The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-20

Der of officers in the army 70 countless, ana much
exceeds that Of the private soldiers; and what VII
interest YOU still more is, that there are not IN al
Mexico more than IL, 900 men carrying muskets--
all, or nearly all, Of whom are Indians
The military dispositions OF the Indians nave
been much boosted Of without examining Oh wha'
use their qualities may be in action. Inc indian
il is true, Is endowed with sort OF stoicism, whicn
enables him to look at danger without much emo
ton; and (thanks 10 the sobrety given nm by ma
ure he supports with forttude the privations I'M
posed upon him by the necessities OF war. bu'
this is not ALL The vivacity, the energy, which so
often decides the fortune of battle are entirely want
ing in the Indian; and, on this account, with supe-
rior force on his side, and strategic considerations
being equal, he will always be beaten
There are also political and moral motives of
which no estimate has been made in the different
opinions which have been formed OF the Indian sol
der What interest has he in spilng his blood for
the defence of his country The day on which an
enemy nvades the territory OF the republic the In
dian will retire his forests and resume his prmi-
tive habits. The sentiment of patriotism Is un-
known and the indifference he exhibits on the field
of battle, shows the little value he sets upon 1t.
On the other hand let me ask, how does Mexico
recruit her armies, Is it in this young republic,
where the journals so fond OF attacking the I'M
morality and despotsm of Europe, that each citizen
is called upon to defend his countrys-to pay the
tax OF blood For an answer to these questions,
let us again refer to the memorial OF Mr.. Garcia
Condo.
"The system Of substitution" says the minister,
"practised until now, since voluntary eplistments
became insufficient, has been most immoral and
most pernicious to the rights Of the citizen. No,
gentlemen; the Mexican is nota Russian, who takes
to the ranks at the mere within of his lord; he is UNI
der the protection of liberal laws enacted by the ma
ton; and nothing can force him but those laws and
his own sense Of duty" Thus, there is striking
resemblance in recruiting for the armies OF Russia
and for those ofMexico. The Indians are arrested
and conducted from brigade to brigade, to their ul-
terror destination. If one of them deserts on the
march, the responsible officer seizes upon the first
Indian he meets with, and in this manner keeps up
his number of men. If this mode prove insufficient
to fill the ranks, they break the chains of the con-
victs and other prisoners, and clothe them with
military uniform.
But after the difficulty of recruiting soldiers, comes
that of keeping them to their colors. For this pur-
pose military posts have been established in all the
chief cities of Mexico, and still there is great diff
Guilty in preventing deserton.
have now said enough in respect to the private
soldiers who form the active and fighting part of the
army. Let us now examine the composition OF the
officers. We read in the memorial; ut is melan-
choly to look at the history of our army since 1928
At different periods it the first thing to increase
the number Of officers, as number was thought
more important than merit and it was conceived to
be the best means of making adherents to an adj
mlHlStIduOHy W NlCIcdSC TITO uuiicOA Va ~"Pioy
mcnts."
Again, treating of detached officers, the minister
says: "Ths scheme had for object to step over all
the bounds ofjustce, and to open door to all sorts
of tricks, with view of rewarding the most de-
grading acts Of domestic life, and others which my
pen refuses to record, and which the decency of my
memorial rejects the mention Of"
Speaking, in conclusion, ofthis worthless body of
men, he says: sSome officers have shown much
talent and information; but they are SO few, that
they suffice not for the common duties in time OF
peace"
This is the sort of army of which the Mexican
newspapers have spoken with such ridiculous ex-
aggeraton. The army, for the whole republic,
consstsof 1000 men at arthest ll-clothed, half
fed, without discipline, unexercised, and poorly
commanded. Such are the reieran heroes that men-
ace the existence Of your Union!
Some days ago, there was sudden change IN
the language Of the Mexican press in relation to the
soldiery. 1t was ON the occasion of the mutiny Of
the division under the command Of Paroles. A
dubious rumor was circulated in Mexico, ascribing
to Paroles, Valencia, and Torne, design to hurl
General Herrera from the presidential chair, to form
a trumvirate who were TO govern the nation for
their own profit. There were already inquietudes
in the Congress, when the deputy Boves made
known to the House the intrigues of Paredes. The
latter replied, from San LUIS Potosi to the accu-
satons Of Boves, in violent letter, which excited
great ire in the deputy. The news Of the mutiny at
San Luis arrived at Mexico immediately after
wards The troops had declared themselves IN the
usual style, and formally refused to march until the
government should furnish them with provisions,
clothing and money. The next day the newspa-
pers cried shame accused the army of treason,
and Numbered forth denunciations against il. On
the 28th of August, Mr.. Boves brought forward in
the House charge as follows
"There are indications in the interior departments
Of design to proclaim plan similar to that OF Ia
cubaya. There is a man who pretends to all the
powerful functions Of the fatal plan of the basis
Those who ought to maintain subordnation and
discipline in the army, are precisely those who
have drawn the troops from their duty. The third
division of the army, now Mt San Luis Potos,
which should be marching against Texas, instead
Of fighting for the existence and honor of the repub
lic about to destroy the government and proclaim
an anti-national administration"
After tracing the duties Of military chiefs, Mr.
,Boves continues aLet us go back to Gen. Paroles
who is that exalted officer who aspires to give laws
to the republic TO it's representatives and its execu
tive, whom he has treated in a manner inconsistent
with the rules of common politeness! These are
my views of the course of his public service. What
has he done for the nation He has effected seve-
raj bloody revolutions What does liberty owe
hmi The death of General Montezuma. the dicta-
torship of General Santa Ana, and the dissolution
of the last Congress- establish that he and the other
generals on the side of the fatal scheme Of Tacubaya,
gave guarantee oftheir word ofhonor-and forfeited
It! What is owing TO him for the administrations
which have followed ! He betrayed that Of Gen.
Bustamente, who covered him with favors and
marks of kindness; betrayed Santa Ana, whom he
proclaimed dictator, and who was the idol OF his
worship; and now he attacks the administration Of
the 9th December, who spared his life.
.sThe acts of the Senate form his political SEN
tence, and in them deposited the votes he gave
in compliance with the orders of the DICTATOR be-
fore whom he shamefuly Inundated himself The
memorable 9th December drew him from deserts,
from the society of wild beasts; and now he wants
to arrogate to himselfthe glory ofthat day But no
that glory belongs not to Gen. Paroles, nor to any
indvidual--but to the nation!"
Mr.. Boves finished with resolution to inquire
into the mutiny at San Luis; which resolution was
rejected.
"A few days afterwards, the government received
from Gen. Paredes the following proclamation, ad-
dressed by him to his troops on his appointment to
command the army of reserve: - s4B
sSoldiers, the supreme government has ordered
the LIST and Sd divisions to be formed into an army
of reserve, and has condescended to name me gene.
ral-in-chief This proof of confidence imposes up