The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-09-19


A Mr.. Martin, an EngIishman in the mines
sa" him in 1928, and thus describes his
personal appearance:
In appearance, then, Santa Anna was
one of the finest looking and most gentle.
mahly men ever seen, and his behavior
towards me, announcing myself, as | did.
an Englishnan, was courteous and affable
IN the extreme, and without showing the
annoyance he must have felt in knowing
that the English, at the instigs,ion of the
Government de tdeto, were doing all thew
could to cause his personal destruction. on
the contrary, he not only promised to take
my countrymen under hls Protection
when he Ell Oaxaca, should his mill.
tary operations prove successf,I-wLicb
promise he subsequently performed to the
letter-but lie also invited me to par,ake
oil his frugal meal, consisting of the solIa
podrlda," br ught i"to an indian hut bv
soldier. A very penetrating, fine dark
blue eye, keen, Lut cool, determined pl mce
with an open countenance and lofty fore.
head, formed the most prominent features
OF the person OF the General. He ap-
peared thoughtful, and had the air occa
s'onally Of philosopher, at the age of
81. HIS officers paid him the greatest
deterence; but he spoke little. On the
following day | witnessed an attack made
ey him in person, at The head ofsome Ian
GERS, upon division Of cavalry, infantry.
and artillery, about five leagues from tie
place where | met him. | have seen
some hard fighting since, and have wit.
messed some very brave men in action in
close quarters, but never saw a More de
termned onset than that led on by Santa
Anna, heading o, ly $50 horse apains, the
advanced guard Of the enemy opposed to
him consisting 200 men, SUPPORTED by
three pieces of artillery.
In 1888 We hear OF Santa Anna aoaip
IN the field, at the bomharlmcnt and
attack upon Vera Cruz by the French
naval force under the Prince de Jo;uyille
ihe French took the castle, Lu, gave un
the town. One Of Santa Auna's legs was
taken oil by grapo shot. lie says it
struck him when the French were retreat.
ing TO their boats, and that lie had hold
OF the Prince de Jo;nviiie's coat tail a,
the time, but the French saw that they
seeing the doughty hero running away in
the moment of victory, sent the shot after
him as a sort Of L. Z G.
In l84l he went into power again on
one leg, and governed as an absolute
monarch until 1914. when n new rcvolu
ton sent him abroad for the second time.
In lS46, war broke out between Mexico
and the United States. Santa Anna WAS
IN Cuba an exile; but p!edging himself to
bring about speedy peace, he was permit
ted by the government ofthe United States
to land at Vera Cruz. lie was received
with loud accIaims, and Immediately took
the Held against the American army
lie was soundly whipped at Buena Vista.
and his capital was taken from him after
the decisive battle OF Cerro Gordo.
Shortly after the treaty of peace. we
lind our hero again "stumped out" and
obliged to take refuge in Kingston, Jam
area, and Carthage, in New Granada
lie built a house at the latter place, and
engaged in trade. lie remained here
quietly until 1852, when taking advantage
OF an insurrection headed by Generals
Craga and VOL he returned, and resumed
his seat in the halls Of the Montezumas.
lie had outIived the revolution of Paroles,
the American war, and administration of
Herrera, and was recalled because IT, e Mex.
leans believed that lie was the only person
who could keep the country uuiet. Al.
though known TO be n great scoundrel, a
liar traitor, gambler and an assassin, he
never countenanced sin Of any stripe in
Others. He was severely just dictator.
The history Of Santa Anna's last ad.
mnIstration may be briefly told. He soon
set up the central system, and proclaimed
the "Plau Of Jalisco," which was to the
effvc! that he should be President for life
and have the privilege of naming his
successor in sealed packet, to be deposited
IN the Department Of Relations, aud not
to be opened until after his death. TINS
was accepted by several States, and 500
Santa Anna proceeded to inaugu-ate an
entire despotism. lie has just been
oVerthrown again by a revolution, and
ia for the fourth time fugitive. Who is
the coming man to succeed him? Not
Alvarez, certainly. He Is only rough
soldier, without knowledge of the theory
or practice Of government. La Vega and
CAIRO are second rate men, and things do
not look any the lighter on account Of the
fact that large force Of fiIibusters is
hcvering on the northeastern frontier.
The above facts 60 to show that Santa
Anna is man Of unquestionable ability
aud undaunted perseverance,. II any
Spsniard or creole could rule Mexico, he
Is the man. lie has tried four times, and
failed. In his last attempt he was assisted
by Messrs, Gadsden and Pierce with seven
millions Of eur money for strip Of land
NOT worth seven thousand. Not even
their disinterested bounty, Joined to the
support Of the English government, could
keep His Serene Highucss on the throne
OF the Aziecs. HE career, and the gen.
sal history Of all the South American
republics prove conclnsiyely that no
spanish government can be permanent ON
this eontipsus while tue prosperity aud