The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-23

ceiveI from Mr. Trist that this package was sui ned
up with piece Of red tape, with which il closely
bound when he delivered it to Mr. Trst and that he
leaned from Mr. Rogers that If was sent oil from the city
OF Mexico about the 2lst September by captain Of the
Mexican navy, who was going directly to Vera Cruz.
This packag having left the city of Mexico on the ST
OF September, could not possibly have reached New Or
leans before October LIST WHILE point of fact the "Le-
onidas letter had already been published in the Delta
The ION Selenber-ull twenty days before posi-
Die Tor any letter which IN this package have
rived in that city
But more conclusive still my proof of this last false
hood OF this witness. Agreeably TO his own accounts
the package was delivered to him the 3ls day of
gust Mr. Maginns proves that the Leonidas letter ar
Gyed IN New orleans very early on the morning OF the
arhest Tor the transmission of this letter from the val
ley OF Mexico TO New Orleans, by private courier when
almost all communication off, when the reports
OF the Generain-chief captured, and when il re-
CURED from the 23d OF August to the Sh of September
sixteen daysfor the news OF the anistice reach New
Orleans showing that, Judge Walker states, was
not possible al that time for letter leaving Mexico upon
the 3lst August, and going by the private courier EN-
Ployed by Freaner and inst, have reached New Or
leans on the morning of the sth September.
And, hnally utterly to sweep away any yestige OF
probability in the testimony OF this Witness the deposi
ton of Mr. Whitman clearly proves that he off the
eonidas letter himself, and that had neither knowledge
nor participation in Its transmission
have now disposed OF this second fiction OF the self
styled .Amencan ministers" and in doing so, trust
have satisfied all impartial minds that wholly inno-
cent OF any connexion with letter which has annoyed
me as much as its excessive praise of has disturbed
might materially strengthen the argument upon this
branch OF the case by drawing comparison between the
papers themselves, showing the strong confederation
which derives from the analogy the papers bear to each
other But the prosecutor charges the existence OF
this analogy and bases his main argument upon it,
deem 1t unnecessary to attempt to prove what not
troyerted, but is admitted by both parties
Having thus disposed OF the first charge and shown as
am persuaded, that IT Is utterly false-that had no
more agency in writing or procuring to be written the
letter which the of the charge than had
the prosecutor himself will proceed to give the first
specification of the second charge such attention as il de-
serves
which the frs, charge is based and then proceeds point
out, IN distinct paragraphs what the prosecutor pleased
TO denomlnate faIsehoods in that paper 1t has been al
ready shown that thus assumption fasetha Paymas
ter Burns is the author of the letter. and alone respon
sibe for it, be II true or false In the OF this in
yestgatlon all its statements of fact have been in
cidentally proven to be true forbear make any re-
mark about the excessive laudation of myself save that
it emanated from a which had no control
that undeserved and that it has no one more
mbarrassment than myself Blu. inasnueh second
specification under this charge relates to the truth of the
the Leondas letter. and utterly deny that am OF
can be- held at all responsible for the Leonidas letter.
SHALL without further remark, proceed to the consdera
ton OF the second specification under this charge.
This specification charges that knowing that Gen Scott
could al early day, make and send off his off
cal reports sought to foresial public opinion in the
United States through the press thereof and with that
view wrote, caused be written aud delivered 10
James L. Freaner the correspondent OF the New Orleans
Delta, the paper No. l. for publication in said newspaper
intended ii TO be incorporated desraich TO be
written by hum for that purpose; and that this paper is
identical, as far as II goes, with the Leondas letter. and
false In the same particulars and respects the said let
ter.
In examining this specifications and the proof relied
upon to sustain it, will first consider whether the facts
stated there substantially true and then look TO
the motive charged
The first statement in this the accuracy Of which
brought into question by the prosecutor, that rela
ting the order of battle and the disposition of the forces
on the leth August the battlefield OF Coneras As
this statement is again brought in question the third
specification, and is there made the grauanen of distinct
charge shall here merely refer to the of the wit
nesses who clearly and fully prove its truth These
Captain Hooker, Lieut. Ripley, Col Riley, General Cad
walader Col Savage, Captain Bogardus, Lieut. Nicola
nahan, and Captain Kerr. lH 4
The next material paragraph relates to the battle; de-
scnbes the conflict of Riley with the enemy speaks of the
appearance OF the large einorceens under Santa Anna
Of the order Morgans regiment of the arrival of Gen
Scott upon the field late in the evening; of the arrival of
Shedss brigade and says that it did not get into position
until dark The parts of this paragraph which are
controvered arefrst, the order Morgans regiment;
second, the hour Of Gen SCOTS arrival upon the field
and Mrd the tune At which Gen Shieds's brigade ar
rived at the village of Ansalda.
In the third specification the order 10 Morgan will be
shown to have been delivered by Captain Hooker my
assistant adutant general before General Scott reached
! the field
As to the hour at which General Scott reached the
field of battle, Colonel Hitchcock fixes the hour precisely
al O'Clock in the evening He says that he looked at
his watch, and that it not one minnie earlier or
later-that he entered the hour next evening in his
Journal
Captain Hooker testifes that, upon the arrival of
messenger from General Cadwaader asking for support
ing force General Scott asked for the hour that Colonel
Hitchcock looked at his match, and said that
quarter before 5,or quarter after o'clock and then
remarked: General, we got here al o'clock" Lieut.
Hodge proves that he examined his watch upon General
SCOTS ARRIVAL and that minutes after oclock
that Mr. Kendall examined his, and by twenty five
minutes after o'clock and that there third watch
examined at the same time, tby gentleman whose
name he did not recollec) by which the time was be-
ltxx-eap hil ptVna and NJ at pf Mr. and
General Scott himself, in his otc,alTepoTt, bearing date
the very night OF the battle res the hour OF his arrival
at O'Clock
Here then have the author of the UNANIMOUSLY false
letter. published the New York Courier and Enquirer)
by which he dishonors himself with his journal made
the next evening" Tor subsequent, for the occaslon
the side; the other, Captain Hooker and Lieut.
Hodge, who gave the time OF three watches and General
SCOTS on Official report written that very night when
this evidence in the balance of truth, it will not be diff
cult to tell which scale will preponderate
In the month OF August IN the latitude OF Mexico, tbs
sun sets al about O'Clock, p. Two-thrds of the
afternoon having passed when General Scott arrived
upon the field the question then presents ITSELF the
statement in tins paper, hat he arrived late in the
Ing proven be true Ii is for the court decide
and submit to its good judgment whether II early
or late in the afternoon
As TO the other statement in this paragraph, viz 'tha
General Shields did get position until after
dark refer to General SCOTS Official report, and
to General Shields's also; both OF which say the
night General Shields his testimony before the
court, that 1t about O'Clock IN the morning be-
fore he entered the village OF Ensalda.
There is another statement this paragraph, viz :;
that General Scott brought upon the field lcith him