Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/487

Rh safety, and has remained here during all the revolutions of Mexico without being disturbed. So the banner was left in its ancient palace.

The Tlascallaians, mentioned above, are a part of the people who split from the original Mexicans. They took a dislike in warding the city of Tenustitun, now Mexico. They made the divisions, or wards, to suit a certain class of political people, which occasioned a great dislike and dissatisfaction among a people called Papolucans, or Tepeacans; they being entirely dissatisfied with the proceedings deserted the city. They marched along the lake and arrived and settled themseves in a rich and fertile valley called Tlascalla, and chose the Tlascallaians for their rulers, protectionists, and entertained bitter and hostile feelings against their own countrymen, who wrong them so much. They afterwards got to be a people of great power, and were much feared by the Mexicans. They also were great man-eaters, and not only eat the flesh of their enemies, but hung it up to be dried, and sold the same as dried beef

The city of Tlascalla was considerable enlarged, and powerful city, and it was their capital.

Monday, February 7, 1848.—This morning the city papers issued an extra, stating that James K. Polk, President of the United States, had recalled Major-General Winfield Scott, and Generals Worth, Pillow, and Colonel James Duncan, to undergo a court-martial. These proceedings have created a great deal of excitement amongst the Mexican rulers, and in particular amongst our own troops, who call it a high-handed, outrageous and shameful to drag Gen. Scott from his high command and make him a prisoner in the very capital which his own generalship and valor had won. You could hear some soldiers say, if Gen. Scott is to be withdrawn from us, they will not march another step towards the enemy. Gen. Scott was our general first, and shall be to the last; and that this has all been done through a political and jealous feeling at the heads of our Government to check his (Gen. Scott's) glorious and fair fame.