con~ribu tions of money and munitions of war and to procure the serv1ces of as many men as he may be enabled Lo raise Lo aid Texas in her present struggle for liberty.
David G. Burnet
[3082) [BURNET to SANTA ANNA]
Velasco 17 May 1836
Excellent Sir:
I have the honor to receive Your Excellency's communication of this day apprising me of the return of General Woll, and of the circumstances that conduced lo it. The government of Texas actuated by the principles of an enlightened humanity, and by a sincere desire to observe all the approved usages of the most civilized nations, cannot but regret that an event so painful as the one mentioned in Your Excellency's communications should have occured. The conduct that has been manifested towards the prisoners whom the casualties of war have thrown into their power, affords indubitable testimony that no intention could exist on their part, to infringe, in the slightest degree, the equitable "rights of nations," in the person of General Woll. I trust Your Excellency will readily perceive from the tenor of the letter of General Rusk to Genl Woll of 12 Inst., a copy of which accompanies Your Excellency's communication, that the reason of Genl Woll's recall to Camp was predicated in the apprehension that the excitement produced by the cmelties inflicted on our countrymen who had fallen into the power of Mexicans together with some alleged manifestations of passion of the part of Gen! Woll himself, might lead to some act of violence relative to his person, by intemperate and irrational persons, who are to be found in all armies and especially in those composed in part of volunteers. In making these just concessions to Your Excellency, I cannot but remark, that no portion of them is extracted by the intemperate and uncourteous threats found in the letter of Genl Woll to Genl Rusk, which You transmit to me. The terms of that letter convey more evidence of petulance on the part of the writer, than cause of apprehension to this government from his projected
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