Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-28

they lose leg" when once they set
out upon a thing-I determined upon
going to New Mexico although | had
already as good as lost one, and it is
too late now to regre: it.
Letters Of InuitatiOn My Obligations 10
the Erpedhion-Opinions ofthe Press
in general and The Frceman's Journal
in particular, 8-c.8-c.
Before eaving Austin received from
Mr.. Roberts, then acting Secretary Of
State, letter inviting he to join the expe.
dition as a"guest. This letter was written
at the request of President Lamar, and the
amount of it was that | was simply TO &C.
company the traders as a traveIIer-that
| was to be sub iect to no control, civil or
miltary-that | was free to remain W ith
the expedition as long as pleased, and
that cou Id leave it when pIeased--in
fact, had neither hand, part, nor lot in
the matter. In the same letter | was
kindly invited to mess with the commits
sioners, an offer | gladly accepted. This
document together with The passport gi-
ven me by Mr.. Prats, and other papers
of Importance as defining my position
were placed in a secure parcel and always
kept about my person. | was determin-
ed, by no act ofmlne, to forfeit my claim
to protection as an American cit zen, any
farther than accompanying the expedition
across wild and unknown prairies and
considering these papers as the best of
proofs to. sustain me in case cuIties,
which certainly did not anticj ale, might
arise on my reaching New Mexico, was
careful in preserving them.
The only obligation l considered my
self under, to the expedition, was this: in
case an attack was made upon it by the
Indians, or we had any difficulties with
them on the march, felt bound, as mat.
ter of course, to lake hand" Here the
obligation ceased. | determined and this
determination | made known TO Gen. Nc
Leod Col. Cooke, Dr.Brenham and others,
to leave the party on approaching the set
Elements ofNew Mexico;''I was induced 10
this for q double purpose-the 6rs,to ira
vel al a. more rapid pace than the ordinary
gait OF the Wagons, more especially as
they had been nearly two months longer on
the road than was anticipated, land had still
between two and three thousand miles to
travel on horse back through Mexico: the
second, to avoid any share or liability ia
whatever might occur on reaching the SET
Element. ] hat l did pursue this course
that | rePudated a companionship of
months IN order to preserve my neutral
position, is we'll known. The only char
ges against me, therefore, were the facts
CT my having travelled through wild In
dian country was anxious to see in com.
pany with Texans, and that l Was taken
with party of four ofthe n who had been
sent ahead as peaceful messengers to pur-
chase provisions and see the authorities.
Inc "head and front Of my offending hath
this extent, no more" In two hours |
should have left even this party, and pur-
sued my journey Immediately towards
Chihuahua alone. What the result would
have been IN that case | cannot divine.
While nineteen out of twenty Of the
more respectable journals in the Uuted
States have spoken of the Texan Santa
re expedition and its members in the right
spirit and as became them, few, con.
| temPiable few-by what motives infuenc.
ed | am at loss to know-have stigma
TIED it and those who composed it in no
very measured terms. The N. Y. Free
mans Journal allude to IN particular, as
have myself seen no direct attacks from
any other quarter.
| In the number of that paper of the 2Sth May
| it is stated, that
| San expedition was fitted out, which, under
the disguise of traders, was destined for the
conquest of Santa Fe, flourlshing Mexican
town and settlement, peopled exclusively with
native Mexicnas:
And again:
sit was given out that this expedition was a
mere ordinary trading one, yet so confident
were the robbers of success, that it was hardly
thought necessary.,to disguise altogether the
real nature and objects Of the enterprise"
| pass over other vile and unjustifia-
bic sanders for the pre-, ent, with the inten
ton of taking them up at some other time.
In the first sentence quoted above the ed
itor speaks of the conquest of a place Peo-
Pied erclusiUey by Me&icans. When it is
known that large number of Americans
ard other foreigners reside the year round
at Santa Fe, and that nine tenths Of the
business il, done by them, it will at once
be seen how little the man knows of the
subject he is engaged upon: but ignorance
is not a vice, and this part of his article
can be excused.
The charges that the realsobjects ofthe
expedition were disguised" and that the
members of it were ''robbers," are base
and unwarrantabe libels and SANDERS.
The merchants connected with the expe-
di'ion,who have all been liberated by
Santa Anna, were high-minded and hon.
orable men. In embarking their proper
ty as they did, they were actuated by that
spirit of enterprise which is continually
seeking new channels towards wealth.
Their acts were all open and without. dis
guise. The Texan, Government, and be-
lleve in good faith, offered them induce
ments, which any set of men similarly sit
uated would have accepted" Their goods
were to be entered free of duty. as it. was
a pioneer expedition and heavy pr fits
were anticipated. So sanguine were ma
ny of them that the distance was much
shorter than by way of ST.. Louis, and that
the trade would turn out lucrative, thai
they openly spoke of engaging in it as
permanent business and taking greater
quantity of goods along with them the en-
sung wear.