The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-05-04
NUMBER 46.
From the National Intelligcncer.
FIFTH DESPATCH OF MAJOR DOWNING.
Cry OF MEXICO, March %, 1913.

Cry OF MEXICO March %, 1913.
Mr.. Gales g. .Senton, my dcar old friends:
| When have to write about the war, and the
treaty, and thin gs Of that sort that belongs to
dp'omatics, of course send my dispatches to
the Pl esident OF Mr. Richie; but when things
branch off into the newspaper line, then / send
EN- to you. We've had Gineral Scott on tri-
al here five days, for high treason against
Glnclal Pillow and Gineral Worth. If it
goes agin him, | don't know whether they
will conclude to hang him or shet him up in
some OF the mines OF Mexico for life. But he
fights like Turk, and amt skeered at nothih.
The President better send on some more
help, for | aint sure that what there is here
will be able to handle him. The battle has
been pretty hot for five days, and don't see
as they get the upper hand Of him at all yet.
1t would be a great pity if man that has
been guilty Of such horrible erin es as he has
out here in Mexico, should slip through their
fingers at last and escape punishn ent. l be-
gin to feel a little afraid how it will come out.
For my part, 90 for justice, hit who twill.
If man will commit crimes, let him be pun
lshed for it. I'm afraid the President has
missed figure in leaving it out to such men
as he has. 1t would been safer and more
sure to leave it ont to jury of Mexirans-
give, would Il been two years in the deepest
and darkest mine in Mexico for his taking
Vera Cruz and the Castle; two years more
for the cutting and siashing he gave 'em at
Cerro Gorlo; two years more for Chapulte-
pee and ChurubusCo; and the rest Of his life
for his taking the city of Mexico. In that
case, You see, his punishment would been
measured out according to his crimes.
was thinking last night that l ought to
make up Il little budget about the trial and
send it on TO you, as promised to let YOU
know once in a while how things was getting
along out here. And while ! was Lothering
my head to know which end to begin at, a
man came in and brought me little letter.
took it and opened it, and l couldn't hardly
believe my eyes at first, to see the name of
Gineral Pillow signed TO it lie requested
me to call at his quarters in the evening" on
very urgent business. Thinks | to myself,
what in thunder can this mean? Then |
thought, may be they had got a hint that the
prisoner intended to run away, and they
W; nted me to help keep guard round Cine
raj SCOTS quarters to see that he didn't
escape.
So Jest at dark went round to Gineral
Pillows quarters. He seemed to he amazin
glad to see me-, and to0kme by lie arm and led
me into tot er room.
major Downing" says he, I'm very
happy to see You. | wish you wouldn't make
yourself such stranger to my quarters it
would give me great deal Of pleasure to see
you oftener.''
thanked him, and told him that his rank
was good deal superior to mine, and all
ways felt kind of delicate about putting my
self along side Of them that was SO much
above me.
" Not at ALL" says he, "Major not at all
we have to observe rank, to be sure when we
are on the field; bnt every where else we
are all equals, Major, all equals; give us
your hand" And here he give my hand an
other hearty shake,
"Major," says he, Il understand you
write letters to the National Intelligencer
about matters out here in Mex
co."
"Wel yes" says l, Gneral, do some
Tines when it don't Interfere with my public
lutieS as the Presidents private ambassador"
Then he turned round and put the door to
and began to speak in little lower tone.
Major" says he, "that lnteigencer is a
capital paper; it deserves to be encouraged.
take a ,carm interest IN the prosperity ofhat
paper, md mean to do something TOR il. I'll
jc he making gift get, when | get the rank
md situation that expect to get | spose
You'll send some account of this Court Mar
ial Gown by the courier tomorrow to go to
he Intelligencer won't you?"
"Well, yes" says |, IL was thinking of
sending some little outline of it, SO that the
olkS at home in the United States might UNI
lerstand the substance of it as far as it has
rot along"
Then he took a written paper out of his
pocket aud, says he, Major here is clear
account of the proceedings as far MS they have
gone, all carefully drawn up, and putting
every thing in true light. | should like 10
have you take this and send it on to the In
teigcncer, and have it inserted as coming
from an authentic source or, if you choose,
YOU can work it in and make it part of your
letter, and then nobody will doubt but what
it comes f. ON an authentic source ! should
rather, on the whole, that YOU would work it
into your letter; that would be the best Shape
10 put it in and would be next thing to an
official report"
After | took it and looked awhile over
some parts of it, says !, Gncral, it seems to
me it is most too soon to end such a partcu
lar account as this, for fear Of making some
1t must take some time to pick the
matters all up and put them together in the
right shape, so rs to give every one his fair
share. l thought l would send on now the
main points of it, and send on the particulars
when we've had chance TO pick en- all up
md pat en- together right"
But, Major says he, I'm rern anxious
his account Mouid 90 off 'cih The first imPreS-
,ions. You know Il great deal depends on
first impressions; therefore, no time should
be lost in getting tins before the public, and
the best way to do it is to work ii into your
report TO be sure, the paper does consider
able Justice to me, but not more than think
YOU will be satisfied belongs 10 me. Inercr