The American Flag. (Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico), Vol. 1, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 20, 1846 Page: 2 of 4
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FLAG.
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BY FLEESON, PEOPLES & CO. :u ,
THURSDAY MORNING, AUG'T 20
Qen. Twg&t with tea, command, was making
•low 'but. steady marches at our last accounts. The
extreme-heat of the weather .wilt be a mighty draw-
back on the boys in their journey? but there is metal
enough in them to make them grin and bear it.' ■
. , . or-^—' 1 ! '■
FROM SAtf FERNANDO.—Messrs. P. F.
CazeaUx &!.Co.' yesterday with the peru-
sal of a felted frorfrSari Fernando, written by a
friend' of feri on the 15tK inst. The letter,- states
that the Texah Raiment, to Which-hd'W attached*
reached there Somfe'thfee days previous^**! condi-
tioned, aht/'much' pleased With the cwrnttytandthriir
journey." They Were treated with hodpifatity by the
natives, and had seen no soldiers on the route. "ZiV!
• ■ ' ■»1 1 " .■'I J -l d h c
The city has been unusually quiet for, the last tew
days, and great credit is due our worthy Colonel
for the efficient manner in which it has been .brought
about. It wa» naturally supposed that the closing
of the whiskey shops would in, a great measure
tend todoiw^y.with the noise, confusion and rows
that prevailed, during their existence, but we little
anticipated so thorough a reformation. A person
walking the streets of Matatnoros about 10 or 11
o'clock at night would think himself in a strict
military camp after tatoo had beat, for every thing
around is as quiet as the giive, save the occasional
light tread of the different patrols moving up and
down the streets. Col. Clarke's administration is
destined to be one fraught with great popularity to
himself, for he is, whilst energetic and strict in his
official duty, courteous and humane to all with
whom he has dealings.
Camp Equipage for Gen.1 Taylor.—Messrs.
Robinsoh & Kreemer, of Baltimore, have completed
a set of camp equipage made by them to the order
of a gentleman"in Washington and intended as a
present to General Taylor. The set numbers about
one hundred pieces, consisting of kettles, pans,
trays, cups, coffee pots, knives and forks, sugar, tea
and coffee canisters, castors, etc. The present will
no doubt be gratefully accepted by the General, but
to a man of his "rough and ready" habits, a person
would infer that a frying pan and tin cup would be
all thef camp equipage he desired.
Mules.—There is a considerable demand for
good and gentle mules now, and a great many have
been bought and sold in Matartioro# within a day or
two. There is an agent here who is authorized to
purchase a large number.
The Medal3.—G. W, Lleeder arrived here on
Monday evening last, from New Orleans, having in
his poesession the medals for the four non-commis-
sioned officers, which he is authorized, in the name
of the citizens of New Orleans, to deliver in person.
One of them was exhibited in our office, and it is
both neat and appropriate. This mark of respect to
the subalterns, is characteristic of the generous citi-
zens of JNew Orleans, who, whilst the nation was
singing the praises of our army, took this method of
demonstrating their approbation of the glorious
dead* of four, until now, obscure persons. The
reward of merit is a pleasing task, and the gentle
man to whom this mission has been assigned is in-
deed to be envied. He has figured conspicuously in
the getting up of the aflkir and will no doubt do jus-
tice to those who sent him, and execute the duty
with credit to himself.
hist
It is stated in t(«e
?' a 'V
the Texas troops have bee'rfaSsigTifd' to the
arrival that
com-
rnancHoTMajor' General Patterson-.- We* have-no *
avr 'a , 1
personal acquaintance with General Patterson, neU
tjHec have we gathered from the chronicles of tjie
times.any .ku&wledge ofhis military qualifications;
•but we joust Whfes§ that, we do not perceivethejua-
ri j u rr a v x i r r. i ,i w i as i 't • v I ■ n
tice or the policy of thus placing a stranger at \h*e
hiead of' troops • With horn he %SS ttad it©* political
connection or social intercourse. Bet w«4n: General
Patterson and Uie Jpeople-of Texas^thereare nopub-
The numerous reports oftho^advancp ofthe jHe'ii-
can army tovvaius this frontier does not receive aS
much credit as some persons could wish. Jftor
should it, for we cannot coheeive, as deluded as we
admit the great majority o fthe Mexicans to be, that
a movement so saicidal can'for a tutiinetit b$ Enter-
tained, even by the matt who isso-disregardful of the tiaies.aay kutiwledife of his military qualifications-
,.j ' ,,i ..! • j . »u . • . 'j " . _ . *r—*y"»' ,« Jf
interests of the many, and who hplds in Jus hands
the despot ic reigns of government That Pa redes
would like to build up tor himself a name.and re-
establish his declining popularity will readily be ad-
ruilted, but to do rthis he must h^ve th<? masses with
him, and in our opinion the. hour has passed when
he could have influenced tliein. Men can be easily
. i r '■'
incited to.exgrtiun immediately after a victory or a
defeat, hut whea, called 9M months after, they res-
pond with little alacrity to the call. Surrounded as
the Mexican chiles is by rebellious States, (for'eVerV
mail brmgit us accounts of new pronunciamentos)
hothmg but an act of desperation should induce
him to quit the capitol, unless, indeed, his own safety
demanded thnl he should do sou There is no hope
" ■ > ' ' i), V. i .
of his success against the American arms, and it is
only throwing, salt lo the fishes to be pattering t<i the
people about coming. They have lost confidence
in the government, in its rulers, and almost jn them-
selves, and for the present government to get a for-
midable lorce to come against us is out of the pale of
probability. Did we come with battle axe raised
against the people, and were our foot-prints marked
with devastation'and dismay, then would self pro-
tection be a sufficient incentive to induce them to
fly to arms an 1 dispute every inch of our approach.
But such are not the consequences of our invasion,
and the people, however mucti they might desire
our absence from the country, are not disposed to
risk, their lives in repelling us when we war only
against their'tyriVits.
The Kingston Jamaica Journal, ofthc23dolt
has late news from the Pacific. Among other things
it asserts that the people of California have pro-
claimed their, independence of Mexico, and placed
themselves under the protection of the D. States. It
ia said that in consequence of this movement on the
part of the Californians, the officer in command of
the American Sqaadron had hoisted the flag of the
United ctates on that portion ofthe Mexican terri-
tory. The O/leafis papers seem to doubt it
We have heard nothing of the shooting of Lieut.
Pope by a sent inel at Matanioros. The person who
gave the iiitorraajion to the Delta must have manu-
factured it.
The following significant paragraph is from the
Washington corjespondent of the Charleston Cou-
rier, under date Augusf 1;
"We arc anxiously expecting some news from
Mexico as to tht fate of the offer to that g-overnment
of a mediation between it and the United States.
It would seem pfubable that such an offer had been
made them; none, eerlainly, has been made to this
government."
The New York Sui says, ihat guns of the largest
class, with ships and'bomb vesssls, are being pre-
pared for a vigerous atack upon the castle of San
Juan d'Ullua. If pea«e is not secured by the 1st of
>eptember, we shall lear of one of the most formi-
dable naval enga^emnts of modern times.
4
When the Louisiani volunteers reached New Or-
leans, and on cathng M the Joptain'b office to set-
tle," tne paymasters ook exhibited their indebted-
ness to the governmec about four dollars each; that
functionary, in the llfilment of his duty, having
charged them with siimonths' clothing, etc. {Sub-
sequently, however, lie Governor issued an order
A -Curiosity.—Under this head a Cincinnati pa-
per notices the first appearance of our little sheet in
those "digging." The editor eays tho curiosity may
be •een at the Commercial reading room. It the
"American Flag" is a matter of sach great wondei
to this editor, what will he think when he gets the
/ American Eagle" from Mortftrey?
solcfier arid his ofijter.. h-e it» iioi ifi'ihywise identi.
tied ivith the history ofnhe country;; be did not uid
in .jhe aclMevimeni ot her independence, nor has he
ever shared in the toils and dangers to which the
■4 * 'i ^ 1
inhabitants have been so long subjected. It, there-
fore becomes a Matter of surprise that Mr,' Polk
should appoint a stranger to the command of a pea-
ple ^ho ate kyown to have well",tried leaders of their
own, whom tuey really prefei, and under whose
haniiti thev have so often' rallied and been conduct-
ed to gfofKjftlsr VictOiy. 'I exas at hievt*d her mdepen-
denice and mainiu'ioed; it under the guidance of her
own iGeneiuie; and ihat Uj^se .should be; pushed
aside toi make room lor Central Jb atteikon or any
other geiitlnu.ai!, is a palpable injustice as well as a
great impolicy. The truth is, iVir. Polk's eysteul of
rewarding paruzans by placing them in high and
responsible stations, in,which they have had no ex-
perience1, over long tried and succtsstul competitors,
will, not work, well; and must m,the end produce the
very tflect which the whigs designed, when ^ht) con-
fided this appointing power to ins honor. Give luin
rope enough and lie will hang himWti, is an old
adage; and we fiave no doubt ifial the whigs acted
upon this principle in voting with the democruts on
the military bill, 'lhey knew, or believed, thui iWr.
Poik would be glad lo avail himself of the addition-
al patronage which it threw into his hands, and that
it was one of these very powers, which tioin the na-
ture of things, could not and would not be exercised
with impartiality, and must unavoidably produce dis-
sutisiaction. It must produce dissatisfaction because
it unnecessarily infringes upon the rights of the
btates and the people, without the possibility of any
remunerating good itsfiiimg to the nation, Every
body knows that the people or the State authorities
are as competent lo select their leaders as Mr. Poik
can possibly be. i he siltclion made by the loimer
is fluiiotu upon a personal know ledge ot the indivi-
dual, and grows out of public confidence in fua
claims and qualifications— whilst the selections niude
by the President, must of necessity be based upon
the recommendation of his pa-tizan friends, without
hts having any knowledge himself of the qualifica-
tions of the persons. Besiues, it is not natural tor
the people of one Stat» to be w illing to be command-
ed by a General front another fciate. lNoihing is
is gamed lo the public upon the *core of abilities, and
all altemps to coerce them into the system1 can only
tend to diminish their enthusiasm and dismctiue
them to the public service. Vv itiioul some sucu lie
as stale pride or strong personal attachments and
confidence between the soldier and their officer, we
biacerely believe tne people will noi turn out when
called upon. Eveu victory itself, if n does not ceufcC
to be desired, at least loses hull itspieasuies whew it
is known tq those who win it, that the lame.s arc to
be worn, not by their own fellow-ciuzeu but by
some stranger oi time-serving partizan ot die Presi-
dent, who had been elevated into office to the neglect
of a well tried uid deserving friend, who is, perhaps,
overslaughed tor the iery independence w hich con-
for the payment of thfr several claims, thus making
the State responsible^ what they obtained in Aew j salutes one ol the'bestelements ot ihe soldier. 1 h
Orleans. 1 his genefiis act of Governor Johns mi ; h*et is, tne s> stem win liavetobe aoaudoiied, ai.
momentarily ulievedie wants of thousands o! men the new. uiaoe litneiaUappointed u ider lifis p
who had unozpectec^ been thrown inio the cityr, niUst learn that t.iere is no noma in commanuin,; d
a large portion of wtyi were without the necesaa-1 people until iney nave acquired their couhueucs
ries of life or the roeaiof obtaining them. J evidences of ability and skill
r
It
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Fleeson, Isaac Neville & Peoples, John H. The American Flag. (Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico), Vol. 1, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 20, 1846, newspaper, August 20, 1846; Matamoros, Mexico. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth478639/m1/2/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.