Democratic banner., 1847-09-20
RY SUNDAY MONING'S MAIL.
SANTA Annals MANIFESTO,

III AO4AS eG
Coutreras and Churubusco, although erro-
neous in many particulars, shows in a stron-
GEL. light than even the accounts of our
correspondent, the splendid and deci-
ded nature of the late victories of Gen.
Scott. From the tenor of this, the tamest
and most subdued document which has
been written during this war, by the self
complacent and boastful Mexican, it will
be seen that Santa Anna still keeps up his
old habit of shutting the responsibility off
from his own upon the shoulders of an infe-
rior officer. Gen. Valencia is the scape-
goat of the battle of C~hurubusco, as Minon
was of the battle of Buena Vista.-New
Orleans Picdyune.
MANIFESTO
Of the President ad interim Of the Repub-
lie, md Gener0L-in-C hiJ Of the firing
to the Nation.
In such solemn and critical moments as
these it is the duty of him who presides
over the destines of the Nation to give pub
licity to passing events; and it is with the
greater pleasure that | perform this duty,
inasmuch as frankness has ever been the
character of my administration. The un-
fortunate events Of the 18th and Goth are
only too well known; and it only remains
for me to present a review of them in order
that they may not be distorted, either by
the spirit of detraction, or by that error
which arises from an insufficient analysis Of
affairs of the gravest and most serious ma
ture.
The Nation is aware of the great, the ex-
traordinary efforts which have made with
in the last three months for the defence of
the Capital that was about to fall defence
less into the hands Of the enemy. | have
formed, armed and equipped an army Of
more than twenty thousand men; | have
collected an immense amount of material
for this army; have fortified various points
in order to keep at a distance from Mexico
the ravages of war; have created resources
in the midst of the Insulation to which the
Government was reduced, and no labor, no
fatigue have Ispared in order that my coun
try might present itself with dignity and
frmness in the struggle to which it had
been so ~unjustly provoked.
In war, a mere accident, apparently the
most insignificant trife, may fustrate the
best formed combinations. A glance atthe
defences which l established around the
city is enough to discover the plan which
had proposed to myself. The forces which
/ had advanced by one flank were support
ed on the other, were suitably arranged in
~eschelons, and had a convenient and well
known ground open for retreat. A certain
General (Valencia) who was in command
Of a strong division, consisting of 5000 men
and "a pieces of artillery, whose headquar-
tiers were in the village of San Angel, | Or
dered on the 18th, at IL o'clock in the NOR.
ming, to fall back TO the village Of Coyoacan,
intending by this to concentrate the forces,
in order to meet the movements already ex.
hibited by the enemy, and to develope
promptly my plan of operations. But this
General, forgetting that there cannot be
two commanders .in-chief in the field Of
battle-forgetting that the execution of q
plan will not admit admit of observations
that render i: nugatory, permitted himself
to object to the orders which he had receiv-
ed; and as all obedience and discipline SC
essential in military matters had thus beer
banished from between us, it became nee.
essary, for the evading of greater evil.
which may be readily foreseen, to tolerate
what to consent to would appear an absurd
ity, and thus, in spite of myself, was fore
ed to let him 60 on charging him with al
the responsibility Of the result. As nigh
have been expected, this result was fatal
He moved forward nsofu propiO for more
than a league to choose a position whenc'
he could 60 out to meet the enemy, withou
informing me in the least, either of thu
movement or of his designs. His refusalt'
comply with my dire ctiOns was the first no
tice that I had of his temerity, and imme'
diately the explosion of cannon pointed on
his position, and at the same time gave m'
to understand that he had engaged with tn.
enemy. Although oppressed with the pre-
sentiment of what was about to take place
Immediately put myself at the head of
brilliant brigade of 1000 men and five piec'
es Of artillery. I arrived at the momen
when a considerable force of the enem!
had gained the rear of the unfortunate Gen
ERALS position; and scarcely could / cbecl
their operations because it was already neal
NIGHT.