[3513] [RUSK to BURNET)
Head Quarters Victoria 24th June 1836
His Excellency D G Burnell Dear Sir
Your communication to me of the l 2th June by Col Wharton has been received information whjch I have communicated to you a few days since will convince you of the necessiLy which I was under of retaining here all the force possible as well as of ordering back one hundred and eighty of my best horsemen which I had previously ordered to join GenJ Green. The correctness of lhe motives of the Cabinet in their negotiations with Santa Anna I have never impugned and that it was a mistaken policy I presume the Cabinet are now so well convinced that no question remains on that point for at the very moment of negotiations with him the Mexican nation were straining every nerv to exterminate us from the Soil we occupy and doing all they could to conceal their designs from us while they fondly hoped we were making no exertions to meet them and trusting to the fulfilment of a Treaty which they intended to disregard however much I may regret the fact that it has been as it seems lo have been thought proper Lo charge me with a disregard of Law and an inordinate ambition for military Fame I as in duty bound cannot give it my attention now as I have more weighty duties to attend to al present than anything which apperlains to myself I trust the "error and its location" has been clearly discovered and that Cabinet people and Army will act in perfect concert to repel a much larger and better appointed invading foe than we have yet had to Contend with 1 again assure the Cabinet that I have not an unkind feeling for one of them but in reviewing my past correspondence I feel that I have discharged my duty in warning all of the extent of confidence we ought to place in Treating with our enemy and urging as far as I could an active and energclick preparation to meet the very Crisis which now exists. I have and am using every excution to drive back the Cattle and send off the Families this Country clear of cattle and Spies and an Army well supplied on the Colorado this issue wiU be then fairly made up. I have the honor to be with great respect your obedient Servant Thomas J Rusk I trust the Steam Boats will be sent round lo me al Coxes point with Medicines sugar coffee &c
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