Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-01-06
rpE SANTA IS EXPEDITION.

ia citizsns who were attached TO II, gives
the following painful intelligence.
"Since writing the above, we learn
that intelligence has been received by a
letter from chihuahua, to the effect that
when the expedition approached within a
few hours march Of Santa Fe, five per-
sons, Of whom Mr.. Kendall was one, we're
sent in advance to the town, to inform the
authorities Of its approach, and assure
them Of ITS peaceable purpose. lhese
persons were immediately srIzed ano infee
or four Of them shot. The citizens then
went out to meet the Texans and assur-
ed them that they were perfectly "ili'hg
to receive them upon condition tha' they
would surrender their arms before enter.
ipg the town. The Texans, ignorant of
the sacrifice OF those who had preceded
them. were induced by the protestations
of their deceitful foes to adupt this nd.
vice. When they had delivered up their
arms, they were seized, and after submit
ting to the most appalling indignities,
marched off to abide the determination of
Santa Ana. This is dreadful news and
it is probably too true. The son ofGen.
Combs was among those sent to Mexi-
co."
The Bee asks whether those citizens
who went with the expedition did so with
out forfeiting the protection OF their "
Government 1t contends that they did.
"The government Of the United States"
says the Bee, "has formally recognized
the independence of Texas, and the citi-
zens of this country have just the same
rights in Texas that they have in any
country with which we have Treaties
They may trade in any part of Texas free
from all molestaiion or personal peril, ex-
cept such as they may bring upon them
selves by a breach of the laws Of Texas
alone. With the relations between Mex
leo and Texas they have nothing TO do,
nor can they be implicated by those rela-
tons, unless they take an active part in
the military operations Of the country
1t is jus, as competent for a citizen Of the
United States TO become the guest Of an
expedition fitted out at Austin and destin.
ed to any point Of the compass where
Texas, as a free republic and lndepen.
dent State, has a right to send a force,
as it would be for him 10 join such on ex.
petition fitted out in any other country.
The american citizen looks only to the
treaties and regulations Of his own gov
to know what people he must
regard as an independent sovereign na.
ton, and in what countries his property
and personal franchises are protected by
the laws OF nations.
"lfthe relations between Mexico ard
Texas, or rather the preposterous preten-
sions Of Mexico. are TO be allowed 10 III
feet the citizens Of this country tempora'
rlly in Texas, the Government of the
United States. in rec, gnizing the indie.
pendencc of our sister republic, has spread
Il snare for its people. 1t has induced
hundreds and thousan s Of our c ttz MS -
travel through Texas in the vain securi
ty Of protection which would fail them
at the time ofnecd.
Allowing, however," adds the Bee,
-" that the expedition was illegal from the
beginning, tho citizens of the United
States who accompanied it upon the jnvI-
tation Of some Of the officers, should not
be left to the barbari;y ola demi-civIlized
people, without some effort 10 rescue
them. All of them were entirely inno-
cent OF any purpose of infringing the
rights of Mexico, or in any manner dis.
turbing even her inordinate self conceit.
Take, for instance, two examples, Mr..
Kendall, Of the Picayune, joined the ex.
petition as a guest of the officer in com
mand. He went us a citizen OF the
United States 20 visit a people interesting
to his fellow countrymen on many ac-
counts. He thought he had a right to go
without forfeiting the protect m "f his
government. Should he be suffered To-
perish without an effort TO save hunt A
son of General Combs, Of Kentucky, a
youth of 10 years of age, was also n
guest of the expedition. His father be-
ing a creditor of the Texan Government,
sen, him there upon business. tie was
invited to go 10 Santa Fe, and did so as well
from a laudable desire TO see that coun.
uy, as 10 improve his health by exercise
and the excitement of travelling. Mel.
Their of these gentlemen had nry connec.
ton with the expedition except as guests
and citizens Of the Uuited States, travel
ling under the escort of a friendly power.
They have done nothing to withdraw
themselves from the martle OF national
protection. If Mexico should subject
Them to the death of robbers or rebels,
she does not deserve the consid GRAFTON
due TO an independent civilized people,
and ought to be treated as a combination
of outlaws and barbarians. We can
scarcely doubt that the citizens Of the
United States taken captlves would be
set at large at once upon the request of
this government, and we hope that an "a
gent will be sent to Mexico to request
their liberation, or demand it uuthorita-
lively if the government make any OBJ
lection to giving them up. 1t were a wise
course us a means Of preventing future
disturbances, for neither the blood OF
Kendall MOI that Of young Combs will
sink in the ground without calling for
summary aud ample vengeance.