[3110) [TORNEL to FILISOLA]
Office of the secretary of war and marine.-Central section.-First bureau.-Excellent Sir:-In my communication of the 15th, I had the honor to transmit to your Excellency, the wishes of his Excellency, the president pro tern., in relation to the serious affairs treated on in your Excellency's despatches of 25th and 28th ult., and now, by his order, I must repeat that his Excellency, the president, has not been at liberty since he has been made a prisoner, and that no other sacrifices should be made than those absolutely necessary to place under cover his existence, without detriment to the national honor. He exacts that your Excellency endeavors, at all hazards, to preserve the conquests of the army, and not to give cause to the enemy to grow bold, on account of a retrogade movement, which they may mistake for a flight. Consider, your Excellency, how much it will cost to obtain possession again, of the posts that are abandoned; and for this purpose, his Excellency, the president protem. desires that your Excellency should concentrate the forces in sustainable posts, and that no others than those at a great distance should be abandoned, in which their garrisons would be very much exposed. Whilst the force of the army is most imposing, the existence of his Excellency, the commander-in-chief, will be more secure, as being deprived of his liberty, he cannot determine upon what is best, and most suitable to the nation. To it, is your Excellency highly responsible, and ought to cousult no other principle but the public convenience, nor act by other rules than those wisely laid down in the general ordinance of the army. The preservation of the advantageous positions of the army is so much the more necessary, because, the government, operating with the activity and energy which their duty exacts, is occupied in organizing a division of four thousand men, which will P.mhark at V em Cruz, destined for M<ltamoros, in order to reinforce the army, and place it in formidable action against the enemy. I repeat to your Excellency, the order to make a formal intimation to the enemy's general, concerning the liberty and good treatment of the president general, and of the prisoners, so that the national honor, and even that of your Excellency, may appear in a favorable light.
339
Powered by FlippingBook