Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-06-16
WAR INTELLIGENCE
Late from Buena Vista.

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Late from Buena Vista.
CORWIN AND DELANO BURNT IN EFF.
GY AT CAMP BUENA VISTA-SLAVE.
RY IN MEXICO. sc
Correspondence of the Ohio Statesman)
HEADo'Rs NORTHERN DIVISION ARMY INVASION,
Camp Buena Vista, Mexico, April 26, 1s47
DEAR Col: Yesterday had the pleasure
of receiving some three or four numbers of
your paper-the first luxury Of the kind
have had an opportunity to indulge in for
five months. Some times we get no mail
for three or four weeks, and then seldom
anything except our letters.
We received, by yesterdays mail, de-.
tached portions of the proceedings of Con-
gress. Among other items the passage Of
sundry bills for the prosecution Of the war
with Mexico, and the votes thereon; and
Senator Corwin's late anti-,oar speech, and
the doings, voting, and sayings Of MIR.
Lelano, the member Of Congress from your
district, believe. And was sorry to hear
(for | did not see it) that the boys in the I'd
and Sd regiments Ohio Volunteers, (irres-
pective of party) burnt the Senator's shirt;
in other words, burnt Corwin in effigy,
while the companies from Franklin, Lick.
ing and Knox honored Mr.. Delano in the
same manner.
| say | was sorry to hear this, not that
their course was entitled to any more re-
spect than the boys paid it, but because l
am averse to all such shows. | would
rather wait and see them consumed by the
burning shame that must mantle the cheek
Of every friend they ever had.
1t would seem that the chief object of
these gentlemen was to cater to the morbid
aPpetites of the abolitionists-the mass of
whom are doubtless as honest as other men.
But | am constrained to believe that anti
slavery prejudice against the existing war,
where it is honestly entertained, arises from
a total ignorance Of the institution of slave
ry as it relatively exists in this country and
the United States.
In my estimation worse state Of slave
ry could not be devised by the cruelty of
man than that enforced by the Mexican
Government.
Every person here, of whatever COM
plexion, sex, or age, is liable to be sold into
slavery, provided he be so unfortunate as
to be poor.
| speak what do know, and I write
what j have seen. An individual may be
sold for debt, and parent, whether white
or black, may contract debt, and give in
pledge for its payment his or her child
Should the debt not be paid at the time, (and
nine.tenths ofthe Mexicans are too improyi-
dent to do so, the child is sold.
A small sum per month, say from one to
five dollars, is allowed and credited on the
debt; but after furnishing the child with
food and drink, at the masters own prices,
the Indebtedness is seldom diminished, but
rather increased; so that not one in ten,
who has ever felt the CALLING chains OF
slavery, ever breathes the air of freedom.
In illustration of this system Of slavery,
against which neither the boasted philan-
thropy Of New England has yet been enlist
ed, nor the pompous bulwark of British reli-
gion been raised, will relate an incident
which occurred at Camargo, under my eye,
not many months since:.
A sooty Mexican, in no respect superior
% the strongest scented darkey in Colum-
ous, called upon the commandant of that
post and demanded his assistance in secur.
ng an eloped slave. An investigation
ollowed. A senorita of much fairer
and superior in every respect
o her master, her masters wife, or any
If his children, had fallen, as her fairer
listers of the north often do, into Cupid's
nare She married. Her hombre, either
lot having the means or the inclination to
,av the debt for which she had been enslave-
ID by her parents, the difficulty alluded to
nsued. The then commandant, though
ot an abolitionist, had too much gallantry
0 comply with the sordid demand of the
ooty master. The newly welded pair still
I'VE, and live together in the full enjoy
nent of all the connubial bliss Of Mexican
1atrimony. Should Mexican laws, how
YER, be again extended over Camargo,
either the tears Of our heroine, nor the ,,
Ioouence of Messrs. Corwin and Delano, ,
or all of their abolition brethren, could
I'VE her from the heartless grasp of her
,rmer masters tyranny.
The above is but one Of MANY like 6
;currences that have witnessed in this +,
,untry. Would to God that every honest r
an, of whatever party or faction, could : :
1t see and kno v the true condition of these
fortunate and mal-governed people.
Our brave little army upon this line has
r some weeks past been reclining upon
urels already won. Volunteers-prompt-
by their zeal to right their country's c
came here upon ther coun- S
VS. call, not for the paltry pay soldiers b.
t, are tired and sick ofthe dull monotony T
the routine of camp life. Burning with al
laudable desire to press forward and do tn
cir part towards accomplishing the object p,
which they have made SO many sacrii- P
5, their patriotic hearts are throbbing to he
IRE than double quick time to cross the NJ
era Madra, and the broad desert beyond, A
take San Luis, the strong hold of the &
smy, and then move forward to the aid &C
our brethren on the other line-and by tn
strength of their union, drive the rascals ch
m ''honorable peace" But this, ! fear, W,
y will not be permitted to do. ar
The number of troops upon this line are ci,
lrly as follows, viz: Between the Bra ha
and Monterey, 2,l00; at Monterey, m,
10; at Saltillo, $50; and at this post,
Ut 4, 4,5Oo-nearly all volunteers. W,
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