Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-07-25
JE\AS-SA\TA ANA.
ll,ls.

MI. ,o,c communication of Mr.. Lamar, the
.,.a,,rv of War, to the other members of the
.,, Cabinet, from whose opinions, in reference
.,,s di,poston of Santa Ana, it would seem that
n. Lamar dissents, will be found in another CO.
,,mn. 1t is an ingenious production, though much
-, aoriJ and bombastc in its style for an Of
1c,,l discussion of grave question OF state poll
ev We by no means, however, concur IN the first
r,;s conclusions-to wit, that Santa Ana should
;,,medatclv executed. Had Santa Ana been
.l,n in the first flush of victory, while the Informal
;,r ofhis murdcrous acts and orders was vet fresh
y the memory of his captorS, the deed would have
ham justified as one Of neritcd relributon. But
having shared him thus long, his execution now
,,ould resemble too closely the ontrages which are
ahead to Justify it. But there are other ieas ons
uby the Texans should not, at least nor, slay
Santa Ana. There are yet few Texans, pri-
sooers in Mexico. who would fall victims to the
r.<enmcnt of the government, the moment nlor-
o,tion should reach them of Santa Ana's cNccu-
nan. Are their lives to be offered up AS IN obla-
ton 10 the spirit revenge! And it may well
would not be appcased until every american citi-
zen in that empire should be cyterminated. Should
their lives be cndai gered by this useless act And
besides, the war is not yet over. II it were set
tied thing that Texas is able to maintain her in
dependence, in defiance of the power of Mexico,
the execution of Santa Ana, though not less SAN
culinary and rcvcngeiul in its character, would be
certainly less mpoitic than under existing circum-
stances, when,so far from manlicslng disposition
to Weld up Texas, the soldiers of Mexico are return
ing to the field augmented in numbers, wtha ulster
estimate ofthe prowess ofeir adversaries and pro-
badly themselves anlnltcd by more indomablr
if not a erccr spirit than was displayed By their
comrades at San Jacno. However our wishes
and hopes may incline Us in favor of the TcXan
cause, there not many and solid reasons to fear
that the esablisnlc It of its independence is vet
lcmoe and contingent event, to be ACCOMPLISHED,
fiat all, by long years of suffering and boodscd
At such moment, would it be wise to aggravate
The proverbia ferocity of civil war, by Shaving the
chief OF the adverse party whom the chances Of
battle have thrown into their ands e? Should
they not rather strive to mitigate the horrors OF the
contest in which they are engaged, by presenting
otlclr antagonists an examply Of clcmencv, the
ius,rc of which viii be the less brilliant be-
cause of the undrscrving character OF """,,,.
10 whom it will have been extended! Let the
Texans al least try the effect of such noble en-
ample upon their adversarios, before they resort to
the ler talionis, which, as it is the worst so it
should be the last means resorted 10, for the pur
pose either OF punishment, redress or proven ton.
Should such course fail to inspire the MeNicans
with just sentiments, and should they continue to
render murder consequent upon captivity, then the
Texans will stand justified, in their own judgment,
rs well as in that of the world if they retaliate to
the full extent of their capacity. State necessity
will always justify the execution Of prisoners when
the safety OF the citizen constitutes that necessity
IA spirit otrevenge, never