The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-02-02
THE 5ANfERIC CANS TAKEN WITH THE
=. e TEXANS ATLSANrT4 -

. 80 f4F : 'sH H5Ft =. - -
THE AMERICANS TAKEN WITH THE
TEXANS AT5SANTA ,FE.; scS....lls ls-.sssss ~
Mr.. WEBSTER has addressed an earnest and
pressing letterto our Minister at Mexico, inter.
posing in behalf Of Mr.. CoMBss fson of Gen.
CONES of Kentucky and GEeReE KENDALL,
Editor of the New. Orleans Picayune,} and
such other Americans, as like them may have
joined the Texian expedition from mere adven-
turous curiosity, or purposes Of traffic. Mr.,
Bale Beyton, District Attorney, NewOr Orleans,is
authorized to employ special agent to proceed
to Mexico to cooperate with our Minister there.
We think the Instances of our government with
SANTA ANNA will be effectual. We believe he
owes his'own life to the suggestions made in his
behalf by General Jacksonto General Houston.
The massacre at Goliad wsuld probably have
sealed his fate=with the Texans, notwithstand.
ing Hohston's known magnanimty, but for the
support found by the latter inthe coincidence Of
General Jackson's opinion. Mr. Ellis, our Min
lister at Mexico, has given to the Department the
following intelligence concerning the captives:
LEGATION OF THE U1rFD STATES
Mexico, December Ii, lS4l. -
: SIR: Trusting that the New York packet NAV
not leave Vera Cruz before this communication
reaches that place, avail myself of the occasion
to inform you that Brigadier General Mcleod.
who commanded the Texan expeditionSto Santa
Fe, Mr.. Van Ness, his Secretary, Dr. Falconer,
Mr.. Navarro, thirty officers, and one hundred and
thirty-one soldiers, prisoners of war, entered Chi
huahua, onther way to this capital, on the 22d
of November. They were escorted byEa guard
oftwo hundred and FIVE men. -. : -.
/ Unlocking over one of the daily paperY printed
here, Twas shocked at seeing the painful inteiIi-
gence announced of the fate of three of those
uo,,n, r,bo ., ~ b<o,
to ascertain. the following is the substanceof
the publication alluded to by me: & =
From the Single XIX, $ofsthe 14th December
"We have the pain to announce to thezpublic
an act of barbarism, committed by CaptainSD.
Damaso Salazar, who escorted the Texian pri-
soners to Chihuahua. Captain Salazar had the
iniquity to kill three Of these prisoners in cold
blood, because they had become wearied. It
was reserved4or Salazar to eclipse the triumphs
| of Senor Armjo by this cruel and brutal action.
Every one is indignant at such an atrucious act,
peculiar only to a cannibai. Don Jose Maria
Elias, colonel Of the army, and commandanf of
Peso del Norte, isS preferring charges against
this barbarous captain; and Senior Conde, Cover
nor of the Department. is very much mortified
! by suchanevent, which does SO little honor to
Mexicans, whose humanity is their principal
device. - e -;
1--WE hope that such sSandalous act Will be
punished with all the severity Of the law.
| This cold-blooded and barbarons act meets
with that reprobation and indignation whichits
atrocity is SO well calculated to excite il!the
minds of all honorable and humane men. The
unfortunate Texan prisoners will be here in.sthe
course of two or three weeks | cannot imagine
what punishment this Goyernmen will finfictop
! them. 4. - 81 ns.,.as. q -
The uniform practice Of this legation has been
not officially to interfere in behalf of persons who
have placed themselves beyond the protectionof
our Government, by entering into the service of
pie ofpublic law, Ibeg you WIN be- Pte5sedsto
nformsme how far can proceed, in my .repre- g
sentative character to serve the Texan prison.
have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient
servant, - PoWHATANEEIIS.
To the Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, s. - - & -
Secretary ofState.of the United States: