Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-10-14

my meAlCO, Lner6 were tnlrty-SlX exams COMM
ed at the Castle of Perote, who had been prison.
ers by General Wool, at San Antonio, in Texas,
in the fall of 1912 / was very anxious that
they should be released and with that view stop
ped some days at Jalapa as Santa Anna was dali
ly expected at his beautiful country seat the En-
Zero, five miles distant from that city. When
visited him, he turned the conversation upon the
purpose of the Government of the United States
to annex Texas, and spoke freely but respectful
y upon the subject, 1t was not positively then
known in Mexico, that such negotiation was
on foot; at least | did not know it, perhaps San
ia Anna did. | was not disposed to enter into
any discussion with him, but his remarks at
length became so strong, that | could not be ST.
lent, and replied to him with good deal of
warmth, and at the close of short and pretty
animated discussion, said to him What do
you intend to do with the Texan prisoners do
you intend to keep them here alwaysP What
else can do, sir if | release them on their pa
role, they will not respect it, and gain nothing
by making them prisoners, for they Immediately
take up arms again, as did the prisoners of the
Santa Fe expedition, and, lie added, was in
formed that you intendel to ask the release of
these prisoners; but beg that you will not do
it, for great as the pleasure would be to oblige
you, my duty forbids it,
L" told him that he knew that was not apt
to abandon my purposes, and that would ask it,
and what was more that | knew that he would
release them added that the prisoners taken
at San Antonio did not know that it was the
Mexican army which was approaching, but sup
posed It was band of robbers which was infest-
ing the place. the Texans had all told me so.
He replied !, know they say so, but it is not
true; General Wall entered San Antonio with
cannon and music, and any one knows that rob-
Der bands have neither Well said ], if
they did, they were defending their homes and
hearts, and gallant defense they made, and a
generous enemy should respect them the more.
That said he, is putting the matter on diff
ierent footing. Are there any particular indi-
vlduals of the San Antonio prisoners whom you
wish released 2 Yes, there are Then, said
he, send me list of their names tomorrow
No, will give them to yoa now, l replied.
Very WE'LL said he, who are theyr | an
swered All of them. How can distinguish
between men all strangers to me personally,
whose cases are in all respects the same and
why should your Well said he, with mani
fest emotion, have been advised not to do it.
and had made up my mind that | would not, but
you shall take them all with you No unwor.
thy motive" continues Mr. Thompson, "can be
imputed to Santa Anna for this act my func-
tons as Minister had eised, and was then OH
ly private American citizen, who had no pow.
er to serve him in any way, and whose name
even he would, in all probability, never agar
r he If mentioned"
Santa Anna is now in trouble, deep, and per
haps hopeless. The powerful armies Of th
f rich and powerful republic are now riding witt
bloody hoof over that feeble and distracted m
ton 1t is not strange that Santa Anna shoult
. feel that his country is most unrighteously in
vaded, when thousands and tens of thous lnds o
+ the most intelligent and upright citizens of tn
United States think 50 too. The conflict is 81
@ entirely unequal, that shame rather than homo
# pertains to the yictors An armed man VIII
/ beats delenselness woman can hardly boast c
his victory. 1t is with the most fearful odds a
ganst him, in everything which constitutes mil
ltlry power, that Santa Anna is now contending
The reVerSes he has encountered would hav
crushed any man Of ordinary resolution. b.
still he contends, with hardly the shadow of a
army, and with resources all but utterly exhau;
ted, against the strong arm of the United States
Some years ago, the Mexican governmer
was in great need of thirty or forty thousand do
lars, and Mr.. Hargous, an American merchar
Of Vera Cruz, advanced the money upon the pei
- sonal security of Santa Anna. When the stipu
10 ated time for payment came the order was pre-
c ented and payment refused Mr.. Hargous cal
S ed upon Santa Anna, and stated to him that tt
a payment of the debt had been refused, and til
p. officer to whom the obligation was presente
d. stated that he refused payment by the order
ho IL
is treasury was entirely empty, and the soldiers n
is only unpaid, but there was no money to purcha
their rations, and that he must wait till it W
ny more convenient to pay. Mr.. Hargous angri
es replied, You know, sir, that l would not ha
ed advanced this money, except upon the pledge
he your honor, which have not known violated b
is tore have been friend, sir in more trials th
IT. one, and have respected and confded in yo
ne henceforth these feelings are changed go
- evening, sir" Santa Anna called him bac
Sc and said to the military friends by whom he W
he surrounded, Gentlemen, have you heard the la
SIX guage which this man has used to me ?' n
go Hargous replied, | come from a country whe
lid no station protects man from being told the tru
on Is not what have said true Z" eyes, sir" sa
Santa Anna, -" it is and | respect you for yo
re- frmness in saying what you have; have hatt
I'd, ers enough about me, but few who will tell t
ad truth" The money was Immediately paid
. Such man may have many and great
m, fects of character, but he is not to be despisC
ne The noble qualities of the mind and heart mi
is command respect. Santa Anna is doubtless &C
or, vinced, as every intelligent foreigner who Wis
it Mexico appears to be, that the inhabitants
lad Mexico are not prepared for republican fol
me of government, such as exists iii our own cot
,r.' try. All, however, admit that Mexico was M
ow err better governed than when under the adm
red istration of Santa Anna. Those who ha
cry known him best; believe that he sincerely
md sires the best good of his country, and decl;
md that the numerous laws which he has passt
have been, almost without exception, wise a
raj necessary.
as An incident occurred at the liberation of
in Santa Fe prisoners by Santa Anna, worthy
lta being recorded as illustrative of the charac
in of the people whose cities we are now bomba
ing ing.
raj On the 18th of Tune 1910 II heino tho r