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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
appointment Genl. Bustamente was at the head of the Government, and my mission was to him. On my arrival at Orleans I found General Santa Anna was ad interirn President, and of course had to proceed. I was on the point of writing him a private letter, saying, that if my visit was at an unpropitious moment I would withdraw, and await either General Bustamente's return, or General Santa Anna's firm seat in the chair - but our Papers have no secrets you know, and I felt bound to proceed - not that there was any real objec- tion in at once approaching Santa Anna, but I felt that any step he took towards Texas would be looked upon with a suspicious eye, tho' you know .as well as I do, that he is entirely untrammelled. Texas, in releasing General Santa Anna, ,vas governed alike by high feeling, and political wisdom - he was left to pursue his own sentiments, we not doubting they would naturally lean towards us·- as no man knows so well the utter hopelessness (except at ?. cost infinitely beyond its v.alue) of attenpting to re-conquest 'Jf that country. General Santa Anna therefore can with perfect propriety take his position precisely, as tho' General Bustamente or General Victoria were in the chair; but I am sensible that his Enemies may make a different interpretation, as General Victoria has this day told me, the acknowledgment of Texas is utterly out of the question, even tho' England, France and Spain were to intercede. It would be worse than useless for me to open my views to General Victoria, as anything short of a definite boundary between us would be alike p·rofitless and unwise. I do not hesitate in saying to you however, to attain this we would most cheerfully make l\Iexico ample compensation, and enter into a peace not likely to be interrupted, for our interests, religion and habits are so -variant, that there could be no cause for collision. I need not ask of what earthly use would Texas be to l\Iexico, occupied by Jndians until the Americans were admitted - she afforded no revenue, and from that time to this has only been a source of annoyance and expense, restored to you to-morrow you would never occupy it, for you have more land than your People want and of better soil and a more heavenly climate. It would seem then that it would be the part of wisdom to dispose of it - who would pur- chase? not England, for it is valuless except as a Slave country- not the United States, for she would not accept it_ when tendered- why not then let ws, who are in possession, and who to dispossess would cost you countless treasures and rivers of blood - why not I ask let us enjoy it --, who are willing to compensate you and be on terms the most conciliatory with a people against whom as such we have not an unkind sentiment - but I am addressing an Individual, and not .a member of the Government. · I am aware my vis.it to your shores perhaps ought to have been preceded by some intimation to your government of our views. \Ve had at one time thought of approaching you through the medium of the United States, but we knew not :}"our relations with that govern- ment , and the President with the fran½ness peculiar to him, said "we will at once tender the Oli-ve br.anch to the mother country,
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