I will pardon all who return voluntarily in the present month. Those who do not avail themselves of this {illegible] promise shall as far as my force and means will allow me to arrest and punish them, shall be punished to the full measure of the law. · I have detained the Express for a week in the hope of being able to hear and advise you of what Congress has done, during the last days of the Session, in reference to Texas and Mexico: but I am greatly disappointed to find the mail has failed. The last weeks mail brought nothing later than the 28th June. No inconsiderable portion of your fame resulting from your late Campaign and the great victory of San Jacinto (I need not tell you) will be found in the magninimnity and moral courage displayed by you in preserving the lives of your prisoners- and more especially- the life of the President of Mexico Santa Anna when taken in connection with the great provocation given in his previous conduct at the Alamo and at Goliad. The Government and infant Republic of Texas will derive imperishable fame from their and your forbearance and humanity in this case. All civilized and enlightened men, at a distance in point of time or Geographical Space will unite in filling the measure of honor and glory due for such magnanimnity, forbearance and humanity. Besides the moral effect for securing to Texas unfading reputation and future prosperity, there are other views of the subject that must come home to the bosom of every thinking man in Texas. Whilst Texas holds Santa Anna, she has reserved to herself the power to enter into advantageous arrangements of a permanent character. first-as to his release, which she will agree to only on such conditions as may tend to ensure advantaaes of a more stable and eligible character than any that she could° calculate on, from retaining him as a prisoner with all the risks of losing him by sickness or otherwise. Secondly-as to a permanent acknowledge• ment of her independence and peace. But if his life were taken as an authorised punishment for crime, after being thus long prisoned the loss would be great. Very great to Texas. Even should he get sick and be carried off in that way, Texas would suffer very greatly by his death. Wilst he is a prisoner and treated liberally as a prisoner of War, the Mexican Army will probably be restrained by the hope of his life being preserved by their absence, or pacified disposition from approach- ing the interior of Texas. But in the event of his escape, or his death in any manner whatever, the Mexican Army would probably be greatly augmented and their efforts to accomplish the extermina- tion of Texans would be increased and accelerated by the moral
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