378
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
wisdqm of the measure and the Motives which lead to it- All remain satisfied so long as no steps of liberating or killing is taken. The very doubts on this head is advantageous to Texas-but take either step finally and the danger of contending opinions at home creates factions and in the U S doubts and distrust of those in power in Texas- If Santa Ana and Cos had been shot on the field of Battle the Civilized World Must have ap- proved of the Justice of the Act however doubtful the policy may have been-but your. Country stands committed to save them by the delay al- ready and if future events do not impose the necessity of shooting it will not do to adopt it- Texas has profited by the cruelties of Santa Ana in rousing the sympathy of the U S for her and she must not part with a grain of that benefit by shooting any prisoner at this late period Santa Ana is no doubt a monster but Cos who·has forfeited his life by the rules of war acted under the orders of the other and may be the most worthy at any rate he is in a situation to have more of public sympathy because it is be- lieved he was forced to a breach of the rules of war by Santa Ana- A nation gains immortal fame by even errors on the side of Humanity while it can suffer irreparable injury by acts strictly Just but not called for by the situation at home. On this head the best men of Texas must deliberate to satisfy the spirit of retaliation at home and high expectations of your friends in the U. S. Delay is the only remedy for the former and as.much kindness as possible to the prisoners is the Course for the latter- Genl Houston stands above all complaints which have reached this Country, that of delay appears to he the,...s. trongest, for which he deserves the highest honors and all military men adopting the same tardy policy much suffer- prudence was called one of Washingtons rascally virtues by Conway Lee etc, but the man who has firmness to resist the Current of his army at such times deserves well of his country- The single circumstance of preserv- ing a camp with the appearance of resistance-When Panic was desolating the Country is enough· to place Genl Houston high in Military rank, the Complaints against him are considered idle or the offspring of that impa• tient spirit so common in military life- You have a confidence in Genl Houston of great \VOrth and so long as he can serve Texas with the same prudence it is wise to employ him. No man living save Gen] Jackson could have the same weight in your wars as [he] Major Grooms of the volunteers from this .. . WILLIAM s. ARCHER TO AUSTIN
Elk-Hill Va July 3d 1836
DR SIR On my way from the south, a few days ago, I met on the Road, My Rela- tive Doct. B. T. Archer, who informed me that you had been good enough
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