American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-07-04

than five thousand men on the frontier, di
reeted the general-in-chief Of our division to at
tack the enemy, and he resolved to cross the
| river, taking position between St. Isabel anC
the fortified point of Paso Real. On the sth
sanguinary action took place between the
belllgerent forces, in which our troops gave
proof of their valor, and, although with some
loss, maintained their ground, and the honor
| OF our army was saved, On the following dav
the general-in-chief fell back in order to take
another position, where the combat was renew
ed, and was entirely unfortunate for the re-
public. The division recrossed the river, and
the general-in-chief, who, according to his
statements, still preserved four thousand troops
oil the line, without counting auxiliaries, sud-
denly evacuated the city of Matamoras, against
the, positive orders of the government, which
had taken into consideration the Importance
OF maintaining that post for ulterior operations
and as depot for the reinforcements which
had been ordered, Conduct SO unexpected on
the part of the general-in-chief has compelled
me to dlsplace him, and to order him to repair
to this capital to answer for his conduct before
a court OF general officers, as provided for by
the regulations ofthe army. The government,
while deeply moved by these reverses in sa-
cred cause, is incessantly at work to repair
them, and relies for that purpose on the power
OF the nation and the assistance of Congress
which, by special design of Providence, has
this day been solemnly assembled.
The squadron Of the United States has com
menced blockading the ports Of Tampico, Tam
aulipas, and Vera Cruz and there is great pro-
liability that the thunder of the enemy's cannon
VIII be directed against those beautiful Cities
The period has arrived, therefore, when all the
sons OF the country should be summoned to its
defence; and when the national Congress should
declare war against the nation which so much
deceves itself, if it supposes that reverse can
extlngulsh the valor, or overcome the constancv
and heroism, of which our felow-countrymen
have given such signal proofs. AS a citizen,
and as soldier, am prepared to make every
sacrifice; and the brave men of the army, sup
ported by this magnanmous people, will de-
tend with me the holy rights Of the country.
1.-The country ardently and justly desires that
republican institutions may ever be maintained;
and this desire, which the government eagerly
supports, has been made known through all the
accredited organs of public opinion Should
you give to the people institutions which may
guarantee the principles of the representative,
popular, and republican system, and combine
them with the stability which the nation seeks
alter SO many vicisstudes, you will have salts
fed all its wants, and will acquire an everlast-
ing title to the gratitude of Mexicans. Hasten
to give them such rallying point that, making
every sacrifice, not OF interest only but of oplI-
ions, all desires may be concentrated, and all
exertions used in q defence of the country
against its peridious invaders. | assure you
again of my most implicit obedience to your
determinations.
HIn tho arnou oIrkinn ,aC,rp,e bo,,o Loa,,
made; its strength has been augmented, and
will be increased as far as the public necessaries
require So my first engagement, at st. Louis
Potosi, was to prepare for the defence of the
nation, all my efforts have been directed to that
object, so far as the limited and scanty resources
of our treasury would permit.
"The power of every government is faith =
fully represented by the condition of its treasu-
ry, and it must be said with regret that the con-
dtion of ours has become most lamentable,
through a series Of msfortunes and disorders i'll
repressed from want of power in the public ad-
minstration.
cat time when the public funds were COM
pletely exhausted, all revenues anticipated, and
the government reduced to the ruinous and
shameful system of contracts which answered
only the exigencies Of the day, without provid-
ing enough for the most urgent purposes, it be-
came matter of the first necessity to reinforce
the army, and provide without delay for its ex-
istance, which was threatened in its operation a.
gainst foreign enemy.
"Under these affecting circumstances the
government, although deeply sensible of the
Importance of faithful compliance with the
engagements contracted by the nation with its
creditors, and of the fact that credit is of the
first necessity to every government, and faith
in its promises, the surest source of its power,
found itself compelled to resort to the extreme
measure OF temporarily suspending payments, a
measure justified by the necessity of providing
tor the safety OF the nation, whose ruin should
be the ruin Of its creditors.
"The decree of the I'd of May, Professionally
suspending payments; that of the 7th of the
same month, deducting one-fourh from salaries
for the term of one year; the circulars asking
aid from the governments Of the departments,
and from the venerable clergy, and other adj
illustrative and economical measures which
have been adopted were the only meaus which
the government had, at this distressing period,
of supplying necessities which admitted Of no
delay.
fFor the future, the representatives of the
nation will no doubt provide the ample resour-
ces required by the war in which the republic
finds itself engaged, or will furnish the govern
ment which is to be installed with the power
of providing them; for the measure Of our pow
er against the enemies Of the country will be
the resources which the treasury has had at its
disposal. The object Of the enemy in blocka-
ding our ports is to weaken our finances, in or
der to diminish our strength: if we organize
the immense resources which the country pos
sesses this hostile object will be frustrated"
The HIGH PRICE OF BREAD. 1t is an ex-
traordinary fact, says the New York Herald,
that notwithstanding the late reduc ion in flour,
bread is no cheaper, and the loaves are quite as