From the Washington Union
TIE CO}TRlNT
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The night of the 22d of February tho mani
versary Of Washing!on's birth, was evervvhero
throughout the United States, celebrated bv nuh.
lie reJoIclngs. In the assembly at the hall
mingled the gay and tho grave. The or,v'
haired sire. with spirits made buoyant by the or.
casion, joined with the young and beontirnI !,
the festivities of the night. Around the ho,r,h
of the independent farmer, in the og.cabin of ,he
far off west-In those homes where rests tbo ,rL
oi our political salvation, the venerable patriarch
like Jacob OF old, gathered around him his chI'
dren and his grand'chlldren, that once more thew
might receive his blessings. The fire ofbis yon,b
had gone out; but the spirit of patrio,isrr s,;II
burned. brightly IN his bosom. 10 the Iis,enin,
crowd, he rccounied the virtues and the pa,rio,sE
of that chef, whose arm, sustained bv Omnino.
tent power, rolled back the great stone. which
for ages had sealed the scpuIchrc of human ruh,s.
and burS. the icllclS which had bound the gcnius
OF liberty. All over this vast republic. it was
night Of joy. How different " as the sccrr in
another quarter! At Bucna Vista, on tho cold
and black Sierra Nadre, lay little band of ng
trIots. No cheerful fires bazod around them.
1 ho cold damp earth was their bed; the lowcriuu
CLOUDS OF night their canopy. and the piercing
mountain storm, the song that lued their wonry
spirits to rest In iront were the sorricd hosts Of
Santa Anna-ihc army of the Mexican republic
numbering twenty thousand soldiers. Arouul
the chiel were gathered the choice military spiris
OF the land. They looked 10 the morrow with
bright antIcIpatlons, as the day that was to re-
trIeve their fallen fortunes On tho morning of
the I'D, as tar as the eyes Of our little army
&C uId reach, nothing was seen but living masses
moving IN order to the attack. Their bright
uniforms IN the distant valley looked like one
vast flower garden, and the rays of the morning
sun was reflected back by the thousand polished
lam nln nod tl,.
The details Of that glorious achievement have
been recorded by other and abIer pens. 1t was
day thn. shed lustre upon our arms, and added
renown to American prowess. From early dawn
until the curtain of night dropped upon tho sceno.
hive thousand Americans. arm to arm, we're en-.
gagged in deadly conflict with the overpowcrinu
numbers that woro hurled in friyhtful masses
upon them. Never, on the american continent
was battle fought against such fearful odds.
and never was a result more glorious. Although
we are called 10 mourn the loss of many a gallant
spirit, II only proves that our army made of
men "who for their country nobIy dared to die"
They were no hIrellngs, fighting for hireing's
pay. They were freemen, in whose bosoms
beat American hearts. When foreign foe had
invaded their soil, and American blood had been
shed with characteristic zeal and patriotism thcy
rushed to their country's standard, determined to
sustain their nations honor, or perish in the last
effort. They exchanged the peaceful fresido,
the comforts OF home, and domestic felicity, for
tho tented field and the clangor of arms. They
bid farewell TO their parents, wives, Children and
friends, many OF them never to return again.
Along the lonely banks Of the Rio Granio or
on the mountain heights of the Sicrre Madre they
sleep. Peace to their ashes!


Whilst these brave men wero fighting our bat.
ties, and pouring out their lile's blood like water
| curiosity led me TO examine what their represent.
atlves IN Congress assembled were doing for them
In the Senate, at the very hour of the fercest
strife, George Evans. the federal senator from
Maine, was giving moral aid and comfort TO our
enemies, by making furious and denuncatorv
speech against his country, eXtoinp Mexican
justice and Mexican patriotism, whilst these very
mscreants, whose character he was exlolIing,
were butcherlng the wounded and PROSTATE son
OF his friend, Henry Clay. Little did these brave
patriots, as they were dying for their country
cause, think that, at that very moment an Amer
lean senator, in the national Senate chamber
was denouncing the country and cause for which
they wero DYING un just; an1 that their ene-
mics were waglng just and righteous war.


But they breathed out their spirits; and the
cold, unfeeing ant-American words fell not upon
their leaden ears. In tho other end of the Cap.
lIol, where the immediate representatives of the
people were assembled, another scene was being
enacted; the army appropriation bill was under
consideration. The debate opened with an able
and patriotic speech from Mr.. Norris, of New
Hampshire, worthy representative of a noble
State. In succession followed the Hon. Cha rIe.
Carroll, of New York, federalist. He made
the most liberal speech on that side Of the House
and, by his patriotic appeals 10 his brother feder
asts "to raise themselves above all party consid
eralions and help to prosecute the war in such a