Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-12-10
THE ALLIED PRESIDENTS.


1t is impossible to read, with patience, the news
from Mexico, for every line contains the name Of
Santa Anna. There is no Mexico but Santa Anna.
His spirit has entered into the corpse of fallen ma
ton, and is erect and full Of defiance An
ma finds the millions demanded to sinew the wal.
Santa Anna unies the people and inspires them with
the spirit that drove invasion from the hills of their
1atherland, in the chivalric days of old Spain San
ia Anna gathers, arms, dscipines and arrays in the
field, more thousands than it was supposed the ex-
hausted energies Of the country could in any ext
gency, muster. Santa Anna is the war.
who is this Santa Anna, and how came he in
our path OF victory? He is the confidential agent.
messenger and representative Of President Polk
But few months since he was a nameless, power.
less exile from Mexico, He could not reach that
country, for it was beleaguered by our navy How.
then, did he reach t2 He was sent thther by Mr..
Polk. The Presidents passport opened the block
AIDE to his triumphal entry, and ushered him into
his present career of opposition to the armies of our
country. The Union denies this truth, it is truth
nevertheless, and is now admitted
Who was this Santa Anna? Had he ever mani
Tested love for our country upon which patriot
could build hope? So far from it, he had been a
steady and consistent foe. But perhaps he had ex-
hibted benevOlence and magnanimty2 He muir.
dered, in cold blood, and in violation of his word Of
their surrender. Yet his faith as statesman. was
worthy OF reliance On the contrary, it had been
pledged to Houston in purchase of his freedom and
was afterwards recklessly repudiated. His charac-
ter was known to the world; in private life grovel
ling, base and vulgar as ruler iyranncal pcridi-
GUS and bloody. All this was known, vet he was
selected rs the neighbor to the councils of Mr. Polk
Folk sent him TO Mexico Polk gave him power
Folk appointed him general of the Mexican army ;
and ne holds Folks commission in leading on his
nj n<lc ~
merlcan whom he destroys is a martyr to Folks
policy every injury which he inf1cts upon the sol
diers OF our country is suffered under Folks author
ity.-Ihus, it will be that this is not merely
the Presidents war, one commenced by an usurpa
ton OF imperial power, but war in which, through
his representatives. he leads both the parties and
fights, at the same time, for and against his coun-
try.
This is grave charge but is it denied. or is it
defended! That President Polk sent Santa Anna
70 command the Mexican army cannot be gainsaid
Ii may, however. ne alleged that he erred i'm his c
innate of his character and hoped to divide the
Mexican people by introducing their former tyrant
among them If such was the design it was base
one. The Romans, when beseigng hostile city,
sent back In irons the wretch who betrayed into
their hands the children of the principal citizens as
hostages: Americans war with the sword and not
with lie. The people OF this country desire no
advantage 10 be won by skulking and cowardly in
trigues at the Mexican capitol The scheme, there
fore, under the kindest construction was mean and
unworthy. If we would conquer Mexico it should
be in the open field Americans are not content to
steal triumphs
But the President must have been mad to have
conceived such project. What was there to re-
commend or Justify it2 What to explain or vindi-
cate itf Where was the advantage which hallu-
cnatlon Itself could imagine from it2 Mexico was
divided and shattered, heaving with smouderinq
revolutions, distracted, nerveless and imbecile-
True, she possessed intrinsic resources but she had
no towering spirit to combine them against her enc,
my; Let alone, she was an easy sacrifice. II was
al TINS period of doubt and DIVISION that Polk con-
geyed their self styled Napoleon from his Eliza to
the mead OF their armies. Why did ne so? II
them.
But the facts, as they stand smack of treason
Had Captain in the Navy, without authority
permitted Santa Anna and his suite to have passed
the blockade and entered Mexico to command her
armies he would have been court-martialed and
shot. Does any living being doubt this? Now,
how Is it, that what would have been capital trea-
son In subordinate officer is venial error in the
superior? The President is as responsible to the
higher powers recognized by the Constitution, as
the loves: officer in the service How can he meet
that responsibility? viii he deny that he chatter
cd with Santa Anna Will he deny that he sent
him into Mexico2 Will he DENY that he caused 2
passport to be prepared for him that opened his pas
sage through our fleet? All this is ascertained be-
yond the blushing privilege Of doubt We
would, for the honor of our country, that it were
not so; but how can he, we, or the country avoid
the issue2 And if the charge be, as is admitted
true, the offence is more grave than any known to
our annals. President Folks authorized and conf
dental representative is now leading on the Mexi-
can armies against our fellow c,izens-his credit
supplies those armies-his genius directs, and his
spirit inspires them.
What plea can be entered to save the President?
We cannot doubt that the next Congress will sift
this matter to the bottom and if the facts now IL
nversially believed be ascertained there can be no
escape from one of two conclusions either the
President was guilty of deliberate wrong to his
country, or Of folly for which nothing but ac-
knowledged and irresponsible idiocy can be vndi-
cation. The career and character Of Santa Anna
were known to all men; good man would have
used, no wise man have trusted him. To bargain
with such an adventurer, wretch without vir-
tue, gambling desperate, a tyraut, Il murderer
and the companion and Shareholder of banditti was
a crime; to trust him was idocy to place him at
the head of the armies opposed TO MS was treason,
OF something nearly akin 10 it. IT cannot be ex-
Pected that such things take place and the peo
pie submit in silence
"a nations rights bctray ed-and all content"
North .4merican
a NOBLE SPIRIT