Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-12-04

this proposal, one of the 40 Spanish of
ficers was allowed to be the bearer, as
we'll as memorial from the remaining
80, praying most earnestly that the con-
ditions wouldnot be rejected.
The commandant of the royal troops,
notwithstanding he had orders imm e.
diately to execute every prisoner that
tell into his hands, and more especially
Nina, found it necessary to hesitate un-
til ne could hear from the viceroy on
the subject of the proposal in question.
In few days, the answer of the viceroy
was received, which was, * that no pro-
positions from the rebels would be at
tended to, and that the traitor Nina must
be Immediately shot, which sentence
was executed, and thus persisted general
Nina.
As soon as this was known in Mina's
camp, the 80 Spanish officers were shot.
These circumstances have never been
published in the Mexican Gazettes on
the contrary, the government has en-
deavored carefully to conceal them; but,
nevertheless, they are known as well
among the royal troops as among the re-
volutionists, and are spoken of with hor-
ror and disgust by all those who dare
give their opinions on the matter. The
death OF Nina was followed by disastrous
consequences to the revolutionists. The
viceroy sent expresses to every part of
the empire, announcing the event--pray-
ers in the churches, the ringing Of bells,
and the firing of cannon, in all the royal
cities, were pretty plain proofs of the
Importance the government attached to
the death of this individual.
The portion of Mina's little army
which had been left at Soto la Marina,
were soon alter attacked by near 1900
royal troops. After defending them
selves galantly in a small fort until their
ammunition and provisions were expend-
ed, they finally made formal capitula-
ton, and marched out of the fort with all
the honors of war. In fey DAYS after
they were in the hands of the royalists,
orders were received from the vicerov
of Mexico to make the capitulation null.
They were then conducted in chains to
Vera Cruz, there put in dungeons, where
many of them persisted by starvation and
suffocation. The few who survived
have been sent to Ceuta and other forti-
fcations on the coast of Africa, where
they are condemned to labor in chains
during life.
The preceding facts are known to the
writer, not merely from what he has
heard, but from what he has seen--lae
has been a prisoner among the royaIists
for two years and a half---he was in
Mexico during the time the transactions
he has related occurred--and he has
been an eye witness to scenes of barbarity
by both parties, the details of which he
forbears to relate, because they would
appear Incredible to the civilized world.
He is, however, perfectly convinced,
that If the present system of cruelty and
determination is not very soon checked,
it will terminate in the sacrifice of every
European Spaniard in America. The
Creoles ofSpanish America, a few years
ago, were pacific, ignorant, and super
stitious--they are daily becoming more
enlightened--intestine warfare has taught
them the use Of arms--their rancor.
against SPAN is hourly augmenting-
$500 insurgents Gas they are called are
now more formidable to the Spanish
troops than 10000 were six years ago;
they are rapidly becoming acquainted
with their physical and moral strength
and if Spain persevcres much longer in
the unequal and ;mpolitic conflict she is
now pursuing, she will not only lose her
political sway in every part of America,
but will excite universal feelings Of hor-
ror and detestation against the name of
Spaniard. In the Mexican empire par.
ticula,ly, the public spirit is decidedly
hostile to Spain; and although four fifths
of the present royal army in that country
are composed of Creole troops, yet at
heart they are insurgents, and as such
will display themselves on the very first
occasion that may occur. The Mexican
females, whether united to royalists or
insurgents, are, universally, bitter enc
mics to the Spanish government, and
in their domestic songs to their children
inculcate spirit of liberty.
ErDn 1rpTr, M.