New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-17
gt6 Orltans Daily Crtstsnt.
santa Anna to Pillow.


The Reply Of Santa Anna 10 Piloscis Chargss-H,
HeseTres the Right 10 Challenge PalOsr.
letter is Published in a paper at Havana from
Cen Santa Anna, dated Turbaco, New Granada, 18th
ult' in relation to the charges which General Pillow
has preferred that money was employed by Gen.
Scott to bride the Mexican commander and authori-
ties These statements Of Gen. Pillow are denied
with the usual vehemenee and verbosity Of the Next
can hero. We quote az follows:
The American General Pillow one Of the invaders
Of my country in l947, desiring 10 make political
capital az home in order to gain seat in the Senate
OF the United states, some time since published
card in which after painting himself as a hero
against the Mexicans, he has had the impudepce To
say that his ge1erainchief at that time had dared
to make Infamous proposals 70 me, and that had
stopped to hear and to accept these propositions the
object Of which was to terminate the war and cee-
brate peace by means of miserable pecuniary
consideration to be for my personal benefit.
The position Of Gen. Pillow in his own country
must be very unenviabe, if, in order to reach the
height Of his ambition, be believes it necessary to
sort 10 the ignoble recourse of nventing calumny
which Is all the unworthy Of soldier and gen.
tean because the distance which separates
him Of IMMUNITY. But without renouncing the right
to call him personally to strict account, when cir
cumstances will permit me TO do 50, will eonfne
myself at present 10 the most indignant denial Of this
eainmny, notwithstanding that Gen. Scott-inlu-
enced doubtless by that sentiment which induces
an honorable man to be just-has already crushed it
| in card which was also published in the United
States. Who Is there that, knowing my position in
Mexico, the fortune that possessed and the eleva-
\ ton of my character, could even imagine that
should have suffered the humiliation Of listening to
the proposition of SO infamous transaction as that
! indicated by Gen. Pillow And who. knowing as
\ everybody knew, the hatred which nv heart
\ cherished against these enemies OF my coun-
/ try, whom / always cembatted with ardor and con-
stancy. would have dared to subject me to such
! humiliation Even though man has given him
I self TO evil flOuQh Virtue Re dead in hiz
heart, the sentiment Of justice suocated and be re-
solves to commit great crime, yet it is even then
necessary that there should be some degree of pro-
portion between the magnitude OF their crime and
the advantages which be expects to realize from it.
And even though General Pillow, in the excess Of his
| gratutous malgnity, supposes me so wicked that |
have arrived at the extremity Of being traitor to that
dear country for which have shed my blood, and OF
trading with her independence which have glori-
ously secured with my sword even then, what pro-
portion is there between this crime-the most hor-
rible that my imagination conceive-and the mis-
cradle reward which, according to him, that crime
was to earn, especially considering that this reward
was to be offered to the man who occupied the most
distinguished place in his country, and who over
loaded with the favors Of fortune Does not this single
consideration suffice for the sensible to discover
the falsehoOd which Gen. Pillow, in the poverty Of
his imagination, has inventedl Neither the vile sum
which this names, all the treasures of the
whole world would have su1iced TO buy peace from
me. Certainly it was not who sold peace for IF
teen millions of dollars. Rather than accept such an
infamy-which was less than that which Gen. Pillow
has dared to impute to mel preferred TO abandon
my beloved country and my fortune TO seek the asy
lum of the exile on foreign soil. Did not Gen. Pill
low reflect upon this circumstance? Did be not know
that il was sufficient to make any Of a healthy
judgment to recognize the falsity and absurdity o.
his pretended revelation especially when he ha(
allowed ten years to pass by without saying singh
word about it?
Although Gen. Scott has already fulfilled bis dnty
in this matter it is mine to declare solemny befo
the face of the whole world that Gen. Pillow in hi
card referred TO- has completely violated the truth
everything he has said in regard to my person ; tina
neither with Gen. Scott nor with any other individual
of the invading armies which fought in the service
and defense Of my country did l hold any relations
either by writing by Intervention of third partie
excepting those official communications which hav
all been published at the proper time that hay
already said preferred exile to the celebration of
treaty of peace which would diminish the honor 0
the territory of my country, notwithstanding the
treaties Of many Of my countrymen, who, forgetfu
their duty, endeavored to convince that the peac
which the Government of the United States propose
, and solicited was preferable to the ends Of wal
This conduct which should have gained friends AM
admirers, am sorry to say gained for only hatre
, and enmity. Conspiracies were Matched against m
person and my government, and was obliged at th
= same time TO defend myself against the attacks
enemies from without and enemies from within.