Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-03-16

SEIZURE OF SANTA Annals PRoPERTY.-A
correspondent of the New Orleans Picayne,
writing from Tehuacan, Mexico, gives the sub
joined account of the strophies' taken by the
American officers arriving at that place. San
ia Anna, on hearing of the approach of the
Americans left in such hot haste that he had
not time to attend to securing his luggage:
"The first feeling of disappointment having
in great measure passed off, the public build
ing and suspicious private dwellings were
searched and it was meagre satisfaction to
find in the quarters so recently occupied by San
ia Anna, part of his best military wardrobe,
two of his costly canes, his field glass. and
three trunks containing his lady's clothing
This served al all events, to show the chase
was hot and the departure hasty. His militia
ry property was takenas legitimate spoils. and
the trunks containing his wifes clothing were
turned over to the alcalde. A receipt was ta-
ken for them, and letter addessed to her illus
trious husband by the lady informed him of the
disposition made of the trunks, and. expressed
regret at his absence on the occasion of ourap-
pearing i'll his quarters. 1t may seem trifling
descend to an estimate of the value of the ar
ticles taken, but it viii serve to show the ex-
travagance and love of display of a man who
affects to be republican. The coat is almost
covered with gold lace, and cannot be worth
less than seven or eight hundred dollars. This
| tell to the lot of Col. Hays, who purposes pre-
senting II to the government of his State.
/ Both the canes taken are of great value, being
mounted with gol6 and diamonds and other
precious stones. One of these became the
property of an officer of the Rangers and the
other of Major Polk, who intends to present it
to the President. Two magnificent chdpeaur
! de bras, two pair ofgold epaulettes, a sash of
gold cord and bullion tassels, and an ele-
CANT writing desk-all distributed among the
officers-complete the list of valuables captur-
ed, with the exception of the field glass. an ex-
cellent one, which the General appropriated TO
himself. his only trophy"
This was all private property. What right
have the officers Of the American Army to
seize and divide among themselves the pTiUGtc
property of Mexican citizens? If the Ameri-
can officers depredate the private property be-
longing to Mexican officers, can they rightfully
censure the American soldiers for depredatng
on the private property of the Mexicans?
The truth is, this Selling of Santa Annals
coats, hats. canes, &c, is nothing less than
stealing. The Americans have just as much
right to enter all the churches and private hou-
ses in Mexico, and rob them of all their con-
tents, as they have to appropriate the private
property ofSanta Anna. Ii is true that the
Mexican general is a consummate rascal, but
his rascality does not justify rascality in our
officers However bad he may be, his moral
character does not annihilate his legal right to
his wardrobe.
These officers were exceedingly gallant They
overhauled the wardrobe of the Mexican gen
erals wife, and, limiting their depredations to
the property of her husband, magnanimously
forbore TO divide Out among themselves, the
u,
er articles belonging to herr The reason why
they declined appropria5ing these articles was,
we presume the conviction that none of their
wives would be so shameless as to accept of
articles piltered from lady's trunk.
Major Polk appropriated cane mounted
withg gold and diamonds and Other precious
stones" and this trophy is to be sent to his
brother, the President Santa Anna will not pro-
badly regret this destination of his cane. He
is indebted to Mr.. Polk orhis position in Mex
leo, and must therefore, unless he Isl specimen
of E'total de ravity, feel very grateful to the
President. Whenever Mr.. Polk uses this cane
in his private rambles on the bank of Duck
river, he Will be reminded by it of one of the
most lively scenes inhis ownand his friend slife.
To be sure the cane is stolen property, and
there is an old saying that the receiver IS as bad
as the thief. This is all very true. But the
manifest destiny men, the class of philoso
piers to which MIR. Polk has annexed himself,
teach that it is the very essence of virtue to
Esteal Mexican property We do not think
Mr.. Polk will make anyaserious objections to
the cane on account ofits having been stolen.
He will receive il and treasure it'up as the on
ly trophy he gained during the prosecution Of
the war against Mexico.
Suppose Mexican guerrilla party had I'M
expectedly overaken an American generals
wardrobe and partitioned out its effects among
themselves. Would not a great deal of indig-
nation be excited? Now, if there is any diff
ference in a moral point OF view between the
conduct of the guerrilas in the case we have
supposed, and the conduct of the American
officers at Tehucan. we are unable to see it.
American officers engaged in putting down
4 Mexican guerrilla parties ought to be careful
not to initiate their exanples.-Eou. JOun.
Mn r. In cnaaliou of this diS+ino,,isb