Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-04-12

provided they would give up their arms
for the purpose of tranquiIizing the
Mexican population. Detached as
the company was, into parties remote
from each other, and deluded by pied |
ges, they acquiesced in the wishes OF
the authorities of the country, thereby
evincing to them, that they had no dis
position to disturb the tranquility OF
the inhabitants and that their objects
were pacific: but no sooner were they
in the power of the authorities than
they were stripped Of their clothing
deprived of every thing valuable
treated in the most barbarous manner
and marched like convicts TO the Cap
ital Of Mexico. On their route every
act of inhumanity, cruelty, and hatred
was evinced. When their sick and
helpless condition required the assis-
lance of christian charity and humanity
they were denied it, they were bar
barously shot, their bodies mangied
and their corpses left unburied. The
butchery of McAlIster, GolPhen'
Yates, and others appeal to Heaven
and this nation, for retribution upon
the heads of their inhuman murderers.
You may alledge that you did not au-
thorize the preparation of these oulra-
ges, committed upon men who had
violated no rule Of law known TO the
civilized age. This will be no excuse
for you. Your sanction to these acts,
is as culpable as their deportation was
degradingto their authors. Their de-
tention as prisoners, by you, may graf
ify the malignity Of little minds; but
the just, the chivalric, the brave and
the generous OF alt nations, may pity,
| but must despise your conduct.
Had it not been for the faithless
professions rendered to them, and their
too credent belief, they could have
maintained their position against all
} the forces of northern Mexico, and if
necessary, could have made good their
retreat to their homes, de(ying gen
erous effort Of the people of New Mex
ico.' Your conduct on this occasion,
will present your humanity and sense
+ Of propriety in very awkward contrast
, with the treatment extended to you and
: your followers, after the victory OF
, San Jucinto, being not as you sup
pose, one of the ''lreaks Of fortune y
but one ofthe accompanyments of Des-
, tiny, which will mark the course OF
, Texas, until the difficulties between
the two countries shall be satisfactorily
a adjusted.
But you declare, that you will moi
: relax your exertions until you have sub
p jugated Texas, that you 'have weighed
a its possible value," and that you are
perfectly aware of the magnitude o
, the task which you have undertaken,
that you evil not permit colossus tc
arise within the limits Of Mexico" tina
our 'title, is that of the theft and usur.
PATTON" and that "the honor OF the
Mexican nation demands Of you the
: reclamation of Texas"-"if it were ar
unproductive desert, useless, sterile.
yielding nothing desirable, and abOun-
ding only in thorns 10 wound the feet
of the traveller you would not per
, NIT it to exist as an Independent Gov
!, eminent in derision of national char
: acter, your hearths, and your individu-
ality. Allow me to assure you that
our title to Texas has high sanction
that of purchase, because we have
! performed our conditions-that Of con-
quest, because we have been victori-
{ ous-it is ours, by the blood Of mar
E tyred patriots-it is ours, by the claims
OF patriotism, superior intelligence and
! unsubduable courage-it is not ster-
lie waste OF a desert, it is the home of
r freeman, it is the land of promise it is
the garden of America. Every citizen
, Of Texas was born a freeman, and he
would die a recreant to the principles
ilnbibed from ancestry, if he would not
freely peril his life In defence of his
home, his liberty, and his country.
Although you are pleased to character
: ize our occupation of Texas, and de-
' fence of our imprescriptable rights, as
I, ''the most scandalous robbery Of the
: present age" 1t is not one fourth CEN
fury, since Mexico perpetrated SINH
: lar robbery upon the rights ofthe crown
q of Spain.-The magnitude of the theft
may give dignity to the robbery, in this
p you have the advantage. That you
y should have thus characterized whole
! nation can readily accountfor. Here
totore you entertained the opinion that
: Mexico could never conquer Texas,
o and if it were possible for her TO drive
4 every Texan from the soil, that Mex
# leo could not maintain her position on
e the Sabine, and the retreat of the ar
II my would be the signal for the return oil
: the Anglo Saxon race, who would re-
u occupy their homes and pursue the
'. Mexicans as far as the / . Grande.-
= That Mexico in preservation of the in
at tegrity of the territory that she then
i possessed, would gain an advantage by
st abandoning al! hopes of conquerine