The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-19

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ing the rates of import duties to as low if not
lower scale than those demanded by the peopl,
who first moved in this great work Of reforma
ton. | saw in an instant that this was mer,
trick to throw my follow citizens off their guard
|, and to enable few foreign monoposts to en-
ter the lists of smugglers, by overwhelming
Matamoras with goods which were either con.
traband, or on which the full legal duties were
never paid. Under this pretended system, es
tablished by General Ayaos, upwards of half a
million of dollars worth of goods were illegally
introduced into that city, and it is with the par.
tial duties levied upon these goods that the ene-
my opposed to me feeds, recruits, and sustains
himself The owners of these goods also, and
their friends, have, prompted by their interest,
lniiamed the luminosity of the people of Mata-
m oras, and led them rashly and blindly to resist
us who were their best friends, no came to
share with them the blessings Of equality, just
ice and liberty.
When perceived this to be the condition of
things, resolved to meet the crisis in manner
becoming my duty, my position, and the expec.
tation to those who had confided the standard of
reform to my hands. | demanded peaceful
surrender OF the city, sought to avoid blood
shed, but found | had no alternative, except to
abandon the cause, or carry it through with the
right arm offreemen. Several sharp encounters
have ensued; my men have not disgraced their
colors, and We are resolved to conquer the mill
tary despots in Matamoras, or to perish in the
attempt. ~.. ....' t.# "
Such, sir, have been the events that produced
the present condition of affairs in the city of
Ma'amoras, and such is the position occupy in
the face of the civilized world
know not in what point of view my conduct,
and that of the brave men associated with me,
may be regarded by the present federal govern.
ment Of the United States but, if these were
the times of Otis, and of Henry, of Putnam, War
rem, and Washington, might well hope to es.
cape censure from those men whose example |
have followed, and whose names have, by asso.
cation with the same cause, been rendered i'm
mortal. ,v .nA~ 49,. +.
have the satisfaction of believing, that the
great mass of the American people still revere
the memory of their revolutionary ancestors, and
pray God speed to the cause offreedom, in which
they gained the laurels that will never fade on
their brow. The Americans who are acting
with me will not shame either their country or
:, their name-they are fighting in cause as Just
and as righteous as that. wliehzhas inscribed on
the same roll with thu ~ NSzh ington, those
other names, noble g. III allies, II fayette, Kos.
cipsko and Pulaski. hope regsnef ated Mexico
viii be as grateful, ber present Jour of need,
4 as the people of the q la1 u have been to
/ those gallant foreigners VINO, In the dark hour
of their tribulation, came to their rescue. The
causes set forth in the Declaration of Indepen.
dence, by the colonies of America, in l776, were
not more potent and aggressive upon the rights
of man, than those which stimulated the people
of Northern Mexico to take up arms in their own
defence. The keen-sighted patriots of our sis.
ter republic, in the language of Mr.. Burke,
"snuffed the approach of tyranny in every tainted
breeze" while the people Of Mexico have felt
its practical application from the mailed hand
and iron heel of corrupt power.
You have been pleased to state, sir, that the
forces under my command are said to be attack.
ing and destroying, by fire, property of peaceful
American citizens, and that they have also desc
Grated the flag and fred upon and wounded the
consul of the United States. know not who
may have been your informant, but take leave
to assure you, that it would be difficult question
to determine which predominated-h igno-
rance, his malice, or his presumption on your
credulity. 1t Is utterly false that the forces
under my command have attacked or DESTROYED
private property by fire, or in any other manner
The fire that occurred in Matamoras on FRIDAY.
was not knded by my orders. or by any of my
men. The torch was applied by the enemy
| and as the wind was setting at the time in the
direction of my headquarters and the place of
deposit for my ammunition, il seriously endani
gered the safety Of both; and as large amount
of goods were consumed, a portion of which had
not found their way to that place through the
regular ordeal of the custom-house, my interest,
emitting my adherence Of such mode of war
fare, would have restrained me from this incen
diary course. il was the work of the enemy, /.
nd hal A. - 81 FI,l
impuiation that either |, or the men under nv
command, have desecratcd the American flag,
would excite my indignation if it were not be.
meath my contempt. love and honor that flag,
for il is the narbinger Of liberty to the world
and have many men under my command who
have fought and bed in unfolding it. and who
are quite as ready as you are, or the President of
the United States TO offer their hearts blood in
shielding il from dshonor. This charge, sir, is
rs unworthy Of you as il is unmerited by those
against whom you make it, despise the au.
thors-l pity their dupes.
So far as relates TO the allegation that the
American consul was fired on and wounded, |
am unable TO give you any positive assurance
This much can emphatically siate-thgt his
flag and his official residence were scrupuously
respected II he abandoned these, and mixed
with the throng in the streets, or herded with
the enemy, or assisted the porters in securing
bales OF goods under the fire of our guns, and
was thus wounded, il was hia own fault, and he
has no nigh; to complain. The practice Of ma.
tons, in regard to the personal immunity Of con.
sul-, Is vel known. They have no higher or
better right TO protection, when city is beseged
and assaulted, than other private persons
When Gen. Scott, during the late war, battered
down the houses Of some Of the consuls in the
city Of Vera Cruz, and wounded and injured the
inmates Of their families neither they, their gov.
ernments, or the world, ceusured that distin-
guished chieftain. II was The fate Of war; and If
these consnls did not foresee the danger that
awaited them, il is difficult 10 see why General |
Scott should have suspended his operations to
have given them lesson in military engineering |
The consul at Matamoras may profit by this hint |
SO far as respects your statement, that have
been engaged in violating the laws and territory
of fha IInifod Gfoto, I H. A.. |