Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-27

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| but not to death and the place was taken.
The next day the inquiry made in general or
der for the volunteer who had offered for this decisive
service with view to hls receiving an otheers com
sderng himself not entitled to be thus raised the
heads Of many men, both grown and better qualified tor
an act which had proceeded more from the despair and
reckessness of his situation than from any other spirit
and in truth still hoping for escape from service to
which he was still strongly averse; and the only reward
he accepted was that OF exemption from the drudgerles
of soldiers work, and OF being mounted instead OF
marching ON foot to which he had never been accus-
toned Still once the SERVICE the genius of the SOL
der and the spirit of emulation OF military honor pre-
vailed over his own aversion to the career; ano at nine
teen he found himself commander of squadron OF
horse select force designed for critical occasions, to
decide pending contests, corps INTO winch none but
picked men admitted, and with which 1t was
poin of honor to turn the back and at the age
of twenty. three highly esteemed colonel OF regi-
ment of cavalry.
Besides other distinctions, he received during this war
the rare military honor OF the OF San Fernando OF
the second (the most Distinguished degree; reward
not bestowed at pleasure but which is to be obtained
only by public demand by the person claiming 1t,
and on the institution OF formal process Tor and against
his RIGHT every body being free to nterpose oblec
ton or to deprecate the merit OF the act for which is
demanded In the whole army there was but one
other individual who possessed this cross Lopez not
attaching much importance to the act Tor which he was
uroed to apply and caring little moreover for the honor
himself was only induced to demand it by the comman-
der-n chief, General Morillo, who tainted him with
hainp afraid OF rejection OF tne QedNu, ana WHO
handed his secretary to draw up the application, almost
forcing the reluctant young ottcer to sign 1t.
In the negotiations for the withdrawal Of the Spanish
army he contributed much to cause the Spanish gener-
a-who could have proracted the contest much longer
though with no hope of eventual successto relieve the
country from the further pressure OF the evils of war; by
his influence exered in every manner consistent with
military honor; and it is no small proof ofwha must have
motives entertained even by those against whom he
had thus served, having been thrown by the circumsan
ces above explained on the Spanish side OF the civil
contest thus terminated that the conclusion of hos
tites he was invited by the patriot government to
ter its service in the same rank held by him in the
SPANISH army He declined the offer, not considering
that that honor which had Kept nm IN the service per-
mitted him to accept it, and he retired with the evacua-
ton army to Cuba in the year 1923.
Since that time 1929 Lopez has been Cuban, hay
ng married and established himself in the Is and. He
was known to be possessed of liberal principles, hch
prevented him from obtaining office in the island and
hus rem aimed in retirement During the first OF the
Carst troubles in Span Lopez happened to be in Mad
rid with his wife, urging private clam on tne govern
side: was made first aid de camp to the Commander In
Chief, Cen Valdez, and after taking most active part
in the war being usually selected for the most daring
military work. he found himself, at its close, ge-
neral and covered with military decorations, among
which were the highly distinguished OF the grand
crosses Of St. Hemengldo and Isabel la Catolica.--
Between himself and Valdez (who afterwards
Captain General OF Cuba devoted friendship arose,
which has never sustained any diminution.
In his political sentiments General Lopez never wa.
vered from his fidelity to the democratic party known in
Snain as the liberal eraltado party. As known and
reliable member Of that party he was appointed COM
mander chief of the National Guard othe kingdom
post created for hun at critical period He, at dit
terent periods filed the post OF chet OF
various provinces Though excessively caressed by
the queen mother Christina, he early learned to des-
pse and dstrust her, and her false SELFISH and intIi-
guing politics. 80 ...-. Mr.
drd which resulted in the expulsion OF Christina from
the REGENCY Gen. Lopez was earnestly solicited by the
neone to assume the command OF the capital, as Co
vernon of Madrid which, when he found it incumbent
on him as duty Of humanity, at difficult and critical
moment he consented to do The city being threaten
ed bv the army he made the most energetic prepare
tons for its defence but happily the withdrawal OF the
ohno xous Queen Mother to Paris avered the necessity
Of the struggle for which he had braced the of
the people By the frmness OF his resolution and the Vi
por of his measures Espartero, whom the govern
ment then devoved and who was soon after appointed
Regent by the Cortes, anxious to induce Lopez to
retain the post of Governor of Madrid but the latter
would not remain beyond the period OF emergency for
which he had been called upon by the people them
selves in situation in which it might become his duty
to act against the people for the repression OF tuults
and three times pressed upon the Regent his resigna-
ton which only accepted when he positively retus
ed to take negative answer and he relieved Espartero
from the difficulty Of filling his place, by himself re-
commencing competent successor
Anterior to this period, he had been appointed Sc
nator of the kingdom, by the liberal city of Seville. His
office of Senator afforded Gen Lopez opportunity
of studying the politics of SPAIN the spirit and action Of
its government especially in reference to its American
colonies Cuba, his country by adoption and marriage
being the principal ope which, amidst the clash and
spendor of arms, he had never before possessed; and
he willingly for while, forgot the latter, glorious as
they had Been to him, avail himself Of the advana
geous facilities of his position for the former Disgust
and Indignation the first fruits resolution to be
the liberator of Cuba the next. The expulsion OF the
Cuban deputies from the Cores further disguised HIM,
and resgning his Offices he departed for Havana, nor
without some trouble in obtaining permission.
At this time, QS39) General Valdez was Captain
General Of Cuba During the various political troubles
Of SPAIN Lopez held different posts of honor and emo
ument in the island, but, at length he resigned all ex-
cept his rank as General and then undertook the work.
ing of an abandoned copper mine, preext for re-
turnngto the Central Department Here he began to
mngle with the people and concert plan for the LIBERIA
ton OF Cuba The enterprise OF last year, which mis-
carried so completely was the result of his first efforts
The second effort better matured and more extensive,
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