The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-09

T0DOerS killed one OF our own men, the Iuuure was
ours, and the crime was not that OF the helpless
inhabitants. We were bound TO punish the rob-
bers who violated their properly and were the ter
ror Of the country. We became their guardians
and our neglect Of that duty could not justify us
in killing one of the innocent people OF the town
because these maranders in their visits should MUIR
der one Of our people. But this the senator from
Texas calls retaliation, though the unarmed in
babitants were TO protect the troops, instead Of
the reverse.
But he says that after the capitulation of Mon
terry the Mexicans were not disarmed, but went
armed about the town. If the senator will turn
to the articles ofcaptuaton, he will find not only
the number Of arms that they were permitted to
retain, but the number Of rounds OF ammunition
which they were allowed, and the conditions of
the grant. When they crossed the plains to San
Luis Potosi, the retiring troops were allowed for
defence against the Indians these arms, and with
them in their hands they marched out Of the town,
under the supervision of our troops. never saw
an armed Mexican riding about the town after the
capitulation, and the occurrence must have been
very rare if 1t ever happened, except under pass
port from own officers
There was an armed lancer shot In the street,
and that the particular atrocity TO which ref
erence was made. An officer Of the Mexican army
upon parole was present in Monterey, and with
h m he had an orderly They were about 70 start
Z ON Monterey to 60 to Satillo. He was riding out
Of the town, and the orderly was following. That
orderly was armed because he was going into the
country, and he was shot from window he
rode through the street. The immediate comman-
der and military governor of the town Of Monterey,
the lamented General Worth, told me that that
officer on parole on leaving town, had Just shaken
hands with him, and before his hands were vet
entirely cool from the parting grasp, he was in
formed that the officers orderly had been shot in
the streets by the Texan Fitzsimmons. The brave
honorable Texans who were there never counte-
nanced the act. The brave and good men Of the
Texas regiment were as indignant as others at the
infamous atrocty. Col. Hays the first to
rest the offender and, if he had been allowed to
deal with him, that individual would probably
have met summary punishment. This is but
sample. The true soldiers of the Texas regiments
and OF every other, denounced these irregularities
of their own troops or Of any other, They sup.
ported the commanding general in all that he did
for the honor of his country, for the honor Of the
army, and Of the flag he bore. The complaint
which he makes is unjust to the better class, the
great majority Of the Texan troops, who never
countenanceI or defended these atrocities.
He must have heard of Mexicans shot at other
places, and at an anterior period. The senator
surely cannot intend to justify such an act as that
which is fully reported in the document before me,
and to which have referred. The testimony in
relation to it taken by the captain of the Bra
zoria company, and Colonel Hays Of the Texan
regiment, it was sufficient to have convicted him
il there had been any court Of competent urisdic-
ton, and this constituted one of the atrocities of
which complaint was made. Was this justi6able
retaliation' Or does he refer to that respectable
citizen Of Linares, murdered by party remote
from the camp of the commanding general, to
whom the complaints Of the murdered man. s
family came' That is another case, Of the class
of which you, Mr. President, (Mr. SHIELDS be-
ing in the chair,) who served in the Mexican
war, so well understand, as making in a soldiers
mind the distinction between murder and the
killing of an enemy in battle. You, sir, know
also why it often occurs that undisciplined
cavalry commit these Irregularities
But the senator reads from letter of June 10Th,
lS47:
''The volunteers for the war, so far, give an
earnest of better conduct, with the exception Of
the companies Of Texan horse. OF the infantry
have had little or no complaint. I"
II the general had gone further, and said that
irregular cavalry always produce disturbance in
the neighborhood of camp, he would have said
no more than my experience would confirm.
With their freedom from fatigue at the close of
march, they are restless; and when in camp,
while their horses stand in tether, they always
ready to avail themselves of chance to wander
far from the camp; and, thus oftener and further
removed from restraint, they commit more irregu-
larities than other troops, for this very reason.
The senator went on to say, In relation to the
statement that some shameful atrocities had been
perpetrated in Monterey after the capitulation of
the town, "What high encomums are these, in
acknowledgment Of vaorous and chivalric deedss
What encouragement to cheer veterans What
encouragement to offer to young and ardent pat
riot?
What had atrocities after the capitulation of the
town to do with gallant feats in battle' Nothing,
sir; nothing. And what could the veteran feel
but Indignation at knowing that shameful atroci-
ties were being committed upon unarmed peo-
ple' How could the ardent hope of a young pat
riot be chilled when told that he was to support
and defend his country IS flag, and not to commit
rapine and murders What high-toned gentleman
would not feel, the very instant you convinced him
that such acts were TO be allowed In the army,
that it was no place for him 1t would be to him
an nducement to enter the army, to believe that it
was to be governed by considerations of honor
and morality, and proprety of demeanor, where
yer it went; and that he was to be with men
who would not tarnish the fame of his country
men who would not commit acts unworthy of
gentleman and an honest man. These are my
views of the feelings Of the veteran and of the
young patriot, and find nothing in these extracts
either to offend the one, to chill the ardor Of the
other. H
The senator read another extract:
some company of Texas foot volunteers, which
has rendered excellent service In the campaign, is
now ON the march to Camargo, there to be mus
tered out of service. "
In commencing the troops in the general order,
no regiment had been mentioned. The mounted
regiments Of Texas had been noticed and COM
menQeQ In the Oruer Tor their uIScnarge out
was the first time that these men of the foot COM
pany had been specially noticed. If the senator
chooses to torture it into injustice because foot
company is commended which had not before
been noticed, while the mounted regiments were
not again mentioned in connexion with it, though
they had before been commended, Twill leave it
for him do so, but will first tell him that the
foot company deserved special commentator, not
only for it's gallant service at Monterey but for the
circumstances connected with its being there. 1t
was Captain Shriver's company, composed mainly
of volunteers from the State of Mississippi. l
know how it got there: Though it fought in the
army under the standard Of Texas, it was raised
chiefly in the State of Mississippi, and in the coun-
ty adjoining that in which reside. Unable to get
into the service from Mississippi, they went to
Louisiana; unable to get into the service in Louis
lana, they went to Texas. They there served to
make up the complement of that one foot regiment
which Texas furnished /; and when that regiment
declined to remain in service at Camargo, that one
company offered their services, were accepted,
and, beng recruited by the voluntary enrolment Of
discharged Texans, performed duties in the eeige