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

AolHCN tudt unNC SuuIIuNu no SdCIl~
fee nor hardship to crown her with the
laurels of victory.
WAS torn from the field Of battle by
a revolution, the programme Of which
overturned tn. established authority,
and, called BY a majority Of Congress,
! took charge of the executive power
IN order to put stop to the disorders
in the capital Of the Republic, while
Mexican blood was flowing at Vera
Cruz and the enemy were preparing TO
storm its walls. Circumstances fore
ed me to adopt conciIiatory policy;
and although the very parties, who al
that moment were Frustrated in my
presence, had been the authors of tAe
disturbances of the 9th February,
forgot their evil deeds, and only as
PRED 10 employ all our forces for the
chastiselnent Of the foreign inva-
der.
had just taken possession of the
executive power, when The loss of our
frs, forareSSes, Vera Cruz and Uua,
opened towards the east the doors of
the Republic to the invaders. i'm
mediately took the road to oppose his
advance, although no preparations had
been made. In eight days, without
workmen not sufficient utensils, l half
fortified the position of Cerro Gordo,
and with handful ofmaimed and in
valid soldiers, with some rustics badly
armed and forced from their farms, |
made head against $4,000 veterans,
flushed with victory. On this occa-
sion, as in former ones, | resolved to
fight, as our duty was to combat
not to conquer. .-....-..
After the battle of Cerro Gordo, my
enemies and those of their country, rep
resented me to The world, as was their
custom, under the most odious colors,
and in Mexico, very shortly, reyolu-
ton was set on foot to deprive me Of
the Presidency and Of the command of
the army. On this occasion it requir-
ed all The rectitude of the President
Substitute, his excellency Don Pedro
Maria Annaya, TO prevent the consum-
nation ofthis outrage.
In Orizaba, | endeavored to organ
ize some forces, aided by the patriotic
but disappointed Gen. Don Antonio
d'Leon, and in the very presence Of
of the enemy l accomplished my march
to Puebla, where it was impossible
to make any resistance, as there was
not the slightest means of defence
The commander-in- cbief Of the State,
acting, from his own will, or it may be
by superior orders. had sent to a great
distance all the material which had
been accumulated there not intending
to oppose the advance Of the invaders.
proceeded thence to the city of Mex
leo, determined that it should not be
taken with impunity.
During my absence the Government,
astonished as it were by the advance of
the enemy, by the disasters which had
occurred, by the sel6shness of the
wealthy classes, by the inaction of the
greater part of the States, who, taking
shelter behind their sovereignty, had
done nothing for the common defence,
despaired of saving the capital, and
had resolved upon its ABANDONMENT
At the sight Of this dismay, and in
spite Of the conspiracies which were
organizing around me, | assumed pow
err and carried out my intentions. In
less than two months raised forti6ca.
tons, provided great material of war,
and organized third army, with which
fought as long as | was able and as
long as required by the national digni.
ty, though in critical moments d;sobe-
dience and want Of discipline threw to
the ground my plan Of the campaign
and my combinations. My official de-
spatcbes and other documents of that
period manifested these truths, and
give the details Of my public acts. |
have always had confidence in the
good sense Of the nation. l have
awaited quietly an impartial judgement
in spite of the maneuvres OF my enc
mics, and for this reason | have seen
without tremor the approach of a revo-
lutionary surge anu have never dread
ed the cries of factions.
The course of events had showr me
that after every unfavorable event, at
tempts were made to divest me of my
command. / was aware that those
who now new pass for "honest men"
the towards and men who were III
collision with the invader--could not
tolerate any longer the evils ofthe war,
and that sooner or later they would
succeed by their lntrlgues and articles
in sacrificing me without any public
good, and merely to crafty their politi-
cal passions.