enemy believe it was served by French officers.
I am now about to unfold all my character with the energy which is habitual to me, and the Americans will very soon succumb, or I shall cease to exist."
We now for the first time learn what fruits the Mexicans derived from the seizure of our mails near Marin, intended for Gen. Taylor at Monterey. Among the multitude of papers forwarded by Ampudia to Santa Anna and the Government, we find a letter from our Secretary of War (Mr. Marcy) to General Taylor, revealing the design upon Tampico and San Luis Potosi. The letter is dated Washington, September 2d, and, though our account of the contents of the letters will be an old story at Washington, we may say here that the design of the Secretary's letter is to obtain Gen. Taylor's opinion, rather than to dictate a line of proceedings for him. He is told what the Government has thought of doing, and asked what he thinks about it. The Government refers to him for information upon various points—as to the difficulties of his own advance—whether he deems it advisable to continue his march upon San Luis, and various kindred topics. The letter pursues its inquiries in the most respectful terms, deferring to the better judgment of Gen. Taylor; but it of course discloses our plans, the number of troops intended to be used against Tampico, and some other general particulars. The letter of Gen. Ampudia, covering Mr. Marcy's despatch, contains a singular paragraph, if in our haste, we rightly apprehend it. It is to the following effect.
"Every moment which passes confirms my idea of the immense advantages we have gained from fighting four consecutive days at Monterey, since now the enemy entertains great respect for the Mexican soldiers, and American blood flowed with such profusion that from the generals of the enemy came the suggestion of an armistice of eight weeks, which disarms, as it were, a great part of his regular troops."
The Mexican accounts of the battles are more numerous than have been published in the United States. As a matter of necessity they praise very highly the valor of our troops, and they insist upon the obstinacy and gallantry of the defence. The movements of General Worth on the west side of the town are described as very brilliant. One fort taken by Gen. Worth is said to have been taken and re-taken three several times—once by Gen. Mejia at the point of the bayonet, capturing at the same time 300 Americans and eight pieces of artillery. But we have neither time nor space to-day to enter further into the Mexican accounts of the battles.
Before the two months' armistice expires, the Mexicans count confidently that Santa Anna will have an army around him which will prevent any further advance of Gen. Taylor.
The Mexican papers are full of the orders of Gen. Salas, made through his Secretaries, providing resources for the war. We have various circulars of Almonte, one of which is in the nature of a manifesto, and written with marked ability.
On the morning of the 14th of October a rumor was circulated in the city of Mexico that some battalions of the National Guard designed to issue a pronunciamento, the object of which was to wrest the reins of Government from Gen. Salas, on the ground that he was aiming to perpetuate his power and intended to seize upon the property of the commercial classes. This rumor was followed by another of dissensions in the Cabinet, threatening the stability of the Government. The multitude assembled in crowds about the palace, and at last Gen. Salas, accompanied by Senor Gomez Farias, appeared and addressed the people, endeavoring to soothe and quiet them. The General was received, says the Government organ, with enthusiasm of the liveliest kind.
The excitement subsequently took a new turn. Senor Cortina, the Governor of the Federal District of Mexico, was said to have given notice to the merchants that he could no longer guarantee the security of their property. The warehouses of the merchants were in fact closed in some quarters, and the owners, it was said, were arming themselves to protect their property.— This led again to the assemblage of throngs of people, deeply anxious to learn the facts, and Gen. Salas and Senor Farias again sallied forth and addressed the people, and succeeded in dispersing them quietly. All this commotion is attributed by the papers in favor of the Government to the intrigues of the monarchists. The church is roundly berated for favoring the designs of the monarchists. The motives of the clergy were, of course, their dread lest the Government should seize upon their revenues to carry on the war against the United States.
An express arrived at Vera Cruz on the 21st ultimo, which announced that during the night of the 18th there was another alarm in the capital, similar to that of the 14th, which was quieted however, like that of the 14th, after some moments of convulsion. We bitterly regret these commotions, (says El Indicador,) because if they are continued they will infallibly produce our ruin. Our enemy is already in the heart of the country, and nothing but the union of our strength can save us. The Government is unable to discharge its weighty obligations toward a foreign enemy, when confidence is thus shaken by unfounded alarms and the time of the Government is wasted in preventing and dispelling them.
Subsequently to this latter difficulty Senor Cortina sent in his resignation of his post. His letter is dated the 17th of October. He says that his services can be no longer useful to the Government, as his views and wishes have been misrepresented; and takes advantage of the order and tranquility which prevail in the capital to lay down his authority.
We may as well mention in this connexion that Senor Rejon has also subsequently resigned his portfolio. We do not know his motives, but it indicates further disaffection.
The Mexicans appear to be perfectly apprized of the state of things in Matamoras. Their accounts of the sickness which prevails there are quite minute.
The Mexicans have received intelligence that our Government was about to send vessels of a larger class against Vera Cruz. This led to an immediate call upon the troops in the interior to move to the defence of the city and fortress.
From Jalapa we have the address of Col. Savago to his battalion of National Guards. It is full of enthusiasm, and alludes to the success obtained by the inhabitants of Alvarado over our forces, but as the prelude to other victories which await them. We find numerous military addresses of this kind. In Jalapa volunteers are urged to come forward and be organized as light troops, somewhat on the plan of "minute men"—to be ready at any moment to march to any point which may be assailed. The enemy evidently are dreading descents upon the coast, and are organizing their forces with the specific view of repelling them.
Domingo Ibarra writes to the Secretary from Puebla on the 13th October, that a battalion of troops styled "Libres de Puebla," a part of the National Guard, would leave that city on the following morning, on their way to Vera Cruz, in conformity with the orders of the War Department. From other points, too, troops have gone forward to the same destination.
El Indicador, of the 22d October, has an article eulogizing Gen. Basadre for his skill, tact, and judgment, in bringing about the reincorporation of Yucatan into the confederacy, notwithstanding the formidable obstacles which he encountered.