New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-17

slesys respect private property Of every deserphsn
and The property Of the Mexican Churches"
"MexicsDs Tho past cannot be Tet1edied, but ths
future may be provided for Repeatedly have shown
you that the Government and people Of the United
Suites desire peace-desire your sincere irisndship
" am marching with my army upon Pusha ana
Mexico do not conceal IL from those Capttols shai
aran address YOU | desire peace, friendship aud
union Il Il for you 10 cleo. whether You prefer war.
Under any circumstance be assured shall not iai 10
my word"
With such peaceful and conciliatory messages
did General Scott address the Mexican people.
And while he did so, he asked his soldiers to
act as became Americans. No such humilia-
tons as foul mouthed politicians would have the
people believe, were ordered by him and |
now do, in Justice to the COMMANDMENT Chief
and in Justice TO every soldier that followed him
through the campaign, pronounce the charge
libeloHs flsehOod, and its author, if not a base
demagogue, political falsifer, whose bIackened
heart is destitute Of every principle of truth and
honor.
The SANDER originated, perhaps, from the fact
that Col. ChIlds-a veteran officer OF the LIST Ar
tlery-did while acting Governor Of Jalapa, or
der the main guard to salute the Host it passed
the gusrd-house. | am not sufficiently posted up
in the ceremonies Of the ROmish Church to give
a conect-iescripton of the paradng of the Host.
As much as | saw. however, it was a procession
that formed at one of the churches, consisting Of
one or two priests, bearing crosses; these were
preceded by three boys, who carried bells, and
Tung them while the procession moved, to notify
the people of their approach. The priests are
followed by single-fle PROFESSIONS consisting of
about thirty or forty walking on either side OF
the street. These nearly all carry lanterns,
lit being always in the night,) and as they
move along the streets singing chants, the
Mexicans reverence it, by getting their
knees, where they remain uncovered until the
procession is out of sight. When it passes a mil
itary post, the guard is always turned out to sa-
lutte the Host. This they do by getting on their
knees, and coming TO present arms and it was
this that Col Childs ordered our guard to do dur
irg a parade Of the Host through the streets Of
Jalapa, ard no one that is fully acquainted with
the circumstances of the case, will charge that
veteran officer of impure motives in so ordering.
/ don't know what his principles are nor do care,
whether he is a Wing or a Democrat, Catholic
or Protestant. What care for his political or
religious creed, so long ss he is consistent and
pure in his motives He thought it necessary to
do so at that time, because our garrison was
small, and the town large, and it was but prudent
that we should have the goodop of its super
stitious inhabitants, and make them fayoraby in
cline toward us. Hence, as a matter of respect
to the citizens of JalaPa he ordered the guard to
salute the Host.
But where was Gen. ScoTT while all this was
transacting at Jalapal Just where he should
have been-orer Onekundred miles in the adrance.
uith the main army at Puebla lie knew no
more of this order of Col. Childs than did Pres.
dent Polk, who was then at Washington. | dare
any Of those sheets that gave publicity to the
SANDER, to prove the contrary Of this statement.
Till then III wait. WIN. GRAEFF, Jr.
Reading, Pa, July l. 1852.