193
P.APERS OF MIRA.BEAU BuoNAPARTE LA.111AR
deavored to excuse yourself for the assassination of Fannin and his companions; then you said that Congress was the supreme power of the Nation and you as a subaltern had not done anything except to obey your superior whose punishment you had reason to fear.- Here there was a pause in the conversation. After some moments I spoke and directing myself to Santa Anna I said, Sir all the consider- ations which you have presented in favor of your immediate freedom, I have heard before, and after considering them well and duly weigh- ing their importance I have given my decision in this matter and I cannot perceive any reason for changing my opinion or revoking what I have done. My decree is the same. Nevertheless, if you have other new suggestions to present I shall be ready to hear them. The General stated that he had nothing more to say, therefore Mr. Austin and I prepared to leave, which we did in a few moments, not without bidding the captive President good-bye in civil and polite manner. Mr. A1rntin asked me Did you hear what Santa Anna said about you upon leav- ing the door? I answered no, what was it? He said, responded Aus- tin "There goes the shadow of Farias. I do not know what the pris- oner meant by this, but if his object was to insult me, and lower me by comparing me with that celebrated and patriotic republican who had frequently embarrassed Santa Anna in his ambitious designs, I cannot take offence at such a fruitless effort, rather I consider it a compliment to be compared to a man like Farias who in the midst of almost universal corruption, could preserve a character without stain and leave in the history of his country, a name that will adorn it al- ways. Such was the Vice President Valentin Gomez Farias, an honor- able man and a true friend of his country. There is hardly a crime that this man has not committed; neither has he been known to practice a single virtue. Nevertheless in the midst of his numerous depravities, I do not deny that he possessed · some exterior qualities that are agreeable and pleasing, such as cour- tesy, politeness and vivacity which in him., however, is only cunning, refined, cultivated, perfected, in order to deceive the world and pro- mote his ambitious purposes. He was born in Vera Cruz of a family of the middle class, respect- able, but poor. His father was a notary public of Vera Cruz, whose fortune was too small to give his son an education outside of reading, and writing. Of grammar he knows nothing and for this reason it is not strange that he makes so many grammatical errors in his conver- sation. The official documents and other writings that have been pub- lished over his name and signature, were not written by him; but are the productions of his secretaries and of men of literary talent whom he has always had around him and who at last were paid with ingratitude. I do not wish to say that he has no influence, on the contrary he is an uncommonly gifted speaker, but it is said by those who know him well that his language is seldom correct and never elegant and refined. From this humble beginning he arose to the most important and exalted positions; and for many years has guided and directed the destiny of his country, submerging it in interminable difficulties until he dragged it almost to the verge of ruin.
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