guilt is made. Such is the practice of the military courts in Mexico. Here, however, we find that, notwithstanding the declarations of the prisoners amount to a complete acquittal from all crime, they were executed under the authority of an order from the War Department. This horrible crime is the work of General Santa Anna alone. He was at San Luis Potosi when the news reached him of the capture of these unfortunate men, and he immediately wrote from his headquarters to the War Department to order all the foreigners taken to be shot; and an order to that effect was immediately issued and exewted. This is a sample of Mexican liberty, as well as Mexican justice. A short time after the execution of these prisoners, information was received of the surrender of Bexar to the people of Texas, and that General Cos was a prisoner. General Santa Anna, apprehensive of the fate of his relation, (General Cos is cousin lo him,) wrote to the President ad interim that the life of General Cos must be saved, even at the sacrifice of Texas; and thus exhibiting, in his fear of retaliation, the consciousness of guilt. What renders the fate of these poor fellows the more lamentable is, that they were sacrificed, as it is said, to the resentment of General .Mexia. All accounts from Tampico concur in staling that, so soon as these men discovered the object for which they had been embarked, and that, instead of proceeding to Texas as settlers of land, they were to be employed on a hostile military expedition against Mexico, they refused lo act; and, in consequence of this refusal, when General Mexia re-embarked for Brazoria, these men were left behind, abandoned to their fate. I only give the current report, and add my hope that the subject may he investigated in the United Stales; and should it turn out to be true, then I cannot doubt that public indignation will drive Mexia from our country. You will remark that the acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs classes the offence for which our countrymen suffered under the head of piracy-a novel doctrine certainly; and he might, with as much propriety, have designated it burglary or arson. As, however, nothing but a pretext was wanted, this served the purpose. Although I am in some doubt whether it is strictly proper for me to give a reply to this note of the Mexican Government in my official character, yet, feeling dcsirious of exposing the evasiveness, absurdity, and inconsistency manifested in this reply,
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