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Writing Type: Diary
His comments on the character and career of San Martín.
Keywords: San Martín
Publisher: Edward Moxon, London.
Archive: John Rylands Library
Location Details: Captain Basil Hall, Extracts from a Journal Written on the Coasts of Chili, Peru, and Mexico, in the years 1820,1821, 1822, part 2, Edward Moxon, Dover Street, London, 1840, pp.18-19.
Text: pp.18-19
As the character and conduct of San Martin have been made the subject of a controversy into which for many reasons I am unwilling to enter minutely, I shall merely state what are the leading points of this topic; the real merits of which cannot for the present, as I conceive, be fully understood at this distance from the spot.
The first charge made against him is his want of activity and energy in the conduct of the Peruvian war ; the next, his despotic expulsion of the Old Spaniards in Lima; and the last his desertion of the Independent cause at a season of great danger and perplexity.
With respect to the first of these charges, enough, perhaps, has already been said, both in describing the effects and in explaining the principles of his cautious and protracted system of revolutionising, rather than of conquering the country.
The banishment and ruin of the Spaniards are justified by San Martin's friends on the ground of the obstinate conduct of those individuals themselves, who, it is asserted, resisted every attempt to engage them to co operate cordially with the Patriots, and who persisted at all times in intriguing for the restoration of the old authority. it is urged by his adherents, that in Colombia and Mexico a similar degree of severity towards the Spaniards has been found indispensable to the safety of the new governments. In Chili, and also in Buenos Ayres, the same policy has been considered necessary ; but as their revolutions were more gradually brought about, the extirpation of the Spaniards, though equally complete, has been accompanied by less abruptness.
With respect to the propriety or impropriety of San Martin's leaving the Peruvians to be governed by the Congress, unaided by him, it is difficult to speak decidedly, without more exact and extensive information on the subject than h., yet been published. He never made any secret of his wish for retirement, and lost no opportunity of declaring, both publicly and privately, his intention of gratifying his inclinations as soon as the independence of Peru should be established. The question, therefore, seems to be, not whether he was justified in leaving the Peruvians at all, but whether he seized the proper moment for doing so. It is true that he undertook to stand by and protect Peru when the sole charge was placed in his hands ; but when the inhabitants, after a whole year’s reflection, thought fit to claim from him the privilege of being governed by representatives chosen from amongst themselves, he did not feel justified in refusing their demand. Yet, at the same time he may not have considered himself at all called upon, as the subject of another state, to serve a country that no longer sought his protection ; but which, on the contrary, felt competent to its own defence, and entitled to an uninfluenced government ; which, in his opinion, it could never possess as long as he was present. It was altogether contrary to his usual practice and feelings to use force in advancing his opinions: and finding that he had lost his influence, and that the whole country, and even Buenos Ayres and Chili ' accused him of a wish to make himself king he was resolved to abandon for the present, a cause he could no longer benefit.
Viewing matters then as they now stand (1823), or seem to stand, and reflecting on the character of San Martin, it is quite evident that he is a man not only of great abilities, both as a soldier and a statesman, but that he possesses. in a remarkable degree, the great and important quality of winning the regard and commanding the devoted services of other men. To these high attributes he is indebted for the celebrity he acquired by 'the conquest of Chili, and its solid establishment as a free state: and, whatever may be said of his latter conduct in quitting Peru, when he found it impossible to govern it in the manner he wished, he may still safely lay claim to the full honour of having also paved the way for the liberation of that country.
These are no trifling services for one man to perform ; and if we believe San Martin in earnest in his desire for retirement, as I most sincerely do, we shall have still more reason to respect that disinterested public spirit, and that generous love of liberty, which could for so many years surmount every consideration of a private nature. It is so rare to see such high powers as he unquestionably I possesses, united with a taste for domestic and retired life, that many are slow to believe him sincere. If, however, that doubt be removed, and the above character he supposed fairly drawn, we shall arrive at an explanation of his conduct, perhaps not far from the truth ; by supposing him to have imagined, at the time he retired, that he had done enough ; and that, consistently with his real character and feelings, he could be of no further service to the Peruvians ; or that, at all events, his presence was not likely to advance their cause; and that, by retiring for a time, lie might more essentially advance the great object of his life, than he could hope to do by struggling against the wishes of the country so decidedly expressed.
This is stated neither as praise nor as blame: but simply as affording some explanation of a very curious historical event. 'Whether or not it would have been better for the cause of Peruvian Independence, had the chief actor in the revolution been a man of sterner nature, is another question entirely : my sole object, in this sketch, has been to draw as faithful and impartial a picture as I possibly could of what has actually taken place.
San Martin, after retiring to his country seat at Mendoza, on the eastern side of the Andes, hoped to find some relaxation from his long course of laborious exertions. But such men are seldom allowed to remain quiet in those times ; and he was soon solicited to join various political parties, both in Chili and in Buenos Ayres ; and was also repeatedly urged to return to Peru. His name and influence, in short, were considered of so much consequence in those countries, that, in spite of all he could do, he was not permitted to live a retired life. Not choosing, however, to remain as a rallying point of discontent, or a cause of alarm to those governments, he resolved to come to Europe, where he might hope to live beyond the reach of these intrigues, and hold himself ready to return, when he should conceive that circumstances rendered his presence useful to the cause of Independence.
Since the period alluded to this distinguished officer has resided at Brussels, and at this moment. the end of l825~ is still living in perfect retirement.
P.S. March 1840. I have lately heard With great satisfaction, that General San Martin is still alive, and well ; and that with the same unshaken firmness of purpose, which won for him so much success in his public career, he has resisted in private life every attempt to reinvolve him in politics. In the enjoyment of a competent fortune, and possessed of a mind at ease, he has for some time past resided at Paris, where the interest of the passing events, and the retrospect of a life of usefulness, afford him abundant sources of that enviable contentment which great men, who have taken a large share of active employment in the busy world, know best how to appreciate.
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