It is rurther alle<lged lhal Santa Anna is a prisoner, and has no power to make a treaty. There is some plausibility in this objection, but Lhe force of it is destroyed by the fact that his treaty has been recognized, and in some very valuable points executed by the present Chief of the 1'\-Jexican forces in Texas. In pursuance of that treaty General Fitisola has agreed lo evacuate our territory, and has already passed the "Nueces," and is probably by this time crossing the Rio Grande, al ll1e head of 5000 troops. Does Texas derive no advantage rrom this effect of the much abused treaty? Is the peaceable retirement of 5000 lately hostile troops from the country, unworthy of considera- tion? Suppose they had concentrated al some strong point and fortified their position, would it have cost us nothing to dislodge them? The very subsislance of such a force is our exhausted and wearied condition, would have been more injurious lo Texas than all the evils that could possibly have resulted from the liberation of Santa Anna. Your impetuous gallantry may prompt you to say, "we could subdue them" theywere frightened and were retreating in a panic. But citizen soldiers, have you considered tho influence of a feeling of desperation on such a body of men with arms in Lheir hands, and can you certainly determine that those five thousand soldiers, headed by an able and experienced captain, as Filisola confessedly is, would not have rallied their scattered spirits, and have made one bold effort for self preservalion, if not to retrieve their tarnished glory, or avenge the blood of their comrades? The stricken deer if too sorely pressed will turn infuriate upon his enemy. I would ask citizen soldiers, what great evil could possibly result from the liberation of the captive President of Mexico? Is Santa Anna so formidable, that he alone is a terror to Texians? The plains of San Jacinto have witnessed the idle vanity of his boasted invincibility, and sure l am there is not a solclier in your ranks who would not as leave confront hjm in battle, as Lhe meanest catiff of his nation. Where then is the tremendous objection to his restoration? Suppose he should play false to all his engagements and fling the shattered remnant of his political character to infamy and execration, who and what is Santa Anna more than another Mexican Chief? He has been conquered once and may be again. Could he better hope lo rouse the torpid spirit of national pride in Mexico, by holding forth his perfidy and his
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