PAPERS 01!' MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR 197 Now then permit me to ask what difference there is in this imaginary case, and the true one which is under consideration? Who is Santa Anna but the Nero of today? Is he not the enemy of all virtue? Is it not he who has trampled down public liberty? Is it not he who has feasted on human blood, depopulated towns, violated treaties? And does he not present himself before us, as the invader of our country, and the bloody butcher of our friends and brothers ?- Why then vacillate in giving him the punishment which his deeds demand. Ne- gotiating with him for his life and liberty, do we not make it evident to the whole world, that our abhorrence of the crime is subordinate to our attachment to our interest; and that we are soon to drown the course of justice for certain political advantages, which we could so easily acquire by our arms, and which I fear even after all negotia- tion, we shall have to buy and maintain with our valor. Of little merit is that political dignity purchased at the price of honor. I am certain that .there is not a valiant man whose faithful sabre flashed like a meteor on the plains of San Jacinto, who knew that his loyal sword drank the blood of his enemy in vain, when he hears that the principal object of his vengeance has been permitted to buy his life and to leave the country in liberty and peace. It will be useless to speak to him in regard to Independence and national rights, as long as the bones of his assassinated brethren lie bleaching on the prairies unavenged. Treble the advantages acquired by this · negotiation will be considered of little merit and without value, when weighed against that noble and elevated resentment which the Soldier feels for the out- rages received. On the day of the battle the stirring-animated cry was "Alamo"- And why? Because it was known that the murderer of the Alamo was then in the field. He it was for whom they searched. It was not against the poor and weak instruments of his tyranny that we fought. They fell, it is true, before our avenging blows as grass before the sickle of the rea.per, but it was because they hindered our advance against the audacious Moloch.- Across a forest of lances, and a hail of grape and canister, we threw ourselves upon the insolent offender, and the exultant spirits of the Georgia Battalion, acclaimed their hour of vengeance fulfilled. Behold a frightful vision called policy places itself between the victims and the avenging blow and covers the assassin with a piece of parchment and a little sea_ling wax.
No. 2417. LIFE OF SANTA ANNA. LAMAR
[Translation from the Spanish] 21
[Richmond? Texas, 184-?l
PREFACE. In bringing to light the life of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna it will be necessary to state that we enter upon the work with pleasure; not only because it is to be a brief summary of the history of one of the most unfortunate lands of the new world and an example of the abuse of power which one of its sons had made, but also because it is written by a skillful pen and with all of the precision and exact- ness of historical truth. .. 21 Translated by Miss Katherine Elliott, archivist, Texas State Library, 1918- 1925.
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