Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-02-26
From Arkansas Democrat.
THE ENCARNACION PRISONERS.
Their Sufferings and their Rights.

Mr.. EDlTo3-RegardinS Inc refusal OF Inc
Paymaster at New Orleans, 10 give the pay and
allowances of mounted men 10 the returned En-
carnacion prisoners as ..unjust and unrighIeous,"
| have lost time in calling the attention OF
State and popular representatives at Washington
10 the subject, and through them that of the gov
ernment. For this purpose, a few days after my
return from Mexico, addressed letters to Sena-
tors SEWER and ASHLEY, and Hon. X. w. Johnson,
setting forth my views at length, TO the latter,
with request that he would lay them before his
colleagues; whilo to thom, wrote only few
lines, informing them of the fact, and urging upon
them the interest oflhe subject and its importance
particularly 10 an unfortunate and highly merit,
orlous portion Of our countrymen. | should have
written fully TO all threo of our Cougressmen
but for very painful affection of my right hand
ana arm, at the time, which made any of the
pen task of much difficulty. This seemed Of
little moment, however; as all three of those gen.
temen were IN the same cIty, whore state
ment of facts could be made, easily, to answer
tho purposes of all, when the attention Of each had
been called 10 il.
From our Senators, my application has not
been acknowledged; and, SO far as have any
means of knowing, has received no attention. If
this had been private matter. and looking 10 my
own personal advantage, | could readily under
stand, and be the last to complain, that il should
have been passed over, and even despised, as an
with those enlarged and weightv concerns in.
Volved, particularly, in our Foreign Relations -
and The Federal judiciary" But as my app
cation had nothing in its character its object,
OF a private nature, and could IN no possible way
put money in my purse;" and especially, when
consider, that it sought only justice, not even
Iberalty, for those unfortunate men, whose cruel
sufferIngs II had been my painful fate 10 look
upon, without the power 20 help, and whose only
fault had been, tina; they went farther than the
iarthest," in the service of their country; con-
Tess my self incapable of understanding the mo-
tlves Of such neglect-unabe TO appreciate such
apparent want OF teeng-unpossessed Of an n
mount of charity sufficient even to exlenuate, far
less to Justify, such seeming dercIicGion of duty.
II is hoped that some circumstances may exist,
capable of explaining who! now seems so dark
and censurable.
From MIR. JoHNsoN. on the contrary, received
a prompt response. But single day passed, be-
lore he Acknowledged my application; expressing
his entire concurrence IN my views, his sympathy
IN my feelings, and his readiness to do every.
thing IN his power to accomplish the objects |
seek TO attain. At his suggestion, the petition Of
Mr.. JESTER, of which the suboiued is a copy, has
been prepared and forwarded to Washington. 1t
IS his purpose. should it fail before the Secretary
ofWac, 10 carry the subject before Congress, and
demand Justice, for portion cf MS suffering con-
stIiuenis, at The hands Of the peoples immediate
representatives.. .-
Ihot such an effort If properly made, and
vIgiantly followed up, will fail of success, il not
10 be anticipated. Difficult, indeed, is 1t to sup
pose, tina! the obviously just ard reasonable do
mand of the petitioner can DO refused. Impos-
sbe 10 conceive of such result, unless all dis
position ard ability to respect right and award
justice, be denied 10 public servants, whom the
people have appointed TO the performance OF
such high and holy duties.
Without, therefore, nduIging in any extrava-
CANT expectations myself, or desiring to excite
them IN the minds of my late fellow prisoners,
cannot entertain doubt OF the success of the APP
pIlcation that has been made in their behalf or
deny myself the qualification Of communicating
to them, IN this public and most practicable man
ner, "a reason for tae faith thai is in me-
Il may not be thought that too much impor.
lance Is sought for object which involves a
number of persons so small, as that of the late
"EucarEacIon PFlsOners,' ran amount of money
so InconsIdcrabIe, as that mentioned in The petit
ton for their relief Whether the demand of the
petition shall be granted not is question of
far greater magnitude, and Of infinitely higher
consideration, than that presented by any mere
number of persons, however large, or by any
amount Of money, wilbin tho scope of human COM
Putation. 1t is tho great aud sacred question Of
AHHsdn rights, and embraces the obligations of a
nation 10 redeem its bonds which have been oxe-
her children. Mark repeat that it is not Hb-
orahty--it is not mugnanimity-it is not gene
rosity--it is not chariIy-Ihat is solicited. No!
II is simple, plain, enhanded Justice that is de.
manded. No NATTER then. whether the numbe
interested be man, millions of men-or
whether the amount claimed be dollar. or tho
revenues of empire, the principle which is to de-
termine the result, remains the same-JUsTcE
of Deity the highest attribute; and for the due ad-
mlnIstration of so much Of which, as is lent TO
earth, is held 10 his srictest and most fearful
accountability. .."
Nor let me be charged with exaggerated feeling,
or excessive zeal, in This cause have espoused
Let him who would condemn my earnestness and
warmth. be doomed from hard necessity, to
deliver his friends and comrades into the hands of
an enemy-let him accompany them on toll
some march Of seven hundred miles, through u
hostile country--see them bound like felons and
driven like beasts of burden-hear them ask for
food and water, with none to give-witness their
torture when the skin peeled from tho soes of
their feet, and tho nails dropped from their toes,
upon the rugged hghway-see them sink ex-
hausted from fatigue and want, by the way-side
to leave some actually TO die! Am | told to
pause in this catalogue of horrors9 | answer
no! Pause not; but follow me within the gloomy