The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-19
Letter from Gen. CarvaJaI.
CAMP AT MATAMoRAs, J
October rs, l85l-ll Pm. {
To Capt. PHELPS, U. s. A.,
Cnmmnnhnnt nj EnrI Rrnmn Tnrna.

To Capt PHELPS, U. s. A.,
Commandant at Fort Brown, Texas:
SIR In the hasty note which had the honor
OF addressing you few hours ago, apprized
you that n more full and detailed answer 10
yours of this date, replying to my comnIunicn-
ton Of yesterday would be furnished. The
object Of this communication is to supply the
answer thus promised. II seems 10 be one of
the main objects Of your answer 10 my commu.
nication TO learn in what position deem myself
to be standing before the civilized world II
affords the the utmost pleasure to answer your
inquiry, and TO give you all the satisfaction on
the subject which you may desire.
To you and 10 all other persons who are moi
practically acquainted with the operations Of the
national government Of Mexico, il may be some.
what difficult TO explain the weight and CALLING
severity OF the grievances, abuses, and oppres.
sions, under which the people Of this unhappy
country have groaned and Struggled, since the
era OF its nominal independence. Ground down
by intolerable taxation. crushed By heartless
monopoes, and rode over by military tyran's
the people Of Mexico have endured oppression
in every shape, and borne insults in n spirit that
would have dignifed martyrs. These aggres.
sions have at length become insupportable. and
by spontaneous, united and patriotic outburst
among them, they have resolved 90 strike off
their chains, and 10 stand on their native soil
unshackled frecmen. This was the exalted spirit
that dictated the acton Of the people Of Guer.
rero, Camargo, Reynosq, Mier. and other indie
pendent towns Of the North. In this &c ton Of
the republic OF Mexico, there cannot be said 10
exist two opinions upon this subject; the same
feeling pervades every bosom, the same impulse
animates every heart When the people assem-
blcd to consider in what manner their rights and
liberties could best be preserved, by common
consent, without any agency Of my own, was
chosen TO lead this patriotic enterprise. nc
cepted the appointment with pleasure, having
seen and felt the iniquiious exactons TO which
my countrymen were daily subjected, and the
despotic outrages constantly practised upon them
by the minions Of power in the name Of freedom
have raised the standard Of liberation, and hun.
dreds Of my aggrieved countrymen have rushed
to its support. Oppressed and borne down by
the organized military despotism Of the central
government, | knew that my countrymen, brave
and devoted as they were, could not, in the frs,
hour Of the struggle, sngle-handed and alone
cope with such an enemy. With the approba
ton and consent Of my fellow citizens, invited
a number of Americans residing along this from.
tier, well acquainted with our habits, feelings.
and interests, to participate with us in the glori
Gus effort to vindicate our rights. True 70 the
instinct Of their nation, they yielded ready as.
sent to the call, and have been, from the beSin-
ming Of this contest, among the bravest and most
determined Of the gallant party which have had
the honor to lead. have presented myself be-
fore the city Of Matamoras, upon the invitation
of many Of the most influential and respectable
citizens ofthis jurisdiction, and, instead of find.
ing myself and my troops received with open
arms, as iberators, we were met with ramparts
bristlng with bayonets and cannon, and with
the stern frown Of military defiance. found
that myrmidons Of the central government had
frauduently declared the city in state of siege,
while was in Camargo with my forces, had
ventured on the crime Of high treason, by an.
nulling the revenue laws Of Mexico, and reduc-