The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-04-07
MEXICO AND SANTA ANNA.

! Cruz papers contain the particulars OF an inter-
view between Santa Anna and Dr. Manuel NJ.
Escobar, who was dispatched to Carthagena by
| the authorities of Vera Cruz a missisn to the
exiled exPresident. The details of the CONVEX
! sation which passed between them are furnish
! ed by the papers, and a translation is given by
| the New Orleans Picayunc, which copy
/ The significance of the language of Santa Anna
| touching the position of Mexico, and his display
| of unmitgated hostility towards the United
! States, cannot fail TO comman1 the attention of
the reader. At the latest date from the city of
! Mexico March 3D. seventeen of the States and
Districts had voted f~r him as President, one
had voted against him, and the remaining FIVE
had not been heard from, but his almost unani-
nous restoration to power confidently anti
cipated. Here is the account of the interview
above referred to:
Senor Escobar reached Carthagena on the 1st
of February, and found Gen. Santa Anna resi-
/ ding at Turbaco, five leagues from Carthagena.
| Upon meeting Santa Anna, his first question
was, ''What happens in repubc-what say
/ the Mexicans?" He then asked if il was true
! that another American invasion threatened?
to which Escobar replied, that ''the question of
| Tehuantepec would force Mexico to cede without
! fighting"
Senor Escobar states that he then went into a
! long account of the course of the Tehuantepec
affair, of the administration of the Government,
and such other subjects present themselves
when two persons meet who love each other
He then handed to the General the letters and
papers he had brought. The next morning San
ia Anna said TO him:
''Your coming has made me pass very bad
night How have l been affected by the unhap
py situation of our beloved country, the victim
/ of passion, involved in anarchy, and in immi-
nent danger of losing her nationality. Unhap
| py MeXico Without revenue; owing n million
and half of back dividends on the English debt
and unable TO pay the last years interest, or
even the salaries of her officers without ar
my, the frontiers abandoned and suffering the
greatest disasters from the attacks Of the sava-
ges; the frontier States undermined by traitors
Influenced and protected by Americans; all this
tolerated for five years by inapt leaders, who are
traiters, and only worthy of universal execra-
ton. Lower California too, threateued in such
a manner that it may be invaded and overrun
without resistance. Yucatan sustaining an In
dian in which it cannot triumph. Tehuan-
tepec threatened, and its military occupation by
our natural enemies delayed until the coming
month of April%
'.What q situation! But what has the Gov
ernmeut of Mexico done with the millions it re-
ceived for the iniQuitous sale Of great portion
Of our territory? What has it done with the
revenue it has controlled for five years, while
the nation has remained dumb and resigned in
view of the prodgies which the ominous Govern
ment of Quaretaro offered TO do ?"
The conferences were continued for several
days, Santa Anna manifested great reluctance
to return, and recapitulating the marked un-
kindness evinced towards him by the Mexican
nation.
Senor Escobar employed every argument cal
culated to induce Santa Anna to return, repres-
enting to him that Arista was universally detes-
ted, that every in favor of Santa Anna,
and looked towards him liberator and bene-
factor and that his presence and counsels would
alone suffice to dispel anarchy, and restore Mex
leo to tranquility and order. Two days after
wards Santa Anna replied to Escobar
: 'sI'hat his heart could only be Mexican that
F notwithstanding the past, he wished to show to
his compatriots how dear they were to him
that their misfOrtunes were his and he never
could be indifferent to them that looking a OBJ
5jects from a distance, their defOrmities were
better seen that he did not wish that history
should one day say that he had been deaf to the
call cf his country when she honored him with
a call to meet the common danger, and that he
had seen! with Indifference her fate that he de.
sired to end his days IN the spot he had chosen
as residence Tor his family; that his only wish
was TO see his country happy, and that, casting
aside every thing tending to detain him, he res
igued himself TO give the last proof of his patri
otism, although history taught him 20 place nc
confidence in the passing enthusiasm Of the mas
ses.
: 81 hold" !" he said, "that independence is the
greatest of our blessings, and every good citizen
, should defend IL with all has power, and cannot
be deaf to the voice of my countrymen, nor fail
to appreciate the high honor they have confer
red upon me in calling me to help them out OF
the laybrinth in which they involved, anC
above all to save nationality, in such
imminent peril, from the grasping spirit of oul
neighbors, and the Incidence and treason of a
) few Mexicans.
: Return in the next packet. and in giving ar
2 account of your mission to those who sent you
S tell them from me that in the next month o.
March | win leave this spot for the shores o.
} Mexico. On my arrival there l will call around
S me those persons Of influence who are true low
ers of their country. l will confer with them
s and if find cooperation if find sincerity anC
e a good win to abnegate capricious and mistaken
e opinions and, finally, if find men of heart tC
: make obstinate defence of our rights against
e the agressors from the North, and that the ONLY
t cry is independence or death, then will l lenC
myself cheerfully to new sacrifices; for, il
e truth, l cannot survive the disappearance OF
: Mexican nationality, and desire to bury mysel
in its ruins, if, after the Mexcans have done
t their duty, the great Regulator of the destnie:
= of natious should order for US such a fate. But
e if my hopes should not find encoura cement euua
TO my desires, which never can he other than the
: veal and glory of our nation, will return dis
cCns0late to this retirement, TO deplore the blind
ness of a people that obstinately believe it car
do every thing, when it leaves the only path left
open to IT, and win not initiate others, who lilz,
: them. have found themselves in similar stua
ton"
%Senor Essebar here puts a note to his repor
stating that on his arrival at Vera Cruz he haC
, ..Tba Question Of yabuop tenec had been set