427
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
abroad and out of your country is fast approaching a most dang~rous point of giving up all hope and the same state of feeling must arise in Texas itself- The removal of Houston is one among the heaviest blows--The objections to Houston can not equal the confidence the world has in him, and the very circumstance of dismissing him proves a want of fitness ~ the authorities of the Country which must do the greatest injury-The attempt lo send off Santa Anna by the cabinet and the desire to kill him by an other portion of yo~r Citizens for.ms an other cause of division among you and both equally defective as regards policy- The latter has the addition in public feeling of a violation of all law and principle to reach an outlaw who was placed on the footing of all other prisoners of war the moment his orders to his troops to retreat_was accepted by the Authorities of Texas- Whether his orders were obeyed or not or whether so far as they were observed was an advantage to Texas or not matters.not a straw because Santa Anna can not be blamed and the _acceptance of his proposals was a commencement of negotiations which took his case from the position he stood in when taken, The world is too ready to consider Texas like all new countries rash and cruel in its measures. The death of St. Anna would ruin yo~r country. Efforts are making in this country by the friends of the unfortunate who fell with fanning, _but P.ublic feeling is against them. Fanning remains pitied like Travis, but this can not last the latter will gain by time but the fame of Poor Fannin must be lost by the excessive folly of the manner he conducted when dangers came- he was brave no doubt-but the way he lost 600 of the best force of the Coun- try and his own useless life will when properly considered leave his name a Blank this case should be a warning to your Country the caution of Houston makes him worth all the untried men in your armies-many men may Possess equal or even superior talents and still be unfit to command. the daring spirits of [those]: who fight for you if indulged at all times no hope remains, but by a proper restraint you have nothing to fear- I do not believe you will ever have a hostile Mexican on your soil- the present attempt may explode in discord at home before the maturity of the armiment- Still you want all the help you can get to force the treaty already begun by invassion on your part if found necessary- if you can Harmonise and avoid offending against Public feeling you are safe- you owe much to the high handed black deed of Santa Anna in creating a feel- ing in your favour and I hope will do nothing to produce a reaction- you stood on high grounds 3 months ago and it requires all the wisdom of your best men to preserve the station. Genl Chambers thinks Genl Houston is not displaced but only provisions made untill his wounds are healed- I hope this is the case- Mrs. Hollys late addition to the History of Texas is highly approved and I should say will find a brisk sale- There is so little
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