403
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
AUSTIN TO GENERAL GAINES1
Peach Point, near Brazoria Texas, July 27 1836
MAJ. GEN. E. P. GAIN[E]S, Da Srn,
I had the honor to write you on the 4th instant on the subject of the in• dians, and also in relation to the termination of the war between Texas and Mexico, through the mediation of the U. S. on the basis of the full recog- nition of the independence of Texas by Mexico- I have just been informed that Gen. Santa Anna has written to you on this subject- I have not seen his letter, nor have I seen or had any inter• course with him since I wrote you last, and can therefore say nothing as to his present views or ideas. When I saw him last, on the 4th July, he stated to me that he wished to term:nate the war on the basis of a full and immediate acknowledgement of the independence of Texas by Mexico, and that he wished to effect this object through the mediation of the U. S. I observed that the proper mode of obtaining such mediation was by an application from the Govt. of Mexico to that of the U. S.-He replyed that such an application would be made by him the moment he was at liberty and could return to mexico and resume the government. I answered that his release was impossible with- out such previous guarantees as would fully satisfy the people and Army of Texas, and even put it out of his power, or the power of the Govt. of Mexico to deviate, were they disposed to do so, and that I could see but one guarantee that would effectually do this, which was that of the U. S. Govt. He said he would write to Gen. Jackson, I advised him to do so, believing that it would, at least, be a kind of opening of the Subject, which would lead to a corespondence of some character between the U. S. and Mexico, that might result favourably for Texas. In any event I could not see that any harm could by any possibility grow out of it- Under this view of the matter I wrote to Gen. Jackson At the same time, and gave him all the information I could on the subject- I have no concealments or Mistery in any matter connected with this, or any other subject of public interest to Texas- I am nothing more than an individual citizen of this country, but I feel a more lively interest for its welfare than can he expressed-one that is greatly superior to all pecuniary or personal views of any kind-- The prosperity of Texas has been the object of my labors, the idol of my existence--it has assumed the character of a religion, for the guidance of my thoughts and actions, for fifteen years- Influenced by this controuling principle, I wish to see the 1 From Austin's letter book, in file of July 4, 1836.
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