439
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
says he never has seen any grass half so valuable for a pasture- Do not neglect this-set Austin and Joel or the children to gathering the seed Gen Jackson has answered Santanna's letter of 4 July in a very friendly manner-he has made it the basis of an offer of mediation with Mexico and open.d a correspondence with the Mexican Minister at Washington Those who cursed and were for hanging me for going to see Santana at all, or getting him to write to Jackson, now say that I was right,-that measure then so bad, is now looked to as one of the best modes of bringing about a peace Gen. Houston's ideas as to santana agree very much with mine. I have full confidence that all will go right-and that by next March we shall belong lo the U. S. I wish to take the trip to Washington-but who can I trust to close the land business? If -Williams and McKinney failed me in my absence and forgeting their duty lo their country became wild and gambling land jobbers-who can I trust? I know of no one but Gail Borden He can be trusted, for he is conscienciously an honest man, but if he refused to chime in with the views of speculators they would seek some way to ruin him- My confidence in mankind is so destroyed by W. and McK. in whom I had unbounded confidence that I am fast falling or have fallen into the opposite extreme to the principle that always gov- erned me- I once believed all men honest untill the reverse appeared- ! now think all the reverse untill I see them tryed- Love to Emily and all s. F. AUSTIN Columbia July [October J 25. 1836-- [Addressed:] Mr James F. _Perry Peach point Simon
FAIRFAX CATLETT TO AUSTIN
[Columbia, October 27, 1836. See Calendar.]
WILLIAM B. LEWIS TO [AUSTIN?]
(Duplicate) MY DR. SIR,
Washington 27: Oct. 1836.
In my last letter to you I remarked that possibly a state of things might arise which would make it sound policy to liberate Santa Anna. It strikes me that the period has arrived,. and that such a state of things now exists. Bustarnenta, the enemy of the President of Mexico, it is said has returned to that country and will endeavour, no doubt, to place himself at the head of the Government, if he is not already at its head. Now Sir, under sucn circumstances, would it not be the interest of Texas to turn Santa Anna loose upon those gentry who have possessed themselves of his place and the power of the Government to make War upon Texas? It strikes me so at
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