New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-12
Affairs az santa Fe.

II is with feelings of profound sadness that we
are obliged to record the dsgraceful proceedings Of
oar troops under Col Price at Santa Fee. Their
conduct has been characterized by the grossest in
subordinstion they plumber ut their pleasure the
defenceless Mexican, and give to his complaints
no answer save contumeloes reproaches or dis.
graceful blows.
In all the abandonment of military license. the
soldiers pass the day, and riots occupy the night
About one.6fth Of the whole command have died
from the effects of dissipation. No order prevails
no attempt at coercion is made " the soldiers -
says one account never drilled or mustered
aud from the highest officer to the private soldier
all is characterization, msrule, and confusion
The license they accord to the soldiers, the off
GERS practice themselves. They keep gambling
bells and neutrality-suspicious. to which some Of
them perhaps were formerly accustomed, before
they assumed the still more disgraceiul part of ma
RAIDERS, punderers and murderers They cheat
and brow beat the natives by day, and when night
comes, flown with insolence and wine they re-
sort TO the fandangos and give full scope to their
unbrded passions.
The officer in command, Col Price but late a
Loco Foco member of Congress either from sym
pathy indifference or fear Of losing popularity
winks ut all the excuses OF the soldiery.
This is no exaggerated statement OF ours lit is
the sober melancholy truth il dispatches are to be
relied upon or the accounts of dsinterested writers
The Indians are another source OF constant alarm
and disaster to the miserable inhabitants against
the excursions OF such enemies Gen. Kearney
promised them the ample security OF his iorces-s
promise which he has never even attempted TO ful
6l--and one, perhaps the performance OF whicht the
deceived and much abused Mexican would not now
solicitor he has more TO fear his civised,
than his barbarous foe
The great distance OF these officers and troops
from the Government Of the United States may
produce feeling of imPunity ON their part no
immediate punishment they know can reach them,
and IL hereafter their conduct should be subjected
to inquiry, they may hope to escape from censure
from political sy mpathy with their acts their com
msndips officer having received bis appointment as
a reward of political services. and his conduct
having been therefore adopted in advance by the
Administration which he helped TO sustain.
Who can wonder at the Instruction of the in
suited. outraged plundered inhabitants Have
they no, cause for their hatred OF our name and
authority Have we not justified their attempted
vengeance
We cannot tell when or how this disgraceful
state Of things viii terminate whether exhausted
by diseases consequent upon brutal dissipation the
volunteers will gradually perish, whether by the
unanimous action OF infuristsd population they
shall be miserably cut of in all the insecurity Of
their security.
If In place OF those who return on expiration o.
their enlistment Of any do return ? other troops are
90 be sent out. cannot the homes, public opinion o.
the country Dc brought to bear with much con
certrased energy ard potency upon this imbecile
sdminisyation as to compel it to direct to Santa Fe
such troops, whether regulars or volunteers as
shall not Disgrace themselves their country, and
Humanity itself