Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-12

4
Of eight weeks. or until the respective govern
,nenrs can b. heard FROM"
The terms Of the demand were refused by the
Mexican commissioners, who drew up a counter
pIoPosltiou, of which only recollect that it cou-
tuoed permission 90 the Mexican forces 20 re-
tire with their arms. This vas urged "a a mat
ter ofsodierly pride, and as an ordinary eouue-
~. We had reached the limit Of our insIruc.
tons, aud she commissioners rose 70 rePor the
Disagreement.
Upon returning 10 the reception room, after
the fact had been announced that the commits
siouers could not agree upon terms, General Am
pudia entered al length upon the question, treat
ing the point Of disagreement as one which in
volVed the honor of his country, spoke Of his de-
sim for a settlement without Further bloodshed,
add said he did not care about the pieces of arIil
lery which he had al the place. General Tay.
lor responded l0-the wish to avoid unnecessary
bloodshed. Il was sgreed that the commission
should re-assemble, and we were instructed TO
coneede the small arms; and | supposed there
would be no question about the artillery. The
Mexican commissioners, now urged that, as oil
other arms had been recognized, il would be dis
credlable 10 the artillery if required TO march
cut without any thing 10 represent their arms, and
stated, in answer TO an inquiry that they had
battery OF light artillery. manouyred and equip
ped as such. The commission again rose, and
reported the Disagreement on the point Of arlil.
lery.
Gen. Taylor hearing that more was demanded
Than the middle ground, upon which, in a spirit
oigenerosiiy, he had agreed 10 place the capitu-
laion, announced the conference at an end; and
rose in manner which showed his dclernina.
ton To talk 10 more. As he crossed the room
10 leave il, one of the Mexican commissioners
addressed him, and some conversation, which |
did not hear, cnSued. Gen. Worth asked per.
mission Of Gen. Taylor, and addressed some re-
marks TO Gen. Ampudia, the spirit Of which was
that which he manifested throughout the nego.
iialion, viz: generosity and leniency. and de-
sire 10 spare the further elIuson of blood. The
commission ro.assembed aud the points of ca.
pilulalion were agreed upon. After Il short re-
cess we again repaired to The room IN which we
had parted with the Mexican commissioners;
they were rardy in joining us, aud slow in exc.
culing the instrument Of capiiulation. The 7th,
8,h, aud 9Th articles were added during this ses.
sion. AT u late hour the English original was
handed to Gen. Taylor for his examination; the
Spanish original having been sent to Gen. Am.
me the instrument as il was submitted TO him,
and returned TO receive The Spanish copy with
The signature Of Gen. Ampudiu, aud send that
having Gen. TayI0r's signature, thai each gen.
cra might cOunturslgn the original 10 be retain
ed by the other. Gen. Ampudia did not sign
the instrument as was expected, but came him
soIf to mcer the commissioners. lie raised ma
ny points which had been settled, and evinccd a
hi ,,ul ia Ga u
lia points from the English instrument Gen.
Worth was absent. Finally he was required TO
sgn The instrument prepared for his own commits
soners, and lhe English original was Iell with
him that he might have il translated, (Which h.
prcmised TO do that nighl) and be ready The next
morning with Spanish duplicate Of The English
instrum, nj left with him. BY This means the
Two instruments would b. made TO correspond,
and he be compelled Io admit his knowIedg &c of
the contents oI the English original before he
signed it.
The next morning The commission again met:
again The attempt was made, as had been often
done before by solicitation, To gain some grant in
addition to The compact. Thus we had, at their
request, adopted The word capiiuiaton in lieu of
surrender; they now wished to substitute Stipula
GOn for edpiiuialiOn. II finally became ncces-
sary TO make u perempiory demand for The i'm.
mediate signing of The English instrument by
General Ampudia, and the literal translation,
now perIected( by the commissioners and their
general. The Spanish instrument first signed
by Gen. Ampudia was destroyed in presence of
his commissioners; the translation Of our own
instrument was countersigned by Gen. Taylor,
and delivered. The agreement was complete,
and it only remained to execute the terms.
| Much has been said about the construction of
article Of the capuOon, u copy of which is
her3lo appended. Whatever ambiguity there
may be in the language used, there was perfect
understanding by the commissioners upon both
sides, as TO the intent Of the parties. The dis,
lucton was made between light artillery equip.
ped and manpuyrcd rs such, designed for and
used in The field, and pieces being The armament
ora fort, was clearly stated on our side; and that
il was comprchended OH theirs, appeared in the
fact, that repeatedly they asserted their posses
Sion Of light artillery, and said they had one
battery Of light pieces. Such conformity of
opinion existed among our commissioners upon
every measure which was finally adopted, that |
consider them, in their sphere, jointly and sew.
orally responsible for each and every article of
tho eapiiuMon. If as originally viewed by
Gen. Worth, our conduct has been in accordance
with the peaceful policy o(our government, and
shall in any degree tend 10 consummate that po.
Icy, We may congratulate ourselves upon the
part we have taken. lf otherwise, il will re-.
main with me US deliberate opinion. that the
. terms of the capualon gave all which could
have followed, Of desirable result, from further
assault II was in the power of the enemy 10
retreat, and 10 bear with hun the small arms,
and such battery us we contemplated in the ca.
prulNllon. The other grants were such as il
was honorable in aconqucring army 10 bcsow,
and which it cost mNgnanimiry nothing 10 give,
The above recollecons uro submitted TO Gen
erals Henderson and Worth for correction and
addition that The MISREPRESENTATION of this trans.