Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-03-20

altar. Whether it be called Doubt, or
| Dlsmay, or Discord, the cost of victims
was the same, and, however or whatev-
er the cause, the crime was needless
and past atonement. 2
In April, Harrisburg was laid in ash
es by the Mexieans, and the Cabinet
forced to retire to Velasco. Before the
month was over, the invading chief was
prisoner on the banks of the San ia
cinto, helpless and fawning supplicant
for the mercy he had so often refused
to others.
In May. the Presidents OF Texas and
Mexico had met face to face, and ar
ranged the terms of fair and honorable
peace between the two republics. Gen.
Santa Ana had, according to stipula-
ton, embarked for Vera Cruz, on the
Texian schooner Inyincible, when some
i'll. advised Texans, who had not yet
accustomed themselves to the civic du-
ties of obedience, took the matter out
of the hands of the government, and
compelled the Mexican chief 10 IRELAND,
and place himself in their keeping
This was source of deep mortiica-
ton to Burnet. The immediate release
of the President of Mexico was lead
ing condition in the treaty for the recog-
milton of the independence of Texas,
and his continued detention would give
but too plausible an excuse for the non
performance Of the contract. To add
to the embarrassment of his situation,
high officer Of the army set on foot
conspiracy to seize ON the person ofthe
President, take possession of the reins
ofgovernment, and, perhaps, declare
himself dictator. No one knows the
exact aim of this vaul.ing ambition -
perhaps the conspirator had not defined
1t to himself; but it was foiled. The
Texans were not so deficient in public
virtue as to overturn,at every mad sug-
gestion, the authority they had them
selves established. The plea for the
proposed outrage, was the alleged in
dignation of the army at the lenity exc
ercised towards Santa Ana. Burnet
/ met these complicated difficulties with
singular frmness and decorum. He
did not cordially approve the treaty of
surrender entered into by Houston, on
the field of battle, but he laid the ques-
4 ton before the Cabinet, listened calmly
to his constitutional advisers, accepted
their opinions, which, however, were
+. not adverse to his own, and sought to
carry their decision into faithful effect.
That an enthusiastic, self-willed people
delayed the execution otit, was not his
fault.
! In the council which decided the fate
/ of Santa Ana, we find Lamar acting as
Secretary Of War, and measuring his
political strength with Houston & Bur-
net. His vote was Death 10 the Muir
derer,' and he gave cogent reasons in
support of its justice and policy.
i Houston, who, tho not in the cabinet.
exercised poten, influence on its ac-
ton, was for the mildest measures, but
proposed nothing. Burnet felt with
Lamar but reasoned with his cabinet,
that it would be most expedient to make
: by treaty the life of Santa Ana available.
To this Lamar replied with keen fore
sight, that treaties made in duress are
: invalid-that their prisoner had not the
power to keep his contract, and that,
granting the validity Of the treaty and
: his ability to enforce it, Santa Ana's
pro ;erbial faithlessness would preclude
: even the wish. He had violated every
law of humanity and every usage ofci-
vilised warfare, and, as the greatest of
criminals, should have his punishment
; read from the code of Draco.' If terms
: were made, however, he would not
) have the nation faithless TO her word.--
The Texans could hardly feel as char
itably when they looked upon their
, scortched soil and homeless families, or
thought of their three hundred brethren
led ont to be shot down in cold blood
on the morning of the last Palm Sun
day; Blu. not TIE less did their in,erfer-
ence with the provisions of the treaty
take from them the right TO complain,
if, on her part, Mexico tempered with
the promise ofrecognition. Those who
exact faith must keep it. At last, how
ever, TO the great re lief Of Mr.. Burnei,
: Santa Ana was despatched in honor &
} safety to his own country; the govern.
: ment was assuming shape and stability;
] the threats of forcible opposition to ais
e authority were hushed and he had lei-
Ell sure TO prepare for the election and in
coming of Constitutional Congress
d and President.
* Gen. SAM HousTos, IN sudden
0 revulsion of public sentiment, was cleo
e ted his successor, and Mnabeau B. La