Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-07-31
From the N. o. Picayune, July IS.
LATE FROM MEXICO.

al of two Mexican officers from San Luis with
dispatches for Gen. Taylor. They were sup.
posed to be propositions for peace, but turned
out to be solemn inquiries whether it was the
Generals intention "to conduct the war accord
ing to the manner adopted by the Camauches." I"
The wrath Of Gen. Taylor at this pteposterous
| ins olence OF the Mexicans was described as lud.
erons, hut we have never seen his reply till now
| In the Mexican paper lately received the whole
correspondence is given in Spanish. The let
ter to Gen. Taylor was from Gen Morally Villa
and we have no idea Of translatng it, and the
! impudence of it was not whit exaggerated by
our cores spondent. The nature Of it will be
sufficiently disclosed by Gen. Taylor's reply,
which we translate although we feel what njus-
tice his terse and elegant style viii! suffer by the
double translation. The letter is said to be da-
| ted
HEAD.QuARrERs, NEAR Mos1EREY,2
May 10, 1s47.
SiR--I received yesterday your communica.
tion Of the 10th inst which informs ne that you
are instructed by the President Substitute of the
! Republic to address me, with view TO demand
from me a categorical reply--"whether my
wishes and my instructions are to prosecute the
war in conformity TO the laws of nations and as
war is conducted by civilized countries or as
bar rbarious tribes carry it on among themselves,
! it being understood that Mexico is disposed and
resolved TO accept the manner which is proposed
or carried ont, and awaits the result in o.der to
dictate its measures accordingly"
! If these instructions were not communicated
to me through en- authority as highly respectable
as yourself, should refuse to believe they ema-
mated from the Chief Magistrate Of the Republic
containing, us in fact they do contain, in my
judgment, an implied but not less deiiberated in
suit towards me and towards the Government
which have the honor to represent. Viewing
them in this light, ! shall decline giving the ca.
| tegorical reply which is demanded Of me, which
| do with the respect due TO his Exeellency the
President.
AS you have thought fit to communicate TO me
the instructions OF your Government at some
length upon the manner in which the war has
been carried on upon my part improve this op-
portunity to make some remarks upon the sub.
ject
The outrages to which especial reference is
made came to my knowledge after they had been
perpetra,ed, and can assure you that neither
! yourself nor the President OF the Republic can
| have felt deeper pain than that which felt on
the occasion. All the means at the disposal with
in the limits Of our laws were employed, bu. in
! the greater number of cases fruitesoly, to iden-
tify and punish the delinquents. cannot sup.
pose that you have been so ll.informed to be.
lieve that such atrocities were committed by NY
| connivance, order or consent, or that they by
themselves give an idea of the manner in which
the war has been prosecuted in this part Of Mex
leo. They were in truth unfortunate exceptions
caused bv the circumstances which could not
control.
1t appears 10 me in point TO inform you that
from the moment the American army set foot
upon the territory Of Mexico it has suffered .ndi.
yiduslly the loss of officers and soldiers who have
been assassinSted by Mexicans, sometimes al.
most in sight Of their own camp. An outrage oi
this character preceded the melancholy affair OF
Ca,sna. do not mention these truths with the
view of justifying in any manner the practice OF
retaliation, because my Government is sufficient.
ly civilized to make a distinction between the
lawless acts of individuals and the general policy
which governs the operations Of an enemy but
you have endeavor.d TO make a comparison be.
tween our respective Governments in regard to
the manner in which they conduct the wes,
which cannot pass without remark. IN this
connection it should be borne in mind that the
Mexican troops have given to the world the es.
simple of killing the wounded upon the field Of
, battle.
As you have adverted to the reqIistion which
have made upon the people Of Il ese States tc
make indemnity for the losses incurred by the
destruction OF one OF our trains, take the liber
ty osinforming you that this was not the act o
eheros Of the country where chiefly concerned IL
. il and that the subsequent assassination and mu
tilation Of the uDermed tearnsters were markes
: By an stroeious barbarity unequalled in the pre-
+ sent war.
2 II 10 with pain that fnd myself under III
: necessity ofaddressing You in manner 10 whie
!. am little aecustorned bat have been pro
. vohed to do so by the object and the manner @
i your communication, which is Objectionable, i
!. my estimation, as well in its insinuations as
its tone. With respect to the implied threat q
= retaliation. beg you to understand that hol
oi il At its true worth, and that am at all time
y !, prepared to act accordingly, whatever may
" the policy or mode Of carrying on the war whis
the Mexican government or its generals ma
think II esopsr 10 adopt. J am, sir, with mos
reaper, your eesdlsss ssfyantr..- 90 'i' 90 q