The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-17

who first moved in this great work of reforwa
ton. saw in an instant that this was a mer,
trick TO throw my follow citizens off their guard
and to enable few foreign monopolists 10 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 Avalos, upwards of half a
million of dollars worth of goods were illegally
introduced into that city, and IL Is with the par
tial duties levied upon these goods that the enc
my opposed to me feeds, recruits, and susiains
himself The owners of these goods also, and
their friends, have, prompted by their interest,
inilamed the luminosity of the people of Mata-
IN oras, and led them rashly and blindly to resist
us who were their best friends, who 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 coBiided 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 Of freemen Several sharp encounters
have ensued my men have not disgraced their
colors, and we are resolved to conquer he mill
tary despots in Matamoras, or to perish in the
attempt.
Sach, sir, have been the events that produced
the present condition Of affairs in the city of
Matainoras, 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 ass .cated with me,
may be regarded by the present federal govern
ment OF the United States but, IL 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
citation with the same cause, been rendered i'm
mortal.
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 Of freedom, in which
they gained the lnurels 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 a cause as just
and as righteous as that which has inscribed on
the same roll with that of Washington, those
other names, noble as his allies, Lafayette, Kos
ciusko and Pulaski. hope regenerated Mexico
will DO as grateful, in her present hour Of need,
as the people of the United States have been to
of their tribulation, came to their rescue. The
causes SIT forth in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, by the colonies of America, in ITS, 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,
"snnffed the approach 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 fired 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- igno-
rance, his malice, or his presumption on your
credulity. II 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 kindled 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 head quarters, and the place of
deposit for my ammunition, it seriously endan-
gered the safety of both; and as large amount
of goods were consumed, portion of which had
not found their way to that place through the
regular ordeal of the cusom-house, my interest
emitting my adherence of such mode of war
fare, would have restrained me from this incen.
diary course. Ii was the work of the enemy
and on their heads be the responsibility. The
impulaton that either |, or the men under my
command, have desecrated the American flag
would excite my indignation if it were not be-
meath my contempt. love and honor that flag,
for it is the narbinger of liberty to the world !;
and have many men under my command who
have fought and bled in unfolding it, and who
are quite as ready you are, or the President of
the United States, to offer their hearts blood in
shielding it from dshonor This charge, sir, is
as unworthy of you as it 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 fred on and wounded,
am unable to give you any positive assurance
This much ! can emphaiicaly siate-that his
flag and his official residence were scrupulously
respected. If 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, it was his own fault and he
has no RICH, to complain. The practice of ma
tons, in regard to the personal immunity of con-
snls, is well known. They have no higher or
better right TO protection, when city is besieged
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
inmate Of their families neither they, their gov.
ernments, or the world, censured that distin-
guished chieftain. IL was the fate of war, and if
these consuls did not foresee the danger that
awaited them, it is difficult TO 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 the United States, beg leave to assure you
that you have been grossly deceived. / have
been engaged in neither; and when | consider
the extraordinary efforts that YOU and other off
GERS OF the government of the United States CO.
operating with you, have made to restrain such
violations, cannot help bel ewing you have been
hastily led to put credit in what few moments
sober reflection would convince you WAS
groundiess imputaton | have seen steamers of