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honor of one, who feels no compunction, and fears no shame. Hence I vote for their detention as prisoners, and stand opposed to all policy that would give them freedom before the termination of our struggle. And I recommend the adoption of this course the more cheerfully, because it will operate the dethronement of a tyrant, who never possessed power without abusing it, or the affections of his people without betraying them. The detention of Santa Anna in Texas, until a treaty of peace is formed, will strip him of all authority in Mexico; and this will be mercy to that nation; perhaps to mankind.· He will return to the lancl that has groaned under his despotism, a toothless viper, with the valevolence to strike, but without the fang to wound. Upon his downfall will rise the advocates of liberal principles, and the friends of free government. Humanity will rejoice at the respite from bloocl, and the agitated waves of society will be smoothed and tranquillized by the oil of peace. The ends of justice may not be fully attained, but the brave patriots whose rights have been crushed in the march of this ruthless rioter in blood, will feel some consolation in the reflection, that though he escape the proper expiation of crime, he will experience in the reverses of fortune some retribution for his merciless wars, waged against human liberty and human life. I am understood, I presume as recommending this course only as a secondary one. My mind adheres lo its original conviction, that our prisoner should be tried and punished for the crime of murder. I still feel that strict justice requires this course; that it is sustained by reason, and will receive the sanction of the present generation, as well as the approving voice of posterity. If the Cabinet could concur with me in this view of the subject, and march boldly up to what I conceive to be the iine of right, it would form a bright page in the history of this infant nation. It would read well in the future annals of the present period, that the first act of this young republic was to teach the Caligula of the age that in the administration of public justice the vengeance of the law falls alike impartially on the Prince and the Peasant. It is time that such a lesson should be taught the despots of the earth. They have too long enjoyed an exemption from the common punishment of crime. Throned in power, they banquet on the life of man and then purchase security by the dispensation of favors. We have it in our power now to give an impulse lo a salutary change in this order of things. We are silting in judgment upon the life of a stupendous villain, who like all others of his race, hopes to escape the blow of merited vengeance by the strong appeals which his exalted station enables him to make lo the weak or selfish principles of our nature.
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