Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-11-30
CONSTANTINE REPUBLICAN.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 30. 1896.

u Every thing relating to so ''notablc pris-
oner" as Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, presi-
dent of the Republic of Mexico, and gencral-in-
chief of the army of operations against Texas"
is interesting to the majority of newspaper road
ers. Being dissatisfied with his confinement. he
issued "protcst to the civilized world" divided
into six specifications of complaint; published in
the Texas Telegraph of the 4th of October, with
President Burnett reply, addressed in respectful
language, but conveying some close reproof
Against the violation of the faith engaged in
the agreement made betwe,n him and the govern
mont of Texas, of l4th May, he protests =
LIST. For having boon treated more like an or
binary criminal than as prisoner of war, and
III, head of respectable nation, even after the
agreements had been commenced.' To which
the president answers--he does not precisely
comprehend the character of the treatment OBJ
iccted to but if the allusion is to the accomme-
dations, he would reply, that he had cheerfully
subjected his own sick family to many hardships,
to render the compl liner the best treatment in his
power--saying-"T That we are at present desti-
tute of the ordinary omforfs of life, is mainly
attributable to your cxcellencys visit to our ne1
country; and on this account we feell less regret,
that you should partakc of our privations." A
| rather cutting rebuke. .a M
I'd. Relative to the treatment of the Mexican
general Wall, bearer of flag of truce, for treat
| ing him as prisoner of war--to which Burnett
answers, that the treatment involves some facts
which he sincerely deplores but adds, that the
general was indebted for it to his own inpru-
dences.
Sd. "Against the non-fulfilmcnt of the ex-
change of prisoners stipulated in the 9th article,
not even one Mexican prisoner of war having y. {
been set at liberty" while all til, Texans taken
by his army had been liberated. The answer is,
| that the president had no official information OF
single Texian prisoner having been given up
under the treaty; yet some of the intended VIC
| tins, the companions of the MURDERED FANnIN,
fave happily effected their escape; while the
Texan governments has gratuitously discharged
several Mexican captives, and betrayed their cx-
psnsos to New. Orleans, the destination which
they solicited
4th, 5th and 9th. Because of the non-fulfl-
ment of the 'sine qua nom of the 10th article
that he should be sent to Vera Cruz, &c. For the
act of violence committed on his person, abuse
exposed to- in being compelled to go ashore
saying repeat that l protest against the pre-
sident and cabinets condescension, in issuing
their orders for that measure, thereby making a
show of mo before those men, 100 volunteers
as in former times was done with tho chiefs Of
conquered nations, considering them as trophies
of their victories with this difference, that in my
case, solemn treaty already existed And, he
further protests against the violence kept up
towards him, by being kept in a narrow prison,
surrounded by sentinels and suffering all tho pri-
vations which render life insupportablc, or tend
to hasten death and finally, for being uncertain
in regard to his future fate and that of the other
prisoners, Notwithstanding solemn treaty.
In answer, the president politely denies all
these several accusations, so far any thing in
tcntionally severe or avodable in duty. are muir
muringly alluded to, and mentions the infraction
of tho armistce and violation of the treaty, by
the Mexicans, in the destruction of the Alamo
at Bexnr. The act of violence and exhibition
complained Of were not of an aggravated nature,
and not necessarily concomitant to his return TO
shore. Your excellency.' says the president,
has acquired too great celebrity in Texas, not
to be an object of curiosity with the multitude
but believe you will bear testimony to the mag.
nanimity which restrained tunutuous and
highly cxasperated crowd from offering any in.
dignity to your person. Burnett denies that the
president and cabinet had any design of making
a show of his ereeIlency Santa Anna.
In answer to the final denunciation, it was in.
evtable that over a prisoner of war, the ordinary
precautions be observed. The members of the
Texan government were themselves remote from
home, and very indifferently accommodated the
seat of government not permanently located, and
without any public buildings. The president OBJ
serves, that to these facts the prisoner will find
no difficulty in attributing his being placed in a
"narrow prison." knowing that the room he &C.
cupies sis more commodious than that which
constitutes both my Office and my only family
habitaton." And the ungrateful tyrant and as
sassin is reminded in the conclusion of Burnetts
reply, that but two months previous, the best &c
commodations the new government of Texas had
enjoyed were broken up, whom the army under
his immediate command confagrated the town
of Harrisburg
We have no pity for the monster Santa Anna,
and are rather in the belief, that Lamar's denun
Citations against the cold hearted assassin, were
correct-that he ought to have been treated
from the time ofhis capture, rather as crimira
of the darkest grade, than as prisoner of war
that the gallows might have had its due, long
enough ago to choke him off from the utlcranc,
of. his unmanly and illiberal protests.
| = =
" The two articles, from the pen Of Publius
| in the beginning of this pare, on THE PROPOSED