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THE AUSTIN PAPERS
Pecos, to its head, including in Texas all its valley on both sides, and thence to the U. S. line at the head of Arkansas River so as to include in Texas, all the valley and waters of the Nueces and Puerco, and all the waters of the Guadalupe, Colorado, Brazos, and all Red River and all t_he waters of the south side of Arkansas river west of Longitude one hundred (which is the De Onis line) between Red and Arkansas rivers. Or in other words make the ridge of high land the line which divides the waters of the Nueces and Puerco from those of the Bravo, following said ridge or mo~ntain above the head of Puerco to the head of Arkansas- I me~tion this line, only in the event of there being serious embarrassments to the Bravo as the line, as there may be, on account of dividing the populated parts of Tam- maulipas and Coahuila low down, and Chihuahua and New Mexico high up- The other line will take no mexican population except what be- longs to Texas, proper, such as, Bexar, Goliad, etc Money should be no object with the U. S. in this matter and it is an object with Mexico. Also the U. S. might stipulate to keep the Comanche Indians quiet, who are dessolating the state or province of Chihuahua- The people of that coun- try would if they could, ask the protection of the U. S. for their own Govt cannot protect them and they are in danger of total annihilation by the Comanches and Apaches A stipulation to keep those Indians quiet would be popular in mexico and in conjunction with money satisfy -them for Texas-- ' Where the interests of all parties demand peace, as is the case with the Texas question, I cannot see why it should be delayed- I am informed from a source on which I rely that Tomei the minister of war of mexico has said that Texas was lost and that the Govt. so viewed it- Pride and remuneration for past losses, are all -the stumbling blocks-a treaty with the U. S. Satisfies the first,-and a few millions the other- I recommend this subject to you and hope you will do all you can to procure annexation to the U. S. without delay Remember me to cousin Julia and all your family s. F. AUSTI:i A copy M Austin Bryan P. S. I think no time should be lost in terminating the question of an• nexation. Public opinion is now in favor of the measure but if it is not done by 4 march next, no calculations can be made as to· the consent of Texas, for the reason that new and other views, will of necessity, govern the policy and course of Texas- In short we cannot remain in suspense longer than March, and if the question of annexation is not settled by that time we shall be compelled to go to work on the basis of a separate and
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