The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-29
MEXICAN CORRESPONDENTS.
CONCLUDED.

<Jtn APih, iOf~'
SR: In the note which | had the honor to address
you from New Orleans informed you that l should
not wait any longer for the ship when had been pro-
missed me by the Secretary of the Navy, and that
had determined To take the Revenue cutter oouou-
~ and proceed al to this place was the more
prompted TO this course from an anxiety as general
t,ll 1t fattsring TO me, ON the part OF the
friends of the American citizens who were prisoners
in Mexico thar should be al my post.
left New Orleans on the I'd and arrived in this
city on Saturday the 10th instant On Sunday morn
inr visited Mr.. George w. Kendall who
fined in the Of San Lazaro, and on the next
day made u similar visit 10 the other American citi-
zens who confined with the Texan prisoners IN
the convent OF st lago.
| found their condition and treatment as good as Is
usual with prisoners of war, except that they We're
chained and subjected TO labor the public streets
These things regarded violation OF the well es-
tabllrhed usages OF civilized war, and without excuse
or apology. Prisoners of war not regarded by
civilized nations as fit subjects OF vengeance By the
amelioraed code of our times II Is the peculiar cha
TacteIstic of fair and generous warfare TO tighten by
kindness and humanity the Affections OF vanquished
enen.y which all subjected by those casualties,
from which there is protection Ell her in just
cause, In valor or in talents was induced to make
these visi both by the dictates of my feelings and by
sense of duty.
There was no one IN Mexico whom was
ious TO see as my countrymen in distress and none
whom felt IL To be much my duty 10 see and hear
from their mouths, statements OF their respec-
tive Cases so to be the better able To make the
strongest application for their liberation. had two
very striking proofs Of the proprety of this course
important, and IN my opinion, the most lmpor-
tant fact in the of Mr.. Kendall had never been
alluded to in the correspondence of my predecessor
with the Mexican Government, TO Wit that when he
was captured he had in his possession, and there
taken from him by the Mexican officers letters from
Texan officers inviting him TO join the Santa Fe ex-
petition and his letters in reply containing unquall-
fed refusal TO do sol and ALSO letter alter addressed
him by the Acting Secretary of State of Texas in
wiling him 10 join the expedition guest until he
passed through the Indian country, and that his
arrs al at Santa Fee he could leave the country party,
and copy OF this letter asserting to the PROPOSE
Although these letters had been destroyed their ex-
isence and contents susceptible of proof, and
would have placed in clear light the pacific in
tentlons of Mr.. Kendall that his release could not,
for mon,ent, have been refused.
The other fact was that t und, confined and in
chains in the OF st lago three other Ameri-
can citizens, Messrs. Sheldon, Adams, and Temp
kins whose cases We're in every particular identical
with those of the six American traders, who have
been released yet their cases had been pre-
scented TO the Mexican Government.
am happy 10 add that, my making the appll-
cation, contained in my note No. !, TO the Mexican
Minister of Foreign Affairs, they have also been
leased IN the most prompt and handsome manner,
very free TO say however that independent of the
above alluded to- should certainly have
visited these men at the earliest possible moment and
if could have done nothing else, would have at.
torded them the consolation of visit from the official
representative of their country and the personal as
snrance that both that representative and county felt
the hveiest sympathy in their suferngs | not
deferred from this course by any apprehension that
should thereby offend the Mexican authorities be-
lleve that such a suspicion would have been unjust
TO them But if had known that il would have bee n
otherwise, my course would have been the same
whilst should have had too much respect for those
authorities and myself to have given Just cause of Of
fence | could not have shrunk from the exercise Of
unquesionable righ and the discharge of a duty
as unqueslonable by any such Considerations.
have not found, by my experience, that any thing was
giinel by such CONCESSIONS Sill less was | r., :
strained by any notion that was thereby compomit-
ting my official dignity but that, on the contrary
b th my own AMI the dignity of my country were
more Consulted by my visiting my countrvmen who
were, in all respects, my equ lis in official posi-
tiUn, and whp were unjusy imprisoned and in CHAINS
On Monday, the 18Th, addressed 10 Mr. de Became
gra, the Minister Of Foreign Relations and Govern
men the No 2, askIDg an audience of the Pre-
sldent OF the Mexican Republic.
1 he wife ofPresident Santa Anna, who is spoken of
by all as lady ofextaordinary wor was then danger
ously ILL and he was in state of the deepest aflc
tion. lie, nevertheless, conceded me audience on
the 2lst, See No 81
regard this evidence of his friendly DISPOSE
ton toward country. Such believe his feelings
to he, partly resulting, no doubt, from the marked
kindness which, under very peculiar and exciting CIR
cumsances he received from our people and Govern
ability as he is, he knows the importance TO his coun-
try of amcable relations with | delivered to
hun, in Spanish, at my presentation, the short compi
menary address which send you, and was received
with marked kindness, both by the President and his
Cabinet | find them al gentlemen Of polished and
kind manners. With Mr.. de Bocanegra, the Min s..
ter OF Foreign Relations have been particularly
pleased. lie i a gentleman of unsuled and high
character, frank and sincere. The plomptness with
which he has granted the release of the three other
prisoners whom have alluded, was altogether man
ly and handsome.
You will be informed by Mr.. Ellis that on his audi
ence OF leave President Santa Anna announced his
determination to release the Americans who had been
demanded l am not called upon to ex press an opin-
ion, either as to the popriey Of renewing the request
for the liberation of he American prisoners after de-
mand in the of our Government nor of the terms
in which that request couched but did feel sensibly
thai his release, which had first been asked then de-
manded by our Governmen!, and refused should have
been conce led solely personal boon Mr. Ellis and
expressed with great particularity But in the note
OF Mr. de 1bocanegra OF the 3d. No. A. the act is
stated to have been "s0lely account If the close
friendship existing between the Uned States and
Mexico and the liberation of the other three Amer
cans TO which have alluded, has removed much of
the unpleasant feeling which thus Produced
(see my reply, No. g.
On my arrival in Mexico WIS informed and aE
forwards learned from Mr. Ellis that on theil4th of
ApfiI, days before my arrival in this city and
when was hourly expected he had an interview with
the President, Santa Anna, and had been promised
the release of the American prisoners. Mr. Ellis told
at the same time he had no hope of the fuilment
of this promise. 1t was natural that Mr.. Ellis should
desire these prisoners to be released him. and not to
me, and as thought that the Mexican authorities
would prefer that the matter should take this course
Twas disposed all Mr. Ellis in his negotiations by
every in my powerthe Liberation of the prison
ers being the primary object. On Tuesday the 10Th
was not little surprised learn that Mr. Kendall
had been removed from the hospital of San Lazaro to
the convent of ST. lago, and for the first time put in
chains. Immediately TO the office of Mr. Ellis
and proposed that he should write note to the Minis
ter OF Foreign Relations, that we should address
to him joint note on tn, subject. He declined do
ing 50, saying that he had seen the Minister the day
before and that he did mt think a,y ,,o.l ,.a,,II