am General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President of the Mexican
Republic, and I claim to be your prisoner of war.' Houston pointed to a
seat, and then sent for Santa Anna's secretary, Almonte, who is also a
prisoner, and who speaks English perfectly.'

"When Almonte came, he embraced Santa Anna, and addressing Houston,
said: 'General, you are born to a great destiny. You have conquered the
Napoleon of the West. Generosity becomes the brave and the fortunate.'

"Houston answered, sternly: 'You should have remembered that sentiment
at the Alamo and at Goliad.'

"Then the following conversation occurred. Santa Anna said:

"'The Alamo was taken by storm. The usages of war permitted the
slaughter.'

"'We live in the nineteenth century, President. We profess to be
Christians.'

"'I have to remind you, General Houston, of the storming of San
Sebastian, Ciudad, Riego and Badajos, by the Duke of Wellington.'

"'That was in Spain. There may have been circumstances demanding such
cruelty.'

"'Permit me also to bring to your intelligence the battles at Fort Meigs
and at the river Raisin. American prisoners were there given by English
officers to their Indian allies for torture and death. The English war
cry at Sandusky was, "Give the d---- Yankees no quarter."'

"'Sir, permit me to say, that you read history to a devilish purpose,
if you read it to search after brutal precedents. At Goliad our men
surrendered. They were promised safe-conduct out of Texas. The massacre
at Goliad was a ferocious crime.'

"'It was precisely the same thing as the wholesale murder of Turkish
prisoners at Jaffa by the great Napoleon. Also I had the positive orders
of my government to slay all Americans found with arms.'

"'These men had given up their arms.'

"'All Americans--my government said so.'

"'Sir! YOU are the government of Mexico. You obeyed your own orders.'

"'You will at least allow that, in the eyes of recognized nations, your
army was but a band of desperadoes, without government, and fighting
under no flag.'

"'Sir, you show a convenient ignorance. We have a government; and as
soon as we can lay down our rifles, we shall probably be able to make
a flag. I say to you, President Santa Anna, that the butchery at Goliad
was without an excuse and without a parallel in civilized warfare. The
men had capitulated to General Urrea.'

"'Urrea had no right to receive their capitulation.' Then his mild,
handsome face became in a