Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-09-02

SALrrLLo, Mexico, July


SALrrLLo, Mexico, July I6, lSE.
DKAR 49,. The monotony ofouf life here
has been somewha, broken in upon, for few
DAYS past. by rumors Of an exciting character,
because of their appearance OF truth. winch
has come to US through different channels, IN
relation to the prosper Of an immediate peace.
II is said that the Congress Of Mexico had
been convened for The purpose OF deiiberaing
upon the question of peace or war, and ihatil
had decided BY a large majority, IN favor OF
waf--that the British Minister thereupon ten
dered his mediation to the Mexican Govern
ment, which was accepted, and that he had
been in communication with Gen. Scott for
eight days.
If these things be 30, they afford the most
favorable sign which has yet appeared, OF the
probability Of an early termination of this vex-
aiious and pro6,less war; but fear the news
is too good to be true. There is great invet.
eracy Of feeling against US, ! find, among the
higher classes Of the Mexicans, and they do
not hesitate to say that their Country cannot
make peace with us--whie the ignorent are
continually stuffed and inhamed with mistep-
reservations and falsehoods, which dispose
them to become ready tools in their hands, at
the first favorable moment for action. Tales
of horrible outrage on our part, are sysiemati-
caly manufactured for their benefit, taking
care to locate the scenes at such distance as
that their fasehocd may not be readily detec-
ted. And the same game, Understand, IS be-
ing played all over the country. At San Luis
Potosi, for instance, they have II that we are
perpeirating here, in Saliillo, all sorts of cru
city and outrage-thai even the temples ofthe
living God have been invaded by US, ard con-
verted into dens of vice, debauchery aad
revelry! This, too, while the houses Of the
inhabitants are carefully guarded against all
intrusions, and their persons and property
from injury, and their Churches entirely in
their own control, and regularly opened for
worship, free from restraint or interference of
any kind!
But nothing is too daringly false or fragrant
ly unjust FOR The desinging men who misrule
the people Of Mexico for their own personal
advantage, to utter or perpetrate, if it will but
answer their selfish ends. The idea is I'M
pressed by them upon the masses, indeed, as
am told, that we are worse than barbarians
that at home there is nothing like marriage
amongst us--that engagements between the
sexes are made for one or two years only, and
terminable at the pleasure Of the parties, and
that this notion is so fixed in their minds that
it is perfectly idle TO attempt to drive it out OF
them. Such are the contemplate expedients
that are resorted to, TO awaken feeling among
those degraded people that may serve as sub
stitute for an intelligent public sentiment and
patriotic devotion TO country!
| A population like this would truly be glo-
rous acquisition to our Republic II there
was no other objection to the annexation oil
any portion of their territory, the kind Of peo-
pie who inhabit it would surely be enough
I 1u NJ n a dry
and barren waste, as il is in fact Tor the most
part, it could not prove otherwise TO US than
an unmitigated curse.
An attempt was made last night by Mex
lean to assasinate one Of our soldiers. Itseems
the two had spent the evening together at a
Billiard Room, apparently very socially, and
at the time of closing such places under the or
der of our Governor, o'clock, the soldier
asked the Mexican to conduct him to fan
dango. This the Mexican readily agreed to
do, and took him out into the suberbs, and
when favorable opportunity offered, he made
an assault upon the soldier with knife, in
hicting several severe wounds upon him.
The soldier. however, proved too strong for
the Mexican, and succeeded in wrestling his
f, knife from him, when the latter effected his
escape. The object is supposed to have been
robbery, as the Mexican knew the soldier had
four or five dollars in money.
The health Of our Regiment in camp, am
glad 10 hear, has improved considerably
though there is great mortality in the North
Carolina Regiment. They have been bury
ing for some time as many as two day.
have heard Of no deaths in our own, except
the few who have died here in the Hospital
In my company, we report 3 commissioned
officers, 3 sergeants, 3 corporals, and 38 pri-
Yates present for duty-two do. on extra du-
ty, and one under arrest-and fifteen sick
The sick are Sergeant Allen, l.. Terri, Greenb.
Terri, Shackleford, Helms ,Snead, Ilig, Goens,
Britt, Melon, Poage," Stofer, p. Brown, and
Jonathan Smith. The indisposition of most
OF them, however, is but slight and several of
the cases of some days. standing are in state
of cunvalescence. The weather is OF very
pleasant temperature now, and if the men can
only be restrained in their indulgences in the
fruits which are brought to the the market, l
do not see why the corps should not become
healthy. But this is the season of green corn,
melons, pears, figs, peaches grapes, &c., and
it seems impossible TO restrain them. These
fruits are brought mostly from Parras, dis
lance of some sixty miles or more. | have
already stated how and by schom thsse are
brought. The peones Cor slaves) are the mar
ket people generally, and a more miserable
set of sharpers and extorlioners never existed.
They pretty generally charge Americans dou-
BILE the price they do the Mexicans for every
thing they sell. Thus they are buying their
freedom with our money. We have now got
to understand them, however, and that game
is beginning to be blocked upon them.
Yours, sc.
Recovered, and returned TO duty.