New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-28
Native and NaturnIized soldiers.
Correspondence of The Tribune.
L.

which had made allusion 10 the NatIvism OF the
Polk nominee for Chaplain to the House OF Repre-
sentatves had intended TO say something in re-
ply, but it is now hardly worth while The facts
believe, are substantially as stated them, aud
might have put them in a stronger light
But there appears an article in that paper OF
Thursday last which beg leave to answer with
some facts The article insinuates that Mr.. Polk
is giving aid and comfort to the enemy by send
ing foreign troops into Mexico and that whole
battalons Of foreigners who have been transported
TO Mexico under our flag, have deserted TO the enc
N.Y." A letter from a New Orleans paper is quot
ed 10 prove this serious charge. That some fifty,
mostly Irish and Germans had deserted and gone
over TO the Mexicans and none Of them were ma
tive born Americans" This | take upon myself
most positively 10 contradict. / challenge and de
v the utterers of the charge to prove by reliable
documents. The latest list OF deserters from the
Army | have seen gives this names OF some Ger
mans and some Irish who have deserted, but the
names of American born citizens predominant.
Let me be understood do not mean 10 say that
American born citizens will pOTs readily desert
their countrys flag than those citizens OF foreign
birth, who Join the army but contend that one IS
as patriotic as the other That the desertons from
natives as from the naturaliZed, | think would be
safe in assuming that one half of our army now
fighting with Mexico are foreigners, and that the
desertions among naturazed Americans are not
more numerous than IN this proportion
This too, is peculiar war IN which we are en-.
gagged. maintain that it shows higher sense OF
patriotism in the Wings, who volunteer TO hight IN
this war. than in the Loco FOcos, who may voiun'
teer also and that for the plain reason that the
Wings protest against the causes and objects
which brought on this war, while the Loco'focos
approve and endorse its end, objects and causes.
With the Loco. Focos 1t costs them no sacriilce'
who believe in its necessity and justice. Inc
Wings protesting against the whole combination OF
circumstances which brought 1t on, sacrlhce all
scruplcs in defence Of their countrys flag
The case is similar with the citizens OF foreign
birth particularly the Catholics, OF whom SPEAK
more freely and independently. having been edu-
Gated in n different creed myself 1t is well known
that a distinguished ex-Member OF Congress, now
holding high mission abroad, under Mr.. POLK, de-
clared even in Congress that If we should get into
n war with Mexico we could pay ourselves from
the plunder of the Catholic Churches. nave my
self again and n ain heard n LocoFocO meDber OF
Congress declare that the crucifixes and other gold
en- and silver ornaments Of the Catholic church In
Mexico would be the spoils of the invaders In
lslII saw Loco Foco handful calling Polk
meeting in Tennessee, Mr.. Folks own state, OF
which remember the following sentence
Az. and his mast,y he Pore Of Rome ALI those who
are opposed to the Roman Catholic sHPesnt.oH &C;
were 10 meet at a certain tavern 10 ala III thc eiec'
ton of James X. Polk, and the consequent Annex
alton OF Texas and certainly consequent W" VIZ"
Mexico.
Taking these things into consideration, mann,
tain that il requires self sacrificing spirit OF
patriotism in the naturalized citizens IRON 1erma'
ny and Ireland to fight Ill such war than IN those
who provoked this war, for these purposes. IL,
a., ,l,o ,bar al dpsprtIOns the soldiers
of foreign birth is only in proportion to the number
in the whole army, 1t proves nothing against them
If proves ANYTHING proves the stronger patriot
ism which prompts them to be faithful IN such war
to the flag OF their adopted country
The spirit of the whole article in the Gd,etteond
Tunes does great injustice to the Irish and Ger
mans as shall prove by authentic documents IL
talks of the handful of Irshmen who fought IN
the Revolutionary War The Gazette knows well
that the thousands OF Irlshmen who fought IN that
war cannot by any fair writer be called - hand'
full" Among the other wars 1t mentions, 1t torgets
IN to state that religion made no difference with
the Irish soldiers lighting for Protestant England
against Catholic France. Why then the insinua-
ton against the Irish now when lighting IN war
which the editor says " Is now between Catholic
and Protestant II some OF the Mexicans were
naturaized Prote stants could they prove more loyal
to their flag than the American haturah>eu Na'no
lies do theirs
The Gazette and Times makes strange comics
sion at the close of It's article ltsays that to make
Native Americans I'LL our army d" can never be Ell
fected till our troops are better paid Does IL
mean to say that its party leave lighting Tor fdtI'
ofis,a TO Foreigners-whie they will fight only for
Payl This is certainly an insinuaton which
Irishmen would be slow to make against Natives
Rad as the treatment OF the soldier and volunteer
is poorly as they are paid, the Irish and Germans
hesitate not to flock to our standard even against
Mexico while the Editor asserts that Native Patri
otism has struck for higher wages
Without waiting to examine this serious charge
against its own party hasten to lay before your
readers some authenticated facts about those who
are fighting our battles, which are worth whole
cart loads of uniounded inslnuatlons
We have again and again called Tor authentiS
information on this subject. We have demanded
that the names of the brave men who have been
killed or wounded in fighting for their country
should be given, with their birth.places out
we can hardly get that poor satliactlon; Inc
glory is sought for the Generals and leaders
under Mr. Polk While every dollar OF money
is calculated and published the blood oil The brave
common soldiers flows around their nameIess
graves Ii is serious charge to make; but DO
believe it, and may as well state 1t. that the Ad
minstration feel more anxiety about the miserable
dollars and cents than they do about the lives anu
blood of the soldiers.
The Surgeon General LAwsoS,) in letter TO
the Union dated the 18th o. last MONTH says 'ha'
letter writers can more casly Hnu out ts.1S
ton than the Department. He says" DsspalFing
now myself of receiving anything new or more
satisfactory than heretofore in relation to the Killed
and wounded of the army, cannot encourage you
any longer to expect an accurate report OF tne
names and brth-plaees of those humble but non
ored braves lof the RANK and file OF the army VINO
have fallen in the late conflicts with the enemy
WHY this inability Are there not Colonels
over the regiments, and Captains over the coinpa'
MES Is not every mans name on the muster toll,
with his age and generally his place OF birth !
w as the Department ever unable TO tell the name
and birth place OF deserter Never-never' l
do believe that our Loco Foco rulers show more
ability in discovering the birthplaces OF deserters
and their names than of the hsuble braves who
have fallen into unhonored graves while fighting
for the stars and stripes above them.
But unwilling as our rulers are to let facts speak
for themselves truth will out. The Senate has or
dered and obtained list of the killed and wound
cd at the battles of Palo Alto and the Resaca on
the sth and 9th OF May last The list is more like
IN to fall short of the actual number OF Foreigners
than 10 ovcrstate it but take 1t as It is. Could
we get similar list of the names OF those killed
and wounded at Monterey, as hope we shan even
vet il would show greater proportion OF ios
cign.born soldiers The following IS the Official re
,nrn of the killed aud wounded transmitted 10 the