The daily union., 1846-10-23

) INTERESTING SCENES IN THE FAI
II WESr-GEN. KEARNY AND THE ARMY
OF THE WEST.
Extracts from N. Journal oj Lieut. Emory Of Cop
Of ToPgTsphieai Engineers, nsW at Santa Fs.
[coNcLUpED
II august l5h-Twslve o'clock last night IN,
colonel General Ksarney) was awaked up, ant
informed that six hundred men had collected
at the pass OF the Vegos, two miles distant
and were TO oppose his march, In the morn
ing, orders were gwen TO prepare TO meet the enemy
AZ seven the army moved, and Just as we made The
road leading through the town, Major Swords, o
the Sd, and Mr. Dupat joined US from Fort Leayen.
worth, and presented Colonel Kearny with his con.
mission as brigader general in the army of the Uni.
ted States. AT eight o'clock precisely, the general
was IN the public square, where he was met by the
aleade and people, many Of whom were on horse
back, flor these people live on horseback) The
general pointed TO the top Of one OF their houses
which are all of one story high and hat-roofed aud
suggested 10 the alcalde that If he would go 10 that
place, he and his staff would follow, and from that
point, where all could hear aud see him, he would
| say TO them what he had 10 say.
/ This was wise precauiioD. He was thus ena-
bed To speak that all could hear and see and We
were placed out Of the reach Of difficulty OF which
| there might have been some danger, ss we were
pressed closely in dense Of people, the dispo-
| sltlon OF none Of which we then knew.
/ The colonel now Brgadier General Rearny then
addressed the multitude, nearly as follows
i "Mr. Alcalde and people of New Mexico; have
come amongst you by the orders Of my government,
to take possession ofyour country, and extend over
It the laws Of the United States. We consider il,
and have done so for some time, a part of the
territory OF the United States. We come amongst
you as friends, not enemies; we come to you as
protectors, not as conquerors; amongst you
for your benefit, not for your injury.
i "Henceforth absolve you from all allegiance 10
the Mexican government, and from all obedience to
General Armiio He is no longer your governor,
lgreat sensation am your governor.
II shall not expect you 10 ta,ie up arms, and fol-
low me, to hight your own people, who may be in
arms against me; but now tell you that those who
remain peacesbly at home, attending to their crops
and herds, shall be protected by in their proper
~, their persons, and their religion; and not pep.
per or an onion shall be disturbed or taken by my
troops, without pay, or without the consent OF the
owner But listen he who is found in arms against
me, will hang. N."". "
"From the Mexican government you have never
received any protection. The Apaches and the
/ NavaJos come down from the mountains and carry
on your sheep and your whenever they
please MY government will correct all this. They
VIII keep OF the Indians, protect you in your per-
sons and property, and repeat again. will protect
you in your religion. | know you are all good
Catholics, and that some Of your priests have told
you all sorts OF stories; that we would poute your
women, and brand them upon the check as you do
your mules upon the hip. II s false Ny govern
Inent respects your religion as much the Proles-
ant religion, and allows each man TO worship his
Creator as his hear tells him is best. Her laws
protect the Catholic as well the Protestant, the
weak AZ well as the strong, the poor well as the
rich. am not Catholic myself; was not brought
up IN that faith; but al least one-thrd of my army
are Catholics And respect a good Catholic as
much as good Protestant. There goes my army |
You see but small part Of il. There are many
more behind. Resistance is useless. .. .U -
] mir. Aloade, and you two captains Of militia, the
laws OF my country require that all men who hold
ONCE under Il, shall take the oath of allegiance
do not wish for the present. until things get settled
to disturb your mode Of government II you are
prepared to take the oath of allegiance, shall con-
tinue youin Office and support your authority.n
This was bitter pill, but swallowed, the dis
eontented captain looking close down TO his toes
The general remarked To him, in hearing of all the
peoples "Csptain, look me in the face, while YOU
| repeat the oath of office" The hint was under
stood; the oath administered the general pronounced
the alcalde, and two captains still in office, and cali
| ed upon all the citizens to obey the alcalde, &c
The people grinned, and exchanged looks Of satis-
faction; but seemed not to have the bodness to ex.
press what they evidently felt, that thein burdens if
not relieved, at least shifted to some ungaied
| part of the body. g.. .ag
| We descended by the same rickety ladder by
which we climbed tn the top Of the houses mounted
our hsrses, and rode brisky forward to encounter
our 600 Mexicans in the gorge Of the mountains
two miles distant The sun shone with dazzling
brightness, the gudons and colors OF each squadron
regiment, and battalion were, for the first time
| furled
| The dropping horses seemed to take pluck from
| the gay array, the trumpeters sounded "to horse"
with unusual spirit, and the hills multiplied and re-
echoed the call. All looked like gala day; and as
| we approached the gorge where the fun was ex-
pected, the general broke into brisk trot, then into
full gallop, preceded by squadron Of horse. He
| kept close to their heels. The gorge was passed,
but no 600 Mexicans were there One by one the
gudons were furled, the looked disappointed,
and a few minutes found dragging our '' slow
length along" with the usual indifference to every
| subject except that of overcoming space. F..
| Two miles farther brought us to another pass as
formidable AZ the first; and the entire intermediate
| country was broken, and covered with dense
growth Of pine, pifion, and cedar. The mountains
now begin to rise to the height of thousand feet
| above the road. .--.' ---
Nine miles brought us to Selcolaie, where we met
| the alcalde and people in the cool and spacious
apartments of the forum, where repetition Of the
drama was again enacted. This graced by the
presence of women, with their bare ances and slip
pered feet Marched ten miles further to the YER
nal springs; halted at the upper spring and observed
for time and latitude about 500 feet south of the up
per spring. Ln.IH,a ..
August 16h--Marched to San Miguel, where the
general assembled the people, and gave them much
the same harangue as at the Vegos; but in swearing
the poor old acade there great difficulty. His
honor hesated, faltered, looked at the priest who
held down his head and refused to respond to his
inquirng looks, But it had to go down; the general
| was pertinacious. .. s -
As we were ascending the ladder, the priest-a fa-
| nous man in this country; famous for his love of
cards, women, and wne--stopped the general to
| engage him in discussion on the merits of the
question of invasion. He said great deal that
exceedingly silly and out of place. The general
told him so very sharply before all his people Sin
ner, as he is his hold upon his flock is firm and
yielding.
The repartee of the general Aoored him complete
| ly, and made some Of his poor deudcd flock look
aghast He had previously invited the general to
his quarters Being in our route, we halted The
general told him that he and all his Brotherhood
| were laborng under great mistake with regard to
the intentions Of the American government in respect
to his religion; that there not the least intention
Of disturbing it. any Of its rights and privileges;
but If he found any Of them stirring up the people
to rebellion, he would not let the priests robe stand
between tine offender and the rope. This, by the
| u,au he ponn in, 10, o.