Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1848-04-06

| u.
huston had command of the country be.
tween the Nueces and Rio Grande, and
! kept the Mexicans on the other side of the
latter river. On the Goth June, 1874,
Gen. VOL being ordered by Santa Anna,
proclaims the armislce between Mexico
and Texas at an end. The following was
one of the provisions of Gen. VOLTS or
DER:
ed Every individual who shall be
found at the distance Of one league from
The left band Of the Rio Bravo, will be re-
garded as favorer and accomplish of the
usurpers ofthat part oflhe national terri
tory, and as traitor to his country, and,
after summary trial. shall be punished
as such.
According to this, the Mexican citizens
on this side of the Rio Grande. including
their custom-h house officers, if they had
any, as is commended, were traitors, and
subject TO capital punishment. The fact
Of there ever having been a custom house
at Point Isabel is doubtful, though the
Mexicans did sometimes send from Mata-
moros collecting agents, and on one oc-
casion they sent military force down
there. This occasion is an interesting
incident, aud we will give it in the Gener.
ais own graphic style:
1.-The Mexican Government had, pre-
yiousIy to our declaration of independence,
passed law declaring the ports of Texas
closed against foreign commerce, which
law remained unrepealed. In 1887, the
Mexican Government procured what they
called navy, consisting of some three or
four ships, one of which, | recolIect, the
Gen. Urea, came down to our coast,
and captured one or two vessels owned by
American citizens, and loaded with mer-
chandise belonging to American mer-
chants, and destined for the Texan trade,
These vessels were carried to the BraZos
ST. Jago, In few days the commander of
the U, S. ship Natchez, on her way home
from cruise, seeing these vessels in the
harbor, demanded of the captain of the
Gen. Urea for what cause they were de-
tanned. He was informed that they were
prizes captured in an attempt TO violate
The blockade of Texas. The commander
of the Natchez, not being apprised Of any
blockade, demanded that copy of the
proclamation ofblockade should be furn-
ished. They were obliged to send up to
Matamoros TO Gen. Bravo, the collector,
for it, and when it was furnished, IT turn
ed out to be nothing more than a certified
copy of the old law of 1885, closing the
ports Of Texas against foreign commerce
The commander of the Natchez would not
recognise this as a blockade, and demand
released This was refused, and the
Natchez captured the Urea. A grea
parade was now made on shore, troops
were collected, cannon fired at the
Natchez, which was, however, beyond the
reach OF their shot; the goods were con-
hscaied, and many of the men on board
the vessels we're marched to Matamoros
and imprisoned. The commander Of the
Natchez brought the Gen. Urea to Pen
sacola, and reported the whole affair to
his Government. The matter ended, !
think, in the release of the Gen. Urea,
and | am not sure that an apology was not
made TO the Mexican authorities
He then proceeds TO de fend the right Of
Texas to Santa Fe, and the whole coun.
try east Of the Rio Grande, and shows it
the duty of the United States TO defend
and secure the title to that country. lie
then enters the question how the war com
menced, and warmly defends the course
Of President Polk. AT the suggestion of
Gen. Taylor, our army took up position
on the Rio Grande The circumstances
that led to the conflict are then recapi!u-
lated. Referring to various acts OF OPP
preston OF American citiaons, by Mexico,
Gen. Rusk forcibly remarks
at is, sir, beautiful feature in the
policy of the British Government, that she
never fails 20 redress the grievances OF
the lowllest rs well as the proudest of her
subjects, and hence arises that deep seat.
ed, enthusiastic attachment which a British
subject always feels to the institutions oil
his country. He may perish, sir, in a
lar distant land, beneath the scourge of
Tie oppressor, but his dying moments are
CHeeTeu ny the assurance l1at HIS uOVeTn-
men, will exact ample redress for the
wrongs inflicted upon him, and his last
aspiration on earth will be for his coun.
try.
81 hope the day will come when an A,
merican citizen will look with a similar
confidence TO his Government; but, sir, it
pains me to say it, hitherto 1t has been far
otherwise"
He then discusses the various modes of
terminating the war, and in this connec-
ton exposes the designs of European pow
ers to acquire territory and control in
Mexico. lie refers to the Mcnamara
plans, developed by Col. Fremont, to
which alIuson was made in the Delta of
yesterday; TO the intrignes of Paroles, and
of the monarchicaI party. Gen. r. con-
dennis the defensive line.
Gen. Rusks opinions are summed up
as follows:
"My opinion, then, Mr. President, is,
that we should prosecute this war with
vigor, and that the necessary consequence
of such vigorous prosecution will be, to
show The Mexicans that we are resolved
to bring them to reason. They should be
made to understand that they have moth
ing to expect from our divisions at home,