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


in those places from which you came, and 10 which
perhaps you will soon return
General nouston's Letter Antonio Lopez dc santa
Anna,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
City OF Houston, March 81, lS42
MosT EXCELLENT SIR: Your communications to Mr.
Bee and General Hamilton. dated at the Palace Of
the Government of Mexico. have been recenty pre-
scented to my notice AT the first convenient leisure
have failed appropriate my attention to the subjects
embraced within the scope OF your remarks.
They would have met ready attention had II not
been for marauding incurson made by Mexican force
the deenceess town of San Antonio, on the inhabited
frontier of Texas Appehendng that the force had some
other character important than that OF bandits and
plunderers commanded it was by regular officers, it
produced momentay excitement, and claimed the at
drawn, characterzng their retreat by page and plumber.
has been usual with Mexcans, am left at leisure 10
resume in tranquility the duties OF my station.
In reference 10 your correspondence with Mr Bee and
General Hamilton, ] have no remark 10 offer in re-
ation 10 the communications which those gentle
men assumed the individual responsibility OF ma
king to you. The very nature OF the corresponds
ence manests the fact tina, II was not done under
the sanction OF this government bur rests solely upon
their action individuals Had your response regarded
them the light in which they were presented TO you,
would have superseded the necessity OF any notice IRON
But you have thought proper TO laud my conduct
an Individual, and refer TO transactions connected with
this country, with which | had Official identity, and
which also al this time possess. and you have taken
The liberty, to unwarranabe extent, to anlmadvert
upon circumstances connected Win texas dS Ndlon, l
feel myself compelled by sense OF duty to refue por-
ton oil the calumnles which you have presented to the
world under the sanction OF your Official averment.
You appear 10 have seized upon the imsy petext OF
confidential communications unknown to the officers of
this government aud unknown to the world until d.
vuged by you tor The purpose of manufacturing capital
of popularity at home, and which you have submitted
TO the world a manifesto in behalf OF what you are
pleased to term the rights OF great nalion by so many
titles respectable !"
Whatever opinions you may have entertained in rea.
ton to the difficulties existing between Mexico and
Texas cannot materially vary the facts and principles
involved; nor will they materially influence the decision
oil mankind upon the lasuce OF our cause
Deceucy and seliespecl al least should have induced.
Your part The pursuit OF different from that
which gu have adopted The abuse and ribad epithels
which you have applied 10 the ctizens OF this country,
well those OF the Mississippi valley OF the Unted
States, doubtless OF the individual who
gave them utterance So Tar the people OF this coun
Try concerned, shall refer mankind to history Of
facts and circumstances connected with the settlement OF
the country. shall pass by with slight notice your re-
marks relative TO the people OF the United States. So
lar origin connected with them, and unity OF
sympathy exists, proud 10 hail them as our kim
dred-kndred in blood, kindred in laws kindred IN all
the enrolling attributes OF humanity They will hear
your auns OF defiance with the contempt and de.
rsion that Texans regard your silly gasconade II they
have heretofore sympaihzed with IN our struggle for
liberty and independence il from knowledge OF the
tact that had been deceived and oppressed by Mexico.
and that the in which were engaged was that
OF humanity struggling against usurpation and despotism
The people of Texas invited TO migrate 70 this
country for the purpose OF enjoying equal rights and con-
stituona liberty They were promised the shield Of the
constitution of 1924, adopted by Mexico. Cenfdng in
this pledge, they removed to tho country TO encounter all
the prvatons OF wilderness under the allurng prom
ses of free institutions Other reasons operated also
Citizens OF the United States had engaged in the revou
ton OF Mexico in 1919 They fought gaanty in the
achievement OF Mexican independence, and many OF them
survive and 10 this day occupy the soil which their pr-
vatons and vaor assisted achieving. On their re-
moval here they brought with them no aspirations OF
projects but such were loyal to the constitution OF
Mexico They repeed the Indian savages; they eLcoun.
fefed discomfort. thew subdued The Wilderness
converted into cultivated eds the idle waste OF this now
prolific territory. Their courage and enterprise achieved
that which the imbecty OF your countrymen bad either
neglected left for centuries unaccompished. Their
situation, however, was not disregarded by Mexico,
though she did not might have been expected extend
to them protecting and fostering care but viewed them
as objects OF cupIdy, rapaciiy and at last jealousy
The Texans, endsring the annoyances and expressions
inflicted upon Them remained faithful to the constitution
oil Mexico In 1882, when attempt was made TO de-
sroy constitutions and when you, SIR threw yourself
forward as its avowed champion, you were sustained
with all the fidelity and vaor that reemen could con-
tribute. On the avowa OF your principles, and in &C.
cordance with Them the people put down the services OF
de, posm at Anahuac, Velasco and Nacogdochee They
treated the capves OF that struggle with humanity and
sent them TO Mexico subject TO your orders They
garded you the friend OF liberty and free institutions;
they hailed you as beneacor OF mankind your name
your actions auded and the manifestations you
had given behalf of the nation were themes OF saus-
faction and delight 10 the Texan PATROLS
You can well imagine the transition OF ieehng
which ensued on your accession 10 power Your
subverslon OF the constitution OF 1924, your es-
adjustment of centrasm your conquest of Zacatecas,
characterized by every OF violence, cruelty, and
pine inflicted upon the proioundest astonishment
We realized all the uncertainty OF men awakening TO
reality from The unconscousness OF delirum In sue
cesson your order for the Texans to surrender their
private arms The mask thrown aside, and the
monster despotsm displayed in all the habilimens OF
loathsome detestation rhen presented 10 Texans
the alternative OF amely crouchilg TO the yrants LASH
or exang themselves TO the attributes OF freemen They
chose the latter To chastise them for their presomP
ton induced your advance upon Texas with your ooasea
veteran army, mastering force nearly equal 10 the whoie
population OF this country al that time You peseseu
aud took the Alamo; but under what circumstances
Not those, surely which should chaacerzea general OF
the nineteenth century You assaed one huhuteo anu
nifty men, destitute OF every supply, requisite ,or ,ne
defence OF the place It's brave defenders, worn py Vix
laace and duty beyond the poser o. nunian nsuf. 10
sustain were al Length overwhelmed by force OF nine
thousand men ana toe place laken ask you, SIR what
scenes followed Were they such a. should charac-
terze an able general magnanlmous warrior, and the
President OF a 9r,a nauon Numbering eight millions OF
souIsl No Ianliness and generosity would sieken NJ
HE recital OF the incident to your ssceess, and
hamsnny sel would blush to class you among the chv-
aric spirits Of the age Of vandalism. This you have been
pleased class in the succession OF your VICTORIES and
presume you would include the massacre al TO
lad. :.
Your triumph there, il such you are pleased TO term H.
was not the triumph oil arm4-t was the success oil per-
hy FsnnIn and his brave companions had beaten back
and dehed you veteran soldiers. Although outuuinbersl
more thar seven to one Their valiant, hea and lndon
table courage with huy devotion to the OF tree
dom fooled every effort directed by your general TO M
sote his success by arms tie recourse TO flag OF
truce aud when The surrender OF little painot-band
.FAftA .r