Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-12
From tie Cincinnati; Gazette.
IIUIH tI'o OfIIctI1Hullt UuEFt|t'
THE SANTA FEE PRISONERS.


The President in reply to resolution of
the House of Representatives, has sent in q
message with the Information in the De-
partment of State, relating to the Ameri-
can citizens captured near Santa Fee and
held as prisoners in Mexico.
1t appears that it has been represented
to the Department, that Franklin Combs,
son of Gen. Leslie Combs, of Lexington,
KY, was citizen of the United States,
had visited Mexico on business of his
father, and had travelled with the expedi-
ton with a view to restore his health and
to CRAFTY audablc and natural curiosity
in regard to the unknown lands through
which the course of the expedition lay.
He was wholly unaware of any hostile
object in the expedition. No application
had been made to the department in behalf
of any other American citizen in the expe-
dition; but the department had learned
that Mr.. Kendall, of New Orleans, and
J. G. Howard, youth Of 10, citizens, were
with it, having no other than pacific OBJ
iect and were among the prisoners.
With this information the Department
Immediately despatched special messen-
ger, with instructions to our Minister at
4
alton of Combs, Kendall, Howard, and any
other American citizens similarly situated,
captured with the expedition and now held
in captivity. To employ, if need be, spe-
cial agents to ascertain and visit their place
of imprisonment, to alleviate its severity,
and effect their release. Upon the suppo-
J sition that information might be met at
} New Orleans relating to the subject, la.er
than the Department possessed, instructions
were sent to Mr.. Peyton, U, S. Attorney
to employ there an agent, acquainted ir
: Mexico and with the language, and send
him forward with the bearer of the de.
spatches, to aid our minister in prosecut
ing the object. The prompt action of the
President in this matter deserves praise.
The papers communicated, are-l. A
letter from Manuel Alvarez, our Consul
dated Independence, Mo-, 18th Dec, ls4l
enclosing Gas he says) printed narration
' of the injuries suffered by himself and othe
), Americans, resident at Santa Fe, at thu
e hands of the Mexican authorities subse
6 quent to the arrival of the Texan expedl
=, - ton. The enclosure has not been re
ceived but is supposed to be the sam,
, which has appeared in the newspapers.
', 2. A letter from our Minister at Mexico
!, announcing the capture of the expedition
;, and the arrival of the captives on the 90
IL Nov, in chihuahua, on their way to the
capital. They consist of Col. Mcleod
Mr.. Van Ness, his Secretary, DR.. Falconer
= Mr.. Narano, 80 officers and l3e soldiers
= escorted by force of 205 Mexcans.
{ Our Minister communicates the sub
{ stance of an article in Mexican pape
of the 18th December, announcing, tina
> Captain Salazar, who commanded the corp
= = of Mexicans having charge of the prison
= ers, had barbarously, lin cold bloody cause
!, three Of the prisoners to be killed, becdus
y thea had become Wearied Great indigna
. ito was expressed at this atrocious AM
!, cruel act, and Col. Elias, commander o
e the Paso del Norte, had preferred charges
:, against the barbarous Captain. Gov
{ Condo, of the Department, felt great NOR
: LITIGATION at an event so dscreditable to thu
} humanity of the Mexicans!
. Our Minister, Mr.. Ellis, expected the
u prisoners at the capital in two or thre'
: weeks, but, doubling his right to interfere
= in behalf of citizens who had placed them
: selves beyond the protection of our Gov
!, eminent, by entering into the service o
Il that of Texas, he asks for Instructions.