449
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
the army on Guadalupe, was taken sick in august, and confined all Sep- tember and part of Oct., and am now barely able to get about- I have just entered upon the office of secretary of state, a station which I sincerely hope .I shall be relieved from by the speedy annexation of this country to the U. S. or by some other final settlement of the affairs of Texas- My constitution and health are worn out, and I wish to nurse what little rem- nant the sixteen years of exposure and labor in this country has left me- I am truly happy to inform you that our internal affairs are getting on well- Houston has entered into the office. under favorable auspices--all party excitements have already subsided, and public opinion has settled down upon one all absorbing point, which is annexation to the United States without delay- The people, at the late general election have sanctioned this measure by almost an unanimous vote, and I think ,vill not be very tenacious, as to the mode of effecting this object, provided our equitable and just, as well as legal rights, are properly secured. Probably Mexico will not refuse to treat with the U. S. for a quit claim, or a final adjustment of limits, and thus give to Texas what she wants, without compromising her pride or prejudices by treating direct with Texas-or the same results may be attained by means of the mediation of the U. S. which Santa Anna has soiicited from Genl. .Jackson- Could not Santa Anna be used in this matter? and if he can, why not use him? I am convinced he is satisfied Mexico cannot reconquer Texas, nor retain it, and that it is the interest of Mexico lo get rid of this troublesome country as soon as possible and on the best terms she can- I believe he would act on this basis were he in a situation to do so with effect- His political position in Mexico may en- able him to do much with proper management. The men now in power I believe are his enemies and have proscribed him-Tomei-Valencia, Bravo, Canalizo, and Bustamante's friends, and some of the other generals, seem to be struggling for power, and are jealous of each other and wish Santa Anna detained here as a prisoner or shot, and would do anything they could to induce the Texans to.destroy him, at the same time keeping ·up appear- ances and opperating on the subalterns and soldiers by appeals in favor of the captive who is popular with that class- On the other hand the feder- alists are courting Santa Anna and have attempted to make overtures to him (which have not yet reached him) to use his influence in favor of that party by writing from here to his known and faithful personal friends in Mexico but it is also known that the leaders of that party are opposed to the release of Santa Anna and to his ret~rn to Mexico-- From this it appears that . both parties / ear him, and either would receive him as a leader rather than see him join the opposite side, and carry the army or a large portion of it with him, and rekindle the civil war ag~in-M~xico needs peace and a stable order of things, and the nation in mass are clamorous for it and
Powered by FlippingBook