Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-10-07

name man can, at this period of the world throw
such terrible missiles into thronged city, and
sleep at night feeling that he has done well
while at the same time conscience is so tender
that other atrocities of war, incomparaby less
dreadful are deemed barbarous Many will
deem it difficult to condemn the shooting of the
prisoners at Jaffa by Bonaparte, and the destruc-
ton of Fannings company by order of an officer
Of Santa Anna, while they do not condemn the
bombardment of Vera Cruz.
In all the civil wars in which Santa Anna has
been engaged, and in which he has been marked
by singular humanity and forbearance He has
respected both the property and the lives Of his
enemies, and when Punishment has been the
punishment for formidable opponent, he has
always made provision for the comfortable sup
port ofthe exile. Waddy Thompson gives one
single exception: General Mexia, who was
beaten at the battle of Acajeta, at the head of
an insurrectionary army was ordered to be shot
in one hour. When the order was communica-
ted to him, he said, General Santa Anna is very
generous; if had made him prisoner, | should
not have give him fifteen minutes They were
playing game upon which each had staked his
head, and Mexia lost
The following anecdote, related by Waddy
Thompson, and for the truth of which he vouch-
es, presents the character of Santa Anna in an
interesting light:
When Santa Anna was a prisoner in Texas,
he was put in chains. The proud spirit of
soldier and Castilian could not brook this in
dignity, and he attempted to commit suicide by
taking laudanum, He was relieved from its ef
fects, and otherwise ytreated by DR.. Phelps,
of Texas. On the arrival of the prisoners taken
at Mer, Santa Anna ascertained that there was
one whose name was Phelps. He sent for him,
and asked him if he was related to DR.. Phelps,
of Washington, Texas; when the young man re-
piled that he was his son. Santa Anna ordered
that he should be released sent an aidecamp with
him into the city, and purchased two or three
suits of clothes for him, and give him room in
his palace. | was informed Of all this, and as
there was an American ship-of-war at Vera Cruz,
| wrote a note to Santa Anna offering young
Phelps passage, He replied, thanking me for
the Offer but declined it, saying that he felt
himself fortunate in having it in his power to
return, in some degree the kindness of DR. Phelps
to him when he was prisoner in Texas; and that
he preferred sending his son home at his own ex-
pense, which he did, giving to him also draft
money he might ask for
This man, whose life has been constant sue
cession of the most wonderful reverses, is now
ffty-fve years of age. {" He is" says Waddy
Thompson about five feet ten inches high,
with finely proportional person, His COM
plexion is of an olive cast, but not indicating
any mixture of blood, though believe he is not
of pure Castan lineage. | do not know that
| have seen more striking and finely formed
head and face; there is hardly feature or a
point in either, that Spurzheim or Lavater would
desire to change. | remember to have heard a
distinguished American statesman remark, when
Santa Anna was in Washington that he had
rarely seen a face indicative i'll higher degree
of talent, firmness and benevolence and when
| say, as do that think that his face is not an
inaccurate index to the volume of his character
| beg the reader not to start and lay down the
book before he has read few incidents which
propose to relate, and for most of which | vouch
as they have passed under my own observation.
Says an European lady Of superior intellectual
endowments, and familiar with high life, descrb
ing Santa Anna in 1912, two years have made
| little change in his appearance. He retains the
same interesting, resigned and rather melancholy
expression; the same quiet voice and grave bu
agreeable manner, and surrounded by pompou
officers, he alone looked quiet gentlemanIy ant
high bred "
Indeed, Mr. Poinsett, Madame Calderon de |;
Blrca, and | believe all intelligent travellers whc
have seen Santa Anna, bear testimony to the un
affected and polished manners, noble bearing
and intellectual superiority of this distinguished
man. His whole life has been passed annie
scenes of strife and blood and yet there are yer,
few accusations ever brought against him LIE
us look at these few but serious charges. In TIT
war between Mexico and Texas about one hun
dred and fifty Texans, without artillery, were
surrounded by between four and FIVE thousanc
Mexicans at the Alamo. Resistance was o
course entirely hopeless They, however, reius
ed to surrender, resolving to sell their lives a
dearly as possible Santa Anna wishing tt
spare the efusion of blood, seven different times
summoned them to surrender, promising then
quarter. They, however, rejected all terms, ant
fought with the energies of despair. Man
Mexicans were slain, and the eXaspera ed sol
diers, maddened by the slaughter of their com
rades, finally broke in upon them and destroyed
them ALL Few military men will condemn thi
action Atrocious as is war, in all its details
such an act Is not inconsistent with the princi
pies of what is called " honorable-warfare
Another act, however, performed by one o
the officers of Santa Anna, and for which hi
was never called to an account was Of pre-
cisely the same character with the WHOLESALE
massacre of the prisoners at Jaifa, by Napoleon
and less horrible and more excusable than tn
massacre by the British officers Of the prisoner
at the river Raisin and Fort Meigs. Such scene
are atrocious. No language is strong enough t.
express the feelings of adherence which the
should excite in every bosom. Bat if war
right; if it be right to lombard cities, and xii
f women and children; if it be right to pursu
shreking victims, who have thrown away thei
arms, and cut them down and trampe them uu
der the iron hoofs of cavalry by thousands; if
be right to burn cities, consuming the dwelling
f and the bread OF widows and orphans, it is pei
fecty absurd to say that it is not right to shoe
f those enemies whom you have taken prisoner:
, and who, if you do not shoot them, will prob'
f bly, tomorrow have arms in their hands to shoe
you. When the demon of war is let loose, hi