The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-10


pledge given then contrary the rules Of war and
ffasy every principle OF humanity Yet al this day,
you have the eronery anmadyert upon the conduct
q Texans relative 10 your captivity alter the battle OF
San Jscinto.
You have presumed to analgn the conduct OF the then
existing cabinet and 10 charge il with bad faith and
though pleased 10 commend the conduct OF the
illusifous Stephen r. Austin the Father OF Texas and
mysef Tor acts OF generosity exercised towards YOU you
take much 10 nsnuate that we only capable
OF appfeciang your proper merits. That you may no
longer be induced msconsrue OF generosity and
appropriate them 10 the qualification OF your selfcom-
placent disposition, will inform you thai they acts
OF msgnanimliy characteristic OF the nation which we
bsonged They had nothing to do with your merits OF
dsmerts
Thsperfdy and cruelty which had been exercised 10.
wards our companions in did not enter into our cal
cuianon Your sacrifice would not restore to our gallant
companions their lives our country their services
Although the laws OF war would have justified the retail
alton OF your execution yet would have the
acts OF nation by passion and revenge, and would have
svnced 70 the world that individuals who had an in
nuence on the destines OF people were subject 10 the
caprcous impulses OF vengeance OF which you had SO
recently set an example
SO far a. concerned in preserving your life and
subsequent liberation, only influenced by consider
atoms Of mercy, humanity and the establishment OF
national character.
Humanity was gratfed by your preservation. The
magnanimous OF all nations would have justified your
lsase, had they known how little its influence DREADED
oy the Texans. II, upon your return TO Mexico, you
should have power, and disposition to redeem, the
pledges you had voluntarily made TO myself well as
this government Of earnest disposition the in
dependence OF Texas recognised by Mexico, believed
would have tendency to restore to the two nations
dmineh the aggregate sufsrngs of their citizens and pro-
mote the prosperity OF both countries. In the that
you were not disposed to redeem the pledges thus given
but urge prosecution Of the by Mexico against
wished TO evnce 10 mankind that Texans had mag
nanimty, resources and confidence sufficient 10 sustain
them against all your influence infavor Of their subiuga
ton. -As
Your Liberation induced by principles such as
these and though you rendered pledges doubtless IA
cate and insure your release, they received but
mot half shatv a.
IN duress were not obligatory upon the individual making
them, and you intended L the influence which
you declared you would do, that unconditional liberty
landed to you would interpose obstacle to their fulfil
ment.
Without any adyertency to any treaty stipulations
which you had made with the cabinet OF Texas, gave
Washington
You have asserted the world that you have given no
pledge to the Texan government whatever of your dspo
son in favor of its separation from Mexico That The
tribunal to which you have appealed may Judge OF the
validity Of your assertion shall submit with this com
muncaOn letter OF yours addressed to at Colum-
bia dated the 5th November 1895, after my determine
ton to give you your liberty had been communicated
shall present it in the original, accompanied with its
translation into English will also give publicity 10
veto which communicated TO the Senate in consequence
OF resolution OF that honorable body respecting your de-
tenti0n as q prisoner.
You have spoken Of events subsequent 10 the battle of
San Jacnto and endeavor convey the idea that prom
ses had been extorted from you under the rifles OF
your meaning by this reference When you brought
into the encampment as prisoner The second day after
the battle you conducted to the presence OF the
mander -ln-chlef-not amidst noise and tumu, nor did
any exist When the character of the prisoner became
known to the army much curiosity exced but there
was no menace used nor violence offered You
treated with camness, and every courtesy extended to
you that our situation would afford. Had you been
private gentleman and friend. you could have received
no greater facilities than those which extended
you. As you desired, you were placed my person.
and were sent with the balance of the prisoners
You were informed that you could have your campbe
MAJ kQoh ybaraI
services Of your attendants You were niormed also,
that your baggage would be selected from the spos
ken BY the army on the field which was accordingly
done. and never inspected These privileges grant
Cd by my order Your aid-de-camp, Colonel Almonte
and your private secretary, permitted TO remain with
you in your markee. guard detailed for the pur
pose OF aayng any apprehensions you might have for
your personal safety and every liberty extended TO you
You submitted propositions to embracing the ques-
tons OF the recognition OF the Texan independence and
The termination Of our struggle nnequyocaly refused
alleging as reasons that we had constitutional govern
ment. and that the subject would properly come before
the cabinet of Texas the members of which would be
present camp within few days You urged the further
consideration OF your propositions upon declaring that
you would rather enter into spuatons with general OF
the army than with the civil authorities OF the country
positively declined taking any action upon them, and
they referred 10 the cabinet it's arrival. De-
Ginning the consideration OF your proposals myself re-
qued you 10 issue orders forthwith TO the general next in
command 10 evacuate Texas with the troops composing
the Mexican army. and TO fall back with them 10 Mon
terey Orders to this effect issued by you TO Cen
eral Fisoa and despatched by express, which could
not overtake him. however, until he had reached the
Colorado his retreat conducted in the greatest panic
and confusion. Owing to his precipale fight and your
execution OF my ORDERS the Mexicans permitted to
leave Texas without further moestalion.
In the mean time, General Adrian VOL, of the Mex.
lean army, came into the epcampment al San Jacnto
without my knowledge, and not upon my word OF
honor was appnzed OF his presence until learned
that he, together with his aid had been traversng our
lines So soon as advised OF this fact, ordered
duct would not be tolerated and caused them be placed
under vigilance This deemed sufficient 10 de-
tain General VOL prisoner OF war His subsequent
conduct 10 Captain Dim such Justify any un.
favorable opinion which had formed OF his character
He had rendered himself so obnoxious to the army that
from desire Tor his personal security did not permit
his release until he could 60 in perfect safety In no
respect had the prisoners taken that occasion reason
OF complaint Their lives were all forfeited 10 the laws
Of war; confomaby to the precedent which you had ex.
hibed
General Co.'S who had surrendered in 1885, prisoner
OF war at San Antonio where hundred and nny. FIVE
Texans siormed and took the Alamo, with the Town,
when i was defended by seventeen hundred regular
troops OF Mexico, again taken prisoner at San ia
cino, after he had violated his parole OF honor by which
he bad forfeited his life 10 the law OF arms Yet such
was the enty OF Texans that spdred-thereby
iDteposlng mercy TO prevent reclamation being made for
the brave Texans per6diousiy massacred
From the 9Th Of May had no connection with the en-
campment, nor the treatment which the prisoners re.
ceved until the month Of October, when was ind ucted
into the office OF Chief Magistrate OF the nation 1t is