Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-05-11

SlStance, look possession OF conSld~
able portion OF the States Of New Lee
loa, Coahulla, and Temaulipas. While
these misfortunes were occurring, |
was Frustrated on sick bed at Hava-
ma by fresh breaking out of the
wound which / had received at Vera
Cruz fighting against The French. I
could then listen to the counsels Of
personal interest, and, pro6t,ing by the
lessons of the past, remain quietly in
my retreat, looking from distant land
upon the tempest which was then brea,
king over my country. I could appre.
'clate, then, in their true meaning, the
humiliation ofpolitical factions, which
offered me, in my turn, the incense of
their adulation, in order TO obtain a
look frome me. could finally, on my
return, if had been what my enemies
represented me to be, have re-assumed
the power which was placed in my
hands, chastised with severity defec-
ton and calumny, and managed public
affairs according TO the inspirations of
my conscience, and according to the
exigency oftbe moment. But 10 do this
it would have been necessary to have
soul like that of my persecutors; and to
have fastened to settle the Texas ques-
ton, without any regard to the rights
of the nation. l then preferred, and
would still prefer, hundred defeats,
rather than consent to the ignominy of
the Republic. This is the reason why
Il proceeded to San Luis Potosito or
ganise an army, and dedicated myself
to the campaign, fully aware that l
left behind me the enemies of my name,
who would, without fear or restraint,
conspire against me. The Americans
demanded my first attention, in pre-
ference to the miseries of party po!i-
tics.
In the midst Of the general confu.
sion which had been introduced into
all branches of the Administration by
three revolutions, | undertook to ops
pose the invader without the elementa
of resistance; which were indispensa-
BILE TO the favorable result of the war,
for all the means which | had created
during three years had been for the
greater part destroyed in l845. You
must be aware, fellow citizens, that if
| had deferred the defence of the ma
ton until all human probabilities should
be on the side o. our just cause, tho
American army would have taken pos.
session of the country without any re-
sistance. Honor urged me to rush
to the battle with ,he elements
which circumstances placed at my
command; patriotism and my loyalty
called me to the conflict to mantain
the foreign war in which the nation
was engaged, and at the same time to
combat the efforts o. civil discord and
the Vaccinations of distrust and oalum.
i ny. .... ...-.
Hardly had l united the quotas for
the army, when the press at the capi-
tai, controlled by the most Influential!
members of the Constituent Chamber,
began to aim its darts at me, by stating
that "the army encamped at San Luis
Potosi ought to operate against the in
vaders,in order not to threaten the pub.
lie liberty, as it was doing under my
sanction, and that the means furnished
by the Government should be employ
ed for the national defence, and not in
fomen,ing vices" The repetition Of
these and other offensive imputations
pierced my heart, as I at once recog.
Missed tae principal object Of such de-
clamations, and | found myself under
der the necessity of exposing, by ma
nifesto, The injustice Of such assertions
and my own situation. The troops
under my order suffered the greatest
priva,ions, and the city of San Luis is
witness, that in order to open the cam
paign necessaries were supplied with
money raised on my personal response
bility, and with money of my own
which paid into the military Chest
The army was in want of all means Of
transportation, and it appeared impos.
sible to commence hostilities when ev-
cry thing was wanting and in the
midst of winter. Notwithstanding, the
campaign was commenced, because it
was demanded BY very powerful rea-
sons. Revolutionary tendencies be-.
gan to manifest themselves at head
quarters; the decentralization spread,
and in few hours over FIVE hundred
men, from various regiments, deserted
their standards. Want increased the
evil, and i, was preferable TO die by
the hands of The enemy than to see the
troops dispersed by detection and
crime. My fate has always been to BE-
surrounded by difficulties.
Let it be known to the glory and