Letter: June 22, 1847
To the President.
Harrodsrurgh, Ky., June 22, 1847.
My dear Sir:
Permit me to call to your attention, and that of the President, the
situation of Mr. Jas. Magoffin, whose widowed mother and numerous
relatives of whom I am one, all reside in this place and vicinity,
consisting of half of this county, (Mercer, Ky.). He was taken prisoner
near Chihuahua last fall and condemned to be shot as a Mexican traitor
having lived in that place as a merchant and was returning to Chihuahua to
look after his affairs from Santa Fe, having been of essential service to
Genl. Kearney was in advance of him on his march to California. His
sentence was suspended at the request of Governor Amijo, his wife being a
relation, Mr. Magoffin never became a citizen of Mexico, altho authorized
to be so, always declined. His wife is dead and his children are at school
in this state and Missouri, when Col. Donaphan approached Chihuahua he was
sent off a prisoner to Durango where I understand he is now detained,
still subject to his original sentence. Will you be so good as to request
General Taylor to take immediate steps for his safety and release. Mr.
Magoffin was born in this place and his friends take a deep interest in
his release.
I hope you will indulge me in saying a few words about the Mexican War,
which had been conducted so far with an energy highly honorable to the
President and yourself, in the face of an opposition dishonorable to the
Leading Whigs whose hypocrisy is only equaled by their impudence, many of
them would disgrace their country to injure the President. I hope you will
go straight ahead without regarding their clamors. The people are getting
right in this State, and if we do not elect some three or four Democrats,
it will not be for want of trying. In this District Mr. Charles A.
Wickliffe is making a strong impression. His opponent is compelled to say
he will vote men and money for the war, altho he is foolish enough to say
that the President blundered into the war and that Texas is not worth
having or California either, and this had weakened him with honest Whigs.
There seems to be some uneasiness as to what we are to do if Mexico still
refuses to treat. For my part I think our course is a plain one. I know
something of the Spanish character. They are a proud, haughty people and
kindness and forbearance is lost upon them. Gratitude is not one of their
virtues, and conciliation can only be made through their fears. The masses
are ignorant and under the absolute control of their priests, who are
venal and corrupt. Touch their money and you reach their hearts. Make it
their interest to have peace and we will soon have it. They care not for
the common people and it is only when they are made to feel [fear] that
they become humble as spaniels. When Genl. Scott reaches the city of
Mexico his first duty will be to unite with one of their parties, the
priests included, and have a government organized to suit the times.
Capture St. Ana Alamonts, Salas, and others or drive them out of the
country. If any more of their generals, colonels, etc., are taken send
them all to New Orleans, release none of them. They will promise anything
when in our power, and the next moment betray and cut our throats, and if
nothing else will do separate the northern provinces from Mexico, as
Yucatan now is, but we will have to protect any party we may side with for
some time. There is too much ignorance to understand at present a federal
Government, and a central government never can control the whole. We must
have California and New Mexico, at least by way of indemnity, and then
there the Rio Del Norte may be the line to a line running west of the Gila
River. England may be induced to agree to this by paying the purchase
money to her creditors, but it is true that England and France have
heretofore by their intrigues created all this hostile feeling in Mexico
against the United States. It is now their interest to have peace. I know
that England for years kept the feelings of all the South American
Republics jealous of us and at this moment they can do much for peace if
they chose. Our Whig papers and speeches in Congress have done more to
keep up this war than anything else. General Scott should be instructed to
embargo all newspaper going to the city of Mexico or suspicious letters,
as they have their spies and partisans at Washington City and at New
Orleans—stop this channel of communication, and you stop all the fuel to
this war. Cut it up root and branch and let martial law prevail in the
city of Mexico and Vera Cruz. If General Scott and Taylor will do this we
will not hear any more Corwin's speeches or "our Friend" in the United
States. It is not generally known what immense number of our papers are
sent to all those South American Republics and to Mexico. When at Bagota
from 1833 to 1837 I could always find the National Intelligencer and other
Whig papers, abusing our Government when mine were left behind.
Yours truly with high respect,
Robert B. McAfee.
