American Flag. (Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico), Vol. 11, No. 192, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 19, 1848 Page: 3 of 4
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AMERICAN FLAG.
BY FLEESON & PALMER.
lYEDNESDrf Y MORNING, APRIL 19, 1848.
The Captain of schooner Geo. Lincoln, will ac-
«ept our beat thanks for late New Orleans papers.
...j ■ -ii ■ 11-
Stkimea "Tom Kibkman."—The disaster to
this boat, reported la last Saturday's paper, we
are happy to announee, was not so serious as report-
ed. She struck a snag, which caused her to leak,
considerably, but was prevented from sinking by
being run into shoal water. The leak was slopped
and ihe boat arrived here on Sunday last—a small
portion only of her freight being damaged—and has
since proceeded lo Camargo. Capt. Dowd, his offi-
cere and crew, are highly commended by the pas-
sengers, for Ihe prompt and boainiau-like manner 111
which tney went to work immediately alter Uie acci-
dent, to save the boat and cargo.
A friend has kindly permitted us to make the (al-
lowing extract from a letter, dated Brasos Island,
17th mat: 'I he non-arrival of the steamer Fashion
is here accounted for.
"The steamer Telegraph arrived this morning,
bringing a laige mail aud dates to the iSlih. Sue
towed ihei'ashiuu back into the Mississippi river, on
the day ol her departure and took her mail aud pas-
sengers off". The Fashion had been to sea, but was
compelled to return, her bwiler having exploded. No
injury to paeseugersor crew."
The Mail.—The long loeked tor mail has at
length arrived. Just twenty-six days elapsed be-
tween us receipt and that of the previous one. lu
this time our exclnyiges have accumulated to a carl
load, and we certainly feel very grateful lo the mail
agents at Brasos and this city, lor the trouble they
must have been at to put us ui possession of the
whole of them.
Although we have been without a mail for euch
a length of time, our dates from N. Orleans (thanks
to schooner Captains—our friends, Messrs. J. W.
Powers & Co. at the Brasos, and others) have been
pretty regularly kept up, and we have now only four
days later dates than before received. Our readers
have been kept pretty well informed of all that has
traaspired in the interim—and lor the present num-
ber we have gone to considerable pains to oul|
and present briefly whatever ef particular interest
was lo be luund in various papers of different dates.
W• regret not being able to continue ihe publica-
tion of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry, but
they have been spun out lo such a length, thai it is
impossible to do so in our limited sheet. The inves-
tigation still continued at last accounts, and the
"damning evidence" of Mr. Trial, as it is called, was
Tsrjr generally looked upon as saddling Gen. Pillow
with the authorship of the "Leonidas" letter—al-
though Major Burns breasts the evidence with asser
tions positive that Gen. Pillow was wholly ignorant
of the letter until it appealed in print. A lie is out
somewhere, aid Gen. Scott is determined to fasten
the telling of it upon ihe right person.
The answer ot Mr. I'nsi lo one interrogatory ol
tha Court, is so emphatic that we cannot forbear giv-
ing it. The question was ordered by Gen. Pillow:
Q,. Do you entertain feelings of hostility and
prejudice agajnst Gen. Pillow?
Ihe witness enquired if ihe Court wished that
question answered. The Court replied in the affir-
mative.
A. With regard to prejudice, the only prejudice
thai over existed in my mind with regard to the per-
son who puis the question, was prejudice in his favor.
The only feeling* of hostility whicn 1 entertained,
are those arising irom a studied attempt on his part
to avail hioiseil ot the position in which 1 bad been
placed towards him by his friend, Mr. Poik, to make
me ihe accomplice and tool in a scheme of villainy
and nnpomur„_tt| imposture towards our whole
country and villainy towards individual officers of
this army, the most audacious, by |»r, that 1 have any
knowledge ol— 3
Uen. billow desired the question answered; the
witness was wandering Irom tne question.
A. 1 nave no personal hostility or prejudice against
htm or any bodyelee. My hosuiity is agamsl villainy.
The last mail trom .tionierrey brought us no pa-
pers. What nas become of the -liaietie?"—not de-
funct, we hope-H is the only medium through which
wo receive news from that quarter. What can we
offer as inducement to obtain regular correspondents
at Monterrey and Saltillo? Our friends up there are
/•quested to see lo this matter for us.
Latbst jraoM Vera Csuz—Departure of Santa
Anna.—From the office of the New Orleans Bella
we receive the following, on a sup, dated 12 o'clock,
M. 12th mat.
" by an arrival this morning from Vera Cruz, we
learn that Uen. nauta Anna arrived at Antigua ou
the 3d mat, under an escort of Tllghman's Maryland
Volunteers, trout -alapu, and was ottered a steamer
by Gov. Wilson, to carry him out of the country,
but the General courteously declined, ile was final-
ly received on board a Spanish brig, and, when our
informant left, was about to sail lor Jamaica, wuh
his laiiitly and a small escort.
"There is nothing new in Mexico. Gen. Scoti
was hourly expected at VeraCruz. The Court ot
Inquiry has, it is said, adjourned to the U. blaies."
"P. a —Since printing the above we have received
full tiles, and our correspondence from the Guy ol
tViexico, to the 2iith ult. inclusive, und the proceed-
ings of the Court of Inquiry lo the 13lu day, inclu-
sive, which will appear in to-morrow's edition, i he
general news aside trom the departure Irom Santa
Anna, and the proceedings ot the Court ot Inquiry,
is not very important. bos. Dllta.
Previous advices from Mexico are contained in the
Mew Orleans papeisof the »ih inst. We copy ihe
following items irom the Picayune:
" A mail from the City of Mexico reached Vera
Cruz on the morning ot ihe 2ilih, bringing dales to
the 25ih from thai city, aud lu ihe ^tillt trom Fuebia.
The -tioiutor Rtpubhcano ol the 25tn announces ihe
death ol Ueiioiui Valencia, lie expired ihe morn-
ing ol that day troui an attack of apoplexy.
i'he Mexican Congress had not yet assembled.
The Memlor of ihe 2.>th—which we tind translated
in the Free American—lias the lollowing remarks
ou the subject:
" As yet, Congress does not assemble. The Ke
presemalivcs ol the Mexican Republic, so indiffer-
era to ihe public evils, canuol appieciate the lionoi
w hich the nation has done them to elect litem to the
high position ihey hold. Private interest ought not
lo detain theui trom their sacred duties; men who
know the importance of the questions winch Con-
gress is called upon to decide—quesiious ol life or
death for the country. An egotism out ol measure,
or a very reprehensible cowardice, can be ihe only
motives which detain these men, who abandon llieir
country m ihe hour of danger, und when its desti-
nies are confided to them."
Ihe conviction had become stronger that the
Mexican Congress wouid assemble before the end ol
Marcn, and that they would ratify the treaty. 'On
the 21st or 22d ult. seven deputies or senators lefl
the city ot Aiexico lor Clueretaro lo lake their seals.
Our information is direct, aud it is most lavorable
lo pea e. It seems to be prelly well understood in
Ihe city ol Mexico how tar our Senate wouid rnodily
the treaty, aud there the opinion prevails thai these
modilicaiious would not prevent its prompt ratifica-
tion. ihe American Star of the 22d ult. without
expressing any opinion as lo the ratification, is con-
fident a quorum would soon be had at Queretaro—
that "the treaty will not be sooner there than the
necessary uumber of members." I'he deputies from
Oaxaca left for U.ueretaro on the 6ih ult.
it is reported that Col. Hays and his regiment are
on the way lo Vera Cruz. I he design in sending
this command down the road is supposed to be lo
disperse the robbers.
From the Picayune of the llth instant, we extract
some portions of a letter from their correspondent,
dated
Mexico, March 22, 1848.
I he investigations of the court of inquiry are now
progressing rapidly. Mr. Trial, the second witness
examined, gave his testimony in part to-day. You
will perceive, even from hie language, the bitter feel-
ing of hostility he has towards (Jen. Pillow aud the
President, which has been by no means modified by
the President's recent course to him. Air. Freanet,
who arrived here ou the I6tb insi. with despatches
from Washington, brought, among other communi-
cations, an order lo Uen. Butler to send Mr. Trial
out of ihe country as soon as he had given his evi-
dence before the courl of inquiry, and, 1 am led lo
believe, as a prisoner. In regard to his treaty he
seems to fear that a grain of ike glory he seems to
imagine will accrue lo hlut from his connection with
il may be lost. Air. Inst, therefore, seizes the lirsi
good opportunity to exculpate all parlies but himself
from the negociations. 1 o-day, while giving his
testimony—alter Gen. Pillow hud interrogated him
iu relation to certain letters written by him to the
United States against Pillow, Gen. Scott asked—
" Will the witness pleasu stale whether Uen. Scott
had any agency or part whatever in advising or sug-
gesting the letters written by hun (witness) against
Uen. Pillow ?"
Answer—"Major Gen. Scott, nor any other human
being, has ever been consulted with or spoken lo
concerning Ihosts letters, or any one determination
by me on any subject since 1 have been m Mexico.
1 he first intimation thai any friend of mine ever had
upon any determination taken by me, was alter that
determination had as.umed a shape, which neither
he nor any other human beiug coulif have changed."
The design of his travelling thus tar beyond ihe
question, and speaking so emphatically, is obvious
Uen. tocoit manages, entirely, his own case before
the court, aud displays much lacl and judgmsnt as
well as legal acuineu.
Since trie arrival ol ihe British courier on the 15th
insiaut, we have had all descriptions ol rumors in
relation to the action of ihe U. S. senate on ihe pro-
position for peace.
Ihe news from Q.usretaro is, that the members
of Congress are gradually arriving there, and Pena
y Pena aud ihe correspondents ot ihe Alexican jour-
nals here assert positively that a quorum will be pre*
sent at the time the treaty is expected to aarive tnere
trom W ashinglou. Il, however, us is reported, Ihe
British interests in the treaty are ejected, and as is al-
most certain to be ihe consequence, British influence
is brought lo bear against ratification, some doubt
may be entertained, D g
The official mouihly statement of the Treasury
Department shows thai the sum standing to the cre-
dit ot the department id tbe several depositories, on
the 29tk ult., was $1,044,6-12
NiWS SUMMARY.
The President ol tbe United States, in a message
transmuted to Congress, on tbe 3d inst, has given
his full and unqualified approbation to the prompt re-
cognition of the new Government of France, by the
representative ol the United States, (Mr. Rusn.)—
The Correspondent of tne Baltimore Sun, says under
date of 3d inst. " W e are iu daily expectation ol re-
ceiving further intelligence from France. The as-
sembling of the nine hundred delegates, represent-
ing seven millions of free electors, will be the most
sublime spectacle ever presented in the political and
moral world. In the meantime we are Healed Willi
what a British wriler, for an American journal, culls
"the revolution" m London—that is, llie police dis-
persing ihe ra'oble of people in the slrcels. lie
says "it was really a beautiful sight." 1 apprehend
these sights will become too common to be amusing.
'1 he game by aud by, will hardly pay, and the mau-
ageis will tind it as unprofitable as the spectators
will dangerous. The wriler adds, significantly, arid
perhaps with more ot prophecy llian he supposes,
"In Paris much less cause produced the revolution."
Major S. Borland, (one of the lncarnacion prison-
ers) has been appointed by Gov. Drew, ot Arkansas,
U. S. Senator trom that Stale, to till the vacancy
occasioned by the appointment of Air. Sevier, com-
missioner lo Aiexico.
The Charleston Mercury learns that the resigns*
lion of Col. Fremont had been accepted. Major
Loring, ol'Florida, succeeds to the vacant commis-
sion.
A Washington letter of the 31st ult says: "Gen.
Shields has been ordered lo Aiexico, a.id is charged
with the command at Tampico. He will leave on
Monday with soldier-like promptness for Ins station.
I have understood that lie has been nominated a
major general, which is an honor that he well de-
serves anu has won by no holiday service.
Diplomatic Appointments.--A, Washington letter
in ihe balliiiiore sun, says :
"The President lias made the following appoint-
ments—Charge d'Affaires to Rome, Or. L. J. Mar-
tin, now Secretary to the Legation in Paris; do. to
Guatemala, John Appleton, now Chief CU rk of the
Department of Male, do. lo Bolivia, Elijah trine, ef
Kentucky; do lo Ecuador, Vanbrugh Livingston,
now an appraiser in the New York cusio<it house.
V. Livingston bus not yet accepted his new situa-
tion, and in case of his resignation it will probably
be given to Air. Charles Eaines, editor ef the Union.
The War Department ou the 29th ult. officially
announced the death of Col. George Bomferd,
Chief of the Ordnance Department, who died on the
25th, ai Boston, after u short illness. Col. Bomford
entered the army as a lieutenant of engineers in
1805, and rendered distinguished services in the lalo
war with Great Britain, iie was afterwards in-
strumental in perteeling the organization of the Or-
dinance Depai Unentj in which important branch of
service he was zealously and usefully engaged until
his decease.
Hon. Mr. Black, member of Congress from South
Carolina, died in Washington on the night of the 3d
inst., after a short illness.
In tbe election in Connecticut, the whigs have
elected eighty members, the democrats fitly-four to
the House. In the Senate, the whigs have elected
seventeen, and the democrats tour members. The
entire whig State ticket has been triumphant.
A grand celebration was to take place on the 3d
inst. in New Nork, to commemorate the French re-
volution. The civic authorities took hold of the
matter aud were determined to give it eclat.
A letter from Rome gives a glowing description of
the celebration of Washington's birthday in that
city. A banquet was given, and speeches were de
hvered on the occasion by several eminent Ameri-
cans, resident in Rome. There were 120 Ameri-
cans attended the celebration, and all the proceed-
ings went off with great enthusiasm.
Lieut. Col. John Garland, says the Lynchburg
(Va.) Patriot, of the 29th ult., left that place on the
Monday previous under orders for Jefferson Bar-
racks. The Colonel's health is much improved He
is assigned to the command of the third military de-
partment in the West, where the movements of the
Indians will require his energies to repress them.
Prince Lucien Murat of Bordentown, New Jer-
sey, it is stated, was to eatl for France on the '25th
ult., lull of enlbutiasm in the cause of the French
revolution.
Hon. R. J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury,
is said lo be in a very critical situation from hermorr-
hage of the lungs.
John W. Townsend, Esq. has been superceded as
Postmaster at Mobile, Ala., by Gen. T. L. Tout-
mtn. The unexpected change has excited some
complaint in Mobile.
The New York Tribune says, "M. De Laforest,
for many years Consul General of France for the
United States, received by the Caledonia a commu-
nication from Lamarline, the head of the Provision-
al Government, to the eflect that he would be retain-
ed in office.
Henry Clay reached Ashland, his home near Lex-
ington, Ky. on the 25lh ult. Liis arrival at Mays
ville was announced by bonfires; tiring of cannon
and othe>- demonstrations of joy. On his journey
thence homewards he was met by deputations, who
welcomed him back to Kentucky with every mani-
festation of respect and love. Henry Clay attained
his 71slyear on the 12th of the present month, April.
General Scott's arrival in New Orleans was look-
ad for by the first steamer from Vera Cruz. The
reception which is lo greet the noble old hero on his
arrival, can well be imagined trom the spiril which
animates the New Orleans press. All feel that he
has suffered injustice from his Government, and not
a voice is raised to defend the course of the President
towards him. He returns to the United States almost
in the character of a prisoner, and this circumstance
will but increase the enthusiasm of his welcome, so
well have the people been made acquainted with the
causes which have placed him in a position so con-
trary to that which his conduct and glorious deeds
entitle him to appear before them.
From the New Orleane Delta.
GENERALS SCOTT AND TAYLOR.
The lately published correspondence between
Gens. Scott and Taylor, forms an important portion
of the history ol ibis War, and we give the essential
parts of i heir letters.
On 2t>ih December, 1846, Gen. Taylor writes t#
Gen. Scott, informing hun of his advance from M„n„
terrey lo Victoria, ol ihe "Saltillostampede" which
called turn back, and of his desire to watch Valencia
and Urrea, who were in force at Tula. Gen. Scott
replies on 3d January, regretting the difficulties of
communicating with Uen. Ta)lor, which compel him
to give ihe orders lu Geri. Butler, the next in com-
mand, relative to the concentration of Patterson and
Twiggs' cummands at Tampico. Gen. Scott then
proceeds to explaiu his plan ol operations, he says;
.viy letter to AJuj. Gen. Butler, herewith, is so lull
that 1 have but lillie to add, even it time permuted.
You will consider yourself as continued in ihe com-
mand you have so long and so honorably held. 1
shall not, beyond ihe necessities ot the service, in-
terfere with you. Your repoits will be addressed i«
me at the Brazos or Tampico, until 1 shall be fmther
down the coast of Mexice ; 1 mean special, uol or-
dinary reports, i hey will, when necessury, be tor-
warded by me to Washington. After 1 may be tup.
posed south of Tampico, you will resume your gen-
eral correspondence with the adjutant general ot tbe
army at the seat of government, and report to m«
specially such matters as may be ot common intereii
to our lines of operations, and 1 shall reciprocate —
Our correspondence wub eaoh other ought, howtr-
er, to be lull, and as rapid us circumstances will
permit.
Should 1 succeed in taking Vera Cruz, and through
it, its castle, the new line of operations upon ihe
capital ot Mexico wilt be opened. By that time—
say towards April—we may both, 1 hope, be euths
ciently reinforced to advance, equally ; and to meet
somewhere near that goal: which junction, I think,
canuol fail to enable us lo dictate an armistice that
will ensure a satisfactory treaty of peace.
W ttile engaged in attacking the harbor of Veu
Cruz, 1 regret, no less upon }our account than my
own, thai you will not be in strengh to manoeuvre
offensively upon San Luis de Potoai, and points be-
yond. Il would greatly favor my enterprise, and
your own inclinations ; but I cannot, ori account ut
the near approach of the vomito, wait for the new
troops (tegulars 1 hope,) which Congress may give
us. Hence, 1 am compelled, by diminishing your
forces, le reduce you tor a time to ihe strict defen-
sive. As 1 have heretofore said, you can afford, and
the common service requires it.
If ihe troops arrive in time—and I will not antici-
pate a failure—1 shall leave the Brasos about the
beginning of the next month, and Tampico lor Vera
Cruz, some tive days later. All the vessels with
troops, ordnance and ordnance stores, and, other sup-
plies, as they arrive off, or depart from the Brasoi
and 1 auipico, will be ordered to thu general rendez-
vous behind the islands of Clanquilla and Lol>o>,
some 50 miles beyond Tampico—said to be an excel-
lent harbor. I here 1 shall join them.
1 believe my arrangements ot every sort to be cam-
plete, except that everything depends on my draw-
ing trom your command aboul 5000 regulars and
volunteers. W llh those forces, and adding
threo or live regiments of new volunteers, (fool,)
Providence may defeat ine,.but L do not believe the
Mexicans can.
Wuh the greatest respect, I remain truly youri,
WLNFIELD SCO I T.
General Tayler's reply, dated at Victoria, Jan. 15,
1847, is as follows:
Sir—In a communication addressed this day to
your slaff'officer, 1 have replied to so much of your
letter ot the lilh instant, and its enclosures, as relates
to points of detail; but there are other andi,'rsve
topics embraced m those communications, to which
1 deem it my right aud my duty to reply directly,
The amount ol force to be drawn from this Iron-
tier, and the manner in which it is proposed to with*
draw it, had never lully come to my knowledge un-
til yesterday, though hinted at in your note of No-
vember 25. Had you, General, relieved me at once
in the whole command, and assigned me lo duty tin-
der your order, or allowed me to retire from llie held,
be assured that rio complaint would have beon heard
from me; but while almost every man of my regu-
lar force, and half the volunteers, (now in respects*
ble discipline,) are withdrawn for distant service, it
seems that 1 aui expected, with less than a thousand
regulars, and a volunteer lorce, partly of new levies,
lo itold a defensive tine, while a large army ol more
than twenty thousend men is in my front.
1 speak only of a defensive line ^ for the idea of
assuming offensive operations in the direction ol .Shii
Luis, by March, or even May, with such troops »s
can then be at my disposition, is quite too preposte-
rous to be entertained lor a moment. After all tiiat^
1 have written to ihe department, an the subject ot
such operations, 1 tind it difficult to believe that i am
seriously expected to undertake tliern with lbs ex-
traordinary limited means at my disposal.
1 cannot misunderstand the object of the arrange-
ments indicated in your letter. I feel that I have
lost the confidence of the government, or it would
not have suffered me to remain, up to this time, ig-
norant of its intentions wilh so vitally aff cling inter-
ests committed to my charge. But, however much
1 may feel personally mortified and outraged at the
course pursued—I will carry out in good faith, while
I remain in Mexico, the views of the governnHD'i
though I may be sacrificed in the effort.
I deeply regret to tind in your letters of Jan- 3d, to
Gen. Builer and mysblf, an allusion lo my position
here, which 1 can but consider an insinuation thai
have put myself, willingly, out of the reach of your
communications. ,
1 beg leavo lo remark, that the movempnt of
troops in this direction, and tny own march
were undertaken for public reasou3, freely set M
in my reports to the Adju ant General, one of ' 4
being my desire to place in position for embar a
lo Vera Cruz, should ihe government order an exp
dition to that point, llie force (two thousand regu
and two thousand volunteers) which I reports i
be spared for that service.
1 have the honor to be, General,
Your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR-
M»j. Gen. Winficld Scott,
Commanding U. S. A., Brasos Island, i
*
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Fleeson, Isaac Neville & Palmer, J. R. American Flag. (Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico), Vol. 11, No. 192, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 19, 1848, newspaper, April 19, 1848; Matamoros, Mexico. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth478060/m1/3/: accessed June 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.