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dejando inlerinamente el mando del ejercito al Sr. general D. Juan Amador. - Reproduzco a V. E. las demostraciones de mi consideracion y afecto - Dios y libertacl. Mexico agosto 26 de 1836. - Tomei - Ecsmo. Sr. general D. Jose Urrea, en gefe interino de! ejereito de operaciones. [4094] [MORFIT to FORSYTH) Near the Rio Brazos, August 27, 1836. Sir: The boundaries claimed by Texas, since the repudiation of the treaty with Santa Anna, will extend from the mouth of Rio Grande on the east side, up to its head waters; thence on a line due north until it intersects that of the United Stales, and with that line to the Red river, or the northern boundary of the United States; thence to the Sabine, and along that river to its mouth; and from that point westwarclly with the Gulf of Mexico lo the Rio Grande. It was the intention of this Government, immediately after the battle of San Jacinto, to have claimed from the Rio Grande along the river to the thirtieth degree of latitude, and thence due west to the Pacific. It was found, however, that this would not strike a convenient point on the California; that it would be difficult lo control a wandering population so distant; and that the territory now determined upon would be sufficient for a young republic. Some speculative plans were laid for extending the commerce of the United States when those limits were first proposed. In New Orleans it was said, that as steamboats could go to Natchitoches, a railroad should be constructed from that place, through a gorge in the southern Rocky mountains, and thence to the Gulf of California, so as to give the western States access lo the East Indian, Peruvian, and Chilian trade, which would set competition by all other countries at defiance. The merchants at the north argued that the Rio del Norte could be ascended by steamboats nearly seven hundred miles, which would be within a short distance of the Colorado of the west, a river that empties into the Gulf of California; and that thus, in a short period of time, a communication would be opened to India, and the route there and Lo the western coast of South America be shortened
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