The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-16
:. T. MCCLELLAN, Printer.
letter from Cassius M. Clay.
CITY OF MEXICO, July 10th, 1917.

IL We EGHOfS o. me ItcdytWe
| have till now RETAINED from making any
thing public touching our capture. The
probability that it might become the subject
oflegal investigation seemed to me sufficient
reason, among others, for silence.
But since the merits of our surrender have
become the topic ofdiscussion, amy further de-
ference to personal delicacy becomes criu-
nal injustice to those who have q right to
claim Of me- their immediate commander,
whatever protection my humble ability can
afford them. | therefore merge the iMprta-
ton ofegotism and solicitation in the hirher
necessity Of discharging a duty to the living
who do not, and the dead who cannot, spea.A
for Themselves.
lin the failure Of oursuperior officers to eX-
change us, after three successful battles, and
the capture Of many prisoners of war, it is
necessary to the public service, requiring the
soldier never to surrender, but in all cases
to lay down his life without regard to the in
| equality of numbers, or the resulting good Of
| the sacrifice, then without murmur | sub
NIT to the sentence. But if this policy be-
comes not general, and is not deemed usual
and necessary in war, then on the part Of my
self aad my brave companions in arms, some
Of whom have gone from the loathsomo pri3-
ons Of Mexico, where praise nor blame can
reach them, protest against it, as q condcm-
nation without trial, and penalty without
crime
You term the surrender at Incarnation an
honorable capitulatiol' Ii is SO. The mass
Of human beings judge of things by their op-
! parent success or failure With them victory
J is glory, and defeat disgrace. But with en-
lghtened minds il is better to dcSerce success
than to win it. Yet paradoXicAl as it may
seem, say that the expedition to Encarna-
| ton not only deserved but achieved success.
| Lieut.. Col. Field, Surgeon Roberts and
Major Gaines will remember that on the
right preceding this adventure, it was urged
that the accommodating party should consist
ola large body with artillery sufficient to hold
the enemy III check until the arrival OF rein
forcements. Or else it should be small
body whose loss would not be materially felt
BY the army, part Of whom we might cal
cnate from the superior speed OF the horses
and better address Of the men, would return
with the tidings of the enemys position and
force. The last alternative we we're COM
peeled to adopt,and the result was as foretoid.
We found the enemy, and sent jact ,rord Of
lis approach. Whether this reasoning be in
accordance with military science, or 10, and
how far the success OF the glorious battle of
Bucna Vista was owing to this timely warn
ling, leave ADLER strategIsts thanI an to de-
tcrminp.
But why anticipate capture? The Gown
try through which they had to pass Vas
grass covered piain, shut in BY mountains,
where there was no growth Of wood to con-
cca US. We were compelled TO 90 TO fixed
and well known places for water, surrounded
by ranchcros, who were ever ready and not
SOW in giving timely notice Of our approach.
The night before re9ching INCARNATION, we
had resolved, according to the Spartan max
IN, continually to change our camp to avoid
surprise, and to move il necessary, twice q
night to prevent the peasantry's knowing our
whereabouts.
That VIC campod two nights successfully in
Encarnatiou, the cause in part Of our capture,
was rather the result of fortune than desi~r
on our part. For We had on the 22i al
vanced ten miles in the direction Of SaItillo,
intending to attack two hundred en- whom
we learned were stationed there, but night,
storm and darkness coming on, were com
PEELED, having no guide, to retnr0, against the
protest a some and orr previous I'll IS Of nc!
ton, to Encarnation. The IDEA ofpuiing
out picket { '0rcls in plain ri twenty miles
diameter, In,ersected n.y. roads in all diTcc-
tons, is .b>u,l.-Aud had nicAut or I'd
given an alarm in Ii; light the result W id
HOU nave I1!G orr tdiltc I'LL morning, tlN
saw the enemy and knew their force.
Seyenty.ono men and officers, al. told. b,..
Gen. Minion and three thousand rcgu' p "a.
veteran troops, as numbered Ly -'."a,
bay from dawn till n0ca Of the t..a.,.,
January. Without half as many s.-. a..
there were opposing foes, without v...., r,..-
out provisions, one hundred and g.. .7..
from camp, without the remotes5 aD.a n
Reinforcement, VIC unanimously dl.cu.,- I'll
to cract the most honorable terms OF ca. itu,
lat!on known to nations or sell on l..es
like mon who held the faith that b9nor is ybe
only necessity.
Holding Mexican Chief Of ooHa rank
with our commandment as Il A1s.l-., ~ ..r
Gaines and Gen. Mnion conclude ti. .,.
lowing terms of capitulation
First. The most honorable treatment ~
prisoners OF war known 10 nations.
Second. Private property to be s,,c.'T
respected
Third. Our Mexican Guide to receive
fair trial in the civil courts.
When we remember that Taylor fought d.
Buena Vista at a liberal computation one b.
four, and had his hands mll-and that We,
stood less than one to tony-two Of the enemJ
under their most gallant chief, [ hazard the
assertion that in the history Of the Mexican
! " ar ilI"FG Will nave DcCn no cNnibuOn OF no
bier gallanty than was displayed at the en-
ptul&tion Of Encarnation.
Accept assurances Of my lasting gratitude
that you have, with Mrs. IIemaus in Tic
Captive Knight entered into a prisoner
gricfs and maeoanimously indicated our
claims upon our country's justice. For all
that is generally deemed remunerative in war
| falls to the lot Of others-Out
| tlhe worm, the Canker and the grief
Are ours alone
Ever your ob't serv't, G. NJ CLAY.
~ SLAVE LABOR. A Mr. Bruce CT
North Carolina in an Agricultural Les.