Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-06-10

ger after the bread of the Word, and the etor-
nal consolation which the adorable religion OF
Jesus can alone dispense, and there viii be none
who can furnish them. Your daughters and
your wives will be seized in your sight and
made victims to lnsciyious passions, even III
the streets and public places. Your tender
sons will expire on the points OF the swords
and bayonets of the barbarous conquercrs, dI-
rectng towards you their last looks offear and
agony and you yourselves will be seized and
bound like british beasts for the dungeons OF
slavery, and savage men, filthy prostitutes,
and wild beasts will come and enjoy the COM
forts and delicacies of your homes.
II Yes, fellow citizens of Potosi, hear il one
hundred thousand times we tell ycu-hear IL
this fearful calamity comes upon you-it ar
rives at your threshold; and in compliance with
our high duty-Dttend, listen--we announce
to you, You shall suffer all this misfortune in
all It's weight IL you do not awaken from the
profound sleep in which we behold you pros
tratcd, and assist us IN raising force worthy
of the sacred cause IN which we are engaged,
and the glory of your name.
The invader does not retrograde. He has
surrounded in a manner, our territory-he has
left us hardly retreat. We ought not, in so
perllous n situation, to abandon a cause, truly
important and common, wholly to our armed
force, weak, through its poverty, its suferings
and its past labors, though worthy by its never
sufficiently estimated valor. No il concerns
our common interest-all that man holds dear
on earth.
| Let us fly, then, all Of us, to the combat
placing ourselves under the direction of our
authorities, let US fully and sincerely place in
their hands our fortunes and our persons--let
us enlist with promptitude, and with whatever
arms we may be able to obtain-let us throw
aside the senselcss desire Of living longcr-let
MS encourage solely an Unsuitable desire to die
for our religion our counssy, and the honor OF
our familcs-makc effective that compassion,
hitherto sterile, which you should show for
your tender children
/ Let us die before we see ourselves degraded
to slaves, in n strange land deserted, or fol-
lowed, perhaps by some ancient father, some
\ son, or a wife, whose lineanents are already
changed; everywhere abhorrcd, our powers
prostrated by the weight of indgence, sending
forth cries and lamentations without finding a
single being to extend to us a hand OF pity -
Potosinos for the slave there is no consola-
ton his respect and his glory are eclipsed
forever.
These are the sole means Of salvation. Let
us all unite. Let us forget our domestic disa-
greements and authorities, army, people and
riesthood-all-all form compact mass and
backs to the enemy, or survive our misfortunes
and disgrace Let us swear to God to die for
His religion and 10 the country for its indepen-
dence. Let us swear to the tender child, to
the delicate maiden, and decrepid age, that our
blood shall run in torrents--that we shall have
sank into the grave before one of those proud
Vandals shall place a hand upon them!
PotosinOs theGe are the words of your Cler-
gy, and we shall not fail to inculcate, in the
villages and towns, and from the pulpits of
the capital, those grand sentiments. In your
hands is the religion which your fathers left
you, the country which Heaven has awarded
you, the honor of your daughters and your
wives, the lives of your tender infants, and
your whole future fate If YOU wish it, you
may enjoy them all 1t depends on heroic
sacrifice. Make it
Two fates are left open for you: To be vile
slaves, or independent Catholics. Choose If
the former, bend to the invader; if the latter,
prepare for the combat
Comprehend it-thesc are the last moments.
If by Incidence you incur an unhappy fate, II
your religion must fly to more hardy soil, dis
grace and ignominy will fall upon you
To your Priesthood will remuin the satisfac-
ton Of having exposed to you the danger, and
indicated the means most eflectually and best
adapted to our circumstances. And we con-
jure you not TO listen to our words without emo
ton, assured that you meet in us a tender pa
rent who consoles and succors your families, a
humane friend who anoints your wounds,
Christian Priest who dispenscs to you the last
consultations of religion, who guards and re-
members your ashes, n companion that does not
abandon you in the day of battle, and who now
even is wiling to bare his breas in defence of
the religion of Jesus Christ and ofthc most be.
loved Republic of Mexico.
(Signed) MANUEL DEIZ,
FIR. MANUEL. NAVARRETE,
PRIMO FELICIANO CASTRO,
FIR. IGNACIO SAMPAYO,
FIR. BIAS ENCISO,
FIR. JOSE DE SAN ALBERTO,
DIR. FIR. FELIX ROSA ANGEL
San Luis Potosi, April 2Sth, ISi7.