more lhan one-half. All lhese calculaLions were of course made in good failh wilh regard Lo Lhe terriLorial rights of Mexico, as they were only upon the hypothesis Lhat she would acknowledge the independence of Texas, and give the Americans a right of transit through her limits. I am informed by the Executive, that when the treaty with Santa Anna was under consideration, he staLe<l that it would be better to leave thaL question open for adjustment in the city of Mexico, as the influence of his party and his own representations about the Texan force would enable him to meet the wishes of this Government on the subject, with more certainty and ease than if the boundaries were abruptly fixed without such previous arrangement. The Rio Grande was, nevertheless, made the western ljne by implication, as the third article of the agreement stipulates that the Mexican troops should evacuate the territory of Texas, passing to the other side of the Rio Grande clel Norte. The boundaries, as I have first described them, seem to be those which will be insisLecl upon in any fuLure negotiation. The poliLical limits of Texas proper, previous Lo the last revolution, were, the Nueces river on the west; along the Reel river on the north; Lhe Sabine on the east; and the Gulf of Mexico on the south. The population within that territory is said to have been 70,000; but from all thaL I can learn, iL should be estimated at about 50,000, or less. The races consist of Anglo-American, Mexican natives, aborigines, and negroes. Of these, there are, perhaps, 30,000 Anglo-American settlers, distributed principally between the Nueces river and the Sabine, and on Lhe Trinidad, Colorado, and Brazos rivers; about four or five Lhousancl of the men of this population still remain at home, aLtending to their farms. There are 3.500 native Mexicans, of Spanish descent, all interc·sLccl in thr. cause of Texas. Of these, there are in the neighborhood of Nacogdoches, 800 souls. In San Antonio de Bexar .. . ........... . 2,000 In Victoria ........ ... ..... . ...........120 In San Patricio ..... . ....................50 In La Bahia . ........... . ...............500 The aboriuines amount to about 12,000; of whom there 0 arc 400 souls, or 150 warriors, of the Whaco tribe, who have a
335
Powered by FlippingBook