The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 21, Number 1, November 1985 Page: 78
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78 'THE TEXAS GULF HISTORICAL & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
or only granted to be violated. The bloody butcheries of defenseless prisoners,
as might have been expected, had the opposite effect intended. Instead of
striking terror and dismay into the ranks of the Texians, and palsying their
efforts, it only served to arouse and awaken them into more vigorous ac-
tion. Every man, capable of bearing arms, shouldered his rifle, and march-
ed in double quick time to the theatre of war. The news caused a general
excitement throughout the United States. New-Orleans exhibited all the hurry
and bustle of a camp; and the western and southern riflemen, by hundreds
and fifties, hurried on to the scene of slaughter, to avenge the death of their
murdered countrymen.
The character of Gen. Cos stands out in bold relief, as the meanest of
the mean. When he and his command were made prisoners of war by the
Texians on this very spot of his present savage triumphs, they were humanely
treated, and suffered to return home on their parole of honor. This solemn
pledge, universally acknowledged and observed by all civilized nations, and
all honorable men, Cos has seen fit to disregard. He again appears in arms,
and has forfeited his parole of honor. He now stands before the world, in
the character of an outlaw. But, as if this were not sufficient to brand his
name with infamy, he seemed determined that his actions should be in perfect
keeping with his degraded sense of honor; so as to exhibit to the world the
humiliating spectacle of a character entirely perfect in treachery and baseness.
Therefore, instead of waging war according to the rules of civilized nations,
he basely murdered the sick in their beds, and mutilated the bodies of the
slain; and instead of decently burying the dead, he threw their bodies into
a heap and burnt them like dogs! A fit instrument, in the hands of Santa
Anna, to teach the people of Texas the blessings of Centralism! But it does
not require much forecast to predict that the Mexicans have kindled a flame
at St. Antonio, that many waters will not be able to quench, - that the
day of severe retribution and bloody vengeance is nigh. And when it shall
have arrived, where will be the voice to plead for such remorseless murderers
as these!
On the second day of March, the people of Texas, by their delegates,
made a declaration of Independence. It is called, "the unanimous declara-
tion of Independence, made by the delegates of the People of Texas, in
General Convention, made at the town of Washington, on the second day
of March, 1836." It is an able state paper, written with much spirit and
vigor; but, in gratefulness of style and force of expression, it does not equal
its model - the celebrated Declaration of Independence of the United States,
from the polished pen of a Jefferson. It contains a statement of grievances,
which is submitted to an impartial world, in justification of the hazardous[Vol. XXI, No. I
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Texas Gulf Historical Society. The Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record, Volume 21, Number 1, November 1985, periodical, November 1985; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1433656/m1/80/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Gulf Historical Society.