The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-24


events changabe at every moment
The sealed despatch from the Department Of state
suppose you to desire to hold until your ARRIVAL OF
until shall hear farther from you.
remain respectfully your 1Ssdsnt sCoTr
Mp. TRrsr, ESQ.,, So, &c., &c.
Mfr. T,ist to Major General Scott
'''"'' JALApA, May 90, ls47.
vernmen which you saw ut to put INTO the shape OF
letter to regret that IT did not receive
once, into article to adorn the columns OF some
reckless partisan press was commenced at san Juan gel
smazement which your letter occssoned and cooly to
reflect upon its aordnary character as have re-
nsh in w D SO did feel to dismiss
the unpleasant subject from my mind Having motives
also for Wishing that my reply should reach you before
where It could be resumed With this view, when We
reached Ell Encero got out my writing materials in
tending the greater part OF the night this labor
ever, been defeated by the aiete which had there
just about sunset causing Colonel Riley to order the adj
rance of the train, with which was, to retire from its
position in and the house and outbuildngs the
completion Of my task has, from this and subsequent
causes been una voidably delayed until now
Was most assuredly not sent to Mexico for any such
that Of q in s tha with
have found forced upon aud doubt whether the
government will approve Of having allowed myself to
employ any portion OF my time in it, Certain am that
his would be censured but for the fact that letter
found under circumstances rendering 1t impossible
was sent hero. The same excuse will not exist here
AFTER and If it should numberiess other good and
suicientreAsons will always exist to compel to de
cline the honor Of maintaining correspondence with
you.
the Mexican minister of foreign relations, transmitted
to by from Vera Cruz has been returned to me,
,nOe my arrival at this place. by your r military score
certain that tho condition of the government of this
country is such to admit of its delivery will be
again placed in the hands OF the Of
forces f that purpose.
Upon recurring to your letter. find both its tone and
It's matter with resp to the transmission of this
munioston perfectly ia keeping with the rest OF it,
and especially with tho light in which you have seen fit
70 consider %ethss OF an emissary o. the secretary Of
your honor suggests that deem 1t necessary to
make special endeavor, in regard to this very impor
tant point to bring down your thoughts from the lofty
regons into which they have scared to the alone
approprate to such plain matters of business rs am
You say that time hence, perhaps, q (you) may
at your (my instance, lend an escort to your (my) flag
81 TRUCE; ana u may require large hsnuns oetaSh-
nent to protect even dag OF truce against the rancho
and bauditti," &C.
Now, sir in reply to this all have to do is to deliver
to you-as | hereby do in wripg-(and this for the
second line unless my first letter fur more engmati
cal than believe could seem to honest men, who
upon their conscience aud honor should be called 10
respond to the questions whether had or had not
ia this instance, been guilty OF wauton contempt OF
ORDERS and whether this offence had had not been a
ravated by the character of the preences under which
the contempt INDUCED in and the conumacy sought
20 be covered up have. ! say sir, to deliver to
he President Of the Uaed States, to wit When the
communication bearing the seal of the Department OF
state and addressed to his excellency the minister OF
oregn relations Of the Mexican republic sha be placed
IN the hands OF the generan chief of the United States
army Ia Mexico it is the will, order and command OF
President of the United States that the said
acaton shall forthwith be transmitted to its destination
under flag Of truce; which flag of truce to proceed
the quarters OF the array, and is to be flag
" truce from the generain caief is to be protected
and for lis security against all dangers Of
the road in general ncudng those from rancheros and
bandu in particularly Whether the escort necessary
general-in-chief, be corporals guard, company,
regment or brigads such necessary and proper es-
cor whatever may be- is to be furnished The Presi
dent, the same time, commands that the general in
chief shall not for the sake OF carrying out this order
aught which may leopard the existence OF tine army
with any movements operations whatever
which he may deem cxpedisn for the most
vigorous possible prosecution of the war The trans
ms,on Of the communication above referred TO- at
all times to be deemed secondary consideration to any
Of those Just but II IL sG to se r
may be compatible with them, the utmost attention is
demanded to it."
The United States which, standing as do to him for
his cal porpose in precisely the same relation that
Of your aidsdecamp bears to yourself, when en-
trusted with verbal order from you subordinate
cfacer- do hereby convey to the general-inchef Of
You will now, sir trust, understand when the
munication referred to shell again be placed in your
hands, that greatly deficient in wisdom as toe present
land indeed any denocratic) administration OF the 60
cernment must necessarily be, has not in this part
cuar instance fallen into egregous blunder to
make the transmission and delivery of that nunica
ion dependent upon the amiable s oity aud gracious
coudescension Of General Winfield Scott.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedent servant.
70 Major General WINFIELD scorr,
Generan chief of the U. $. Army in Mexico
Mr.. Trist 10 Major General Scott.
Enclosure in No ~
BToUAc AT SAN JUAN DEL Rro,}
May 9th, lS47
SIR Your letter of the 7th instant, directed to
Vera CruZ md cd nv nj Ksaru has
at this place, my way to the headquarters of
ne United States Army In Mexico, where my pstruc.
lions require to be- and for which set from We
Cruz Yesterday, in company with Captain Grayson Of
your staff, gentleman to whose kind attentions am
IL tho exercise of the discretion left me- to the pre-
else time for proceeding to headquarters should pro-
/ could obtain some definite information respecting the
aspect which things now wear with reference to the OBJ
Jet of my mission had it not been for the information
copfdenally communicated to me by the governor Of
Vera Cruz confirming Gas your letter again does) the
correctness Of the impression which found generally
cd train all communication between our army and the
seabod would probably be cut off and remain closed for
some time. This consider ation Joined with nv utter
want Of all means of Judging at what moment uncture
might bs likely to occur when every thing, far
countries would depend upon my being on the spot
ready to carry out my instructions without the loss of
single day, determined me to set out forthwith. My
short stay at Vera Cruz had consequently to employ
ed in making the requisite arrangements for leaving with
the train he departure OF which to take place
day ater) instead of being given otherwise would
have been to the examination of files of the Mexican
papers for the last five six weeks whereby alone
entire ignorance of all political events since the capture
Of Vera Cruz and indeed for time previous could
have been dispeed for found all officers that
city 50 engrossed by the urgent demands upon their
enon which every instant arising that the only in
tellgence elected by my inquiries that every thing
was the utmost confusion, and that President
had been elected in place OF santa Anna and in
disregard of his title to that Office under the election of
last year.
No one acquainted with the history of this country
could be surprised at such proceeding, and took for
granted that had happened exactly until learned
from your letter. that this President ia merely
President ad fer," not intended to supersede San
Ia Anna the latter being still the nominal President"
in other words the head Of the government
The frantic DEGREES of the Mexicaa Congress which
you mention, had before heard Of although If