Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/204

184. Joy was painted on every countenance. The frank satisfaction which every one felt, gave to this act a solemnity which words are incapable of describing. His Excellency, accompanied by the corporations and by a brilliant and numerous concourse, then passed to the hall of the court-martial, to put in possession of His Excellency General D. Gabriel Valencia, the sword of honor which the august national representation had granted him, for his loyal and valiant conduct in the affair of July of 1840. His Excellency the President began this ceremony by expressing his sentiments to His Excellency the Gefe de la plana mayor (head of the staff) in these terms:

"Citizen General: In this day, the most flattering of my life, in which the august representatives of the nation have just put me in possession of the rewards granted to my small services, I fulfil the law which imposes upon me the grateful task of presenting you with the sword of honor, with which their munificence has also chosen to remunerate your's.

"Receive it as the distinguished reward of your loyalty, and of the valor with which you fought at that memorable period, from the 15th to the 26th of July, defending with bravery the constitution and supreme powers of the Republic. I congratulate myself with you, not doubting that you will always employ the edge of this steel in defence of the honor, of the sacred rights, and of the laws of this country. Yes, General of this beloved country, to whom we owe all kinds of sacrifices; yes, of this beloved mother who now more than ever reclaims the