Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-08-13
From the CiereidHd Herald.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM "OLD ROUGH
AND READY"

postcrous insoence Of the Mexicans was dcscrib.
ed as ludicorous, but we have never seen his re-
ply I'LL now. In the Mexican papers lately re-
ccivod, the whole correspondence is given in
Spanish The letter TO General Taylor was
from Gen. Mora Villamil and dated the lOrh
Of May. This Ielter is long and we have no idea
Of translallng it, and the impudence of it was moi
whit exaggerated by our correspondent. The
nature of ii will be sufficiently disclosed by Gen
cral TayIor's reply, which we translate, although
we feel what injustice his tcrso and elegant style
will suffer by the double translation, The let.
ter is oald To be dated,
llEADQUARTERS, near MOntCrcY,(
May l9, l847.
Sir received Yesterday your communlca.
lion oflhc 10Th inst, which informs me that you
are instructed by the President Substitute of the
Republic 10 address me, with a view TO demand
of me Il categorical repIy-"whethcr my wishes
and instructions arc to prosecute the war in con.
tormlty to the laws of nations and as war is con.
Quoted by civilized countries, or as barbarous
tribes carry ii on among themselves, it being un-
dcrslood that Mexico is disposed aud resolved to
accept the manner which Is proposed or carried
out, and awaits the result in order 10 dictate its
measures accordingly"
The oulrages to which especial reference i,
made came to my knowledge after they had beer
pcrpcuacd, and can assure you that neither
Yourself nor the President Of the Republic car
have felt deeper pain than that which felt on
the occasion. All the means at my disposal
within the limits Of our laws were employed, but
in the greater number of cases lrulllessly, to
identify and punish the deIinquenls. ! cannot
suppose that you have been So Ill informed as to
believe that such alrociles were committed by
my conniyancc, order or conset, or that they by
themselves give an idea of the manner in which
tho war has been prosecuted in this part Of
Mexico. They we're in truth unfortunate ex,
ccpuona, caused by circumstances which could
not control.
: If these Instructions were not communicated
to me through an authority as highly respectable
as Yourself should refuse to believe they ema.
natcd from the Chief Magistrate of the Republic
containing, as in fact they do contain in my ludg.
mcnr, an implied but not less deliberate insult
towards nc aud towards the Government which
| have the honor 10 represent. Viewing them
in this light, shall decline giving the calegorl
cal reply which is demanded of me, which dc
with the respect due to his Excellency the Pre-,
Sdcnr.
As You have thought fit to communicate to me
the instructions Of your Government at some
length upon the manner in which the war ha;
been carried on upon my part, | improve this
opportunity 10 make some remarks upon the sub
Icct.
1t appears to me in point to inform you tha
from the moment the American army set foo
upon the territory of Mexico, il has suffered in
dlviduallv the loss of officers and soldiers wht
have been assassinalcd by MeXlcans, sometimes
almost in sight of their own camp. An oulrag,
Of this character preceded the melancholy atfa
at Calona. do not mention these truths will
tho view Of jusulying in any manner the practice
of retaliation. because my government is suii
cicntv civilized to make distinction between
the lawlcSs acts of individuals and tho genera
policy which governs the operations Of an enc
my; but YOU have endeavorcd to make a compa
rlson between our respective Governments il
regard 10 the manner in which they conduct tht
war, which cannot pass without remark. II
this connection il should be borne in mind, tha
the Mexican troops have given to the world th
example Of killing the wounded upon the field 0
battle.
As you have advcrted to the reQuislion whcl
| have made upon tho people OF these States t
make indemnity for the losses incurred by III
destruction Of one Of our trains, take the lber
of informing you that this was not the act of III
Mexican troops exclusively, but that the rancho
ros of the country were chiefly concerned in i
aud that the subsequent assassination and NUT
| aon Of the unarmed teamsers were marked b
an atroclous barbari'y unequalled in the preser
war.
D |, is with pain that find myself under the ne
cessily OF addressing you IN manner TO whic
I am iule accustomed; but have been nrovoke
1 to do so by the object and manner of your com
, munication, which is objectionable, in my estma
| lion, as well in ts insnuatlons as in It's ,ono.-
With respec. to the implied threat Of retaliation
beg you to understand that hold it al its tru
$ worth and that | am al all times prepared to az
b. accordingly, whatever may be the policy
D mode Of carrying on the war which The Mexica
g govcrnmen. or its generals may think proper
d adopt.
II am, sir, with great respect,
e your ubedient servant,
C z. TAYLOR,
b Ma, Gen. U. s. A. Com