I would caution you against holding any correspondence ~vith th~ chiefs of Mexico or Texas, except as pointed out in the mstruct1ons you have received or may receive from the Gov~rnme_nl. ~ ou. are aware that the Mexicans have charged your soldiers with f1ghtmg the battle and defeating them at St. Jacinto. I know that there never was a more groundless charge: but it nevertheless shews the necessity of caution on your part.
Andrew Jackson
[To Edmund Gaines]
[4143) [JACKSON to HOUSTON]
Hermitage Sept 4th 1836.
Gent Sarni Houston
Commander in chief of the army of the Texean Republic
Sir,
your letter of the 9th ultimo dated at Nacogdoches (Texas) with the documents therein referred to was recd. by express on my way from Florence hither, where I reached on the 3rd instant, and hastened to acknowledge its receipt. I have duly examined the contents of your letter and the other documents referred to, and regret that, Mexico by her Minister Mr. Gorrastesa has made known to this Government, that Mexico does not, nor will not recognize any act of Gent Santa Anna, as President of Mexico, since he has been made Prisoner, and that the agreement made by him with Texas will not be recognized and agreed to by l\'lexico. you will at once see that until the Govt. de facto of Mexico, asks the friendly interposition of our good offices to put an end to the war we cannot interfere. if she does, it will give me pleasure to become the mediator between you. I shall set out in a few days for Washington, and will there make your note to me, and that of Gent St Anna, the basis of an interview with the l\'lexican Minister. In the meantime I would remark that I have seen a report that Gent St. Anna was lo be brought before a military court, to be tried and shot. nothing now could tarnish the character of Texas more than such an act at this late period. it was good policy as well as humanity that spared him. it has given you possession of Goliad and the alamo without blood or loss of the strength of your army. his person is still of much consequence lo you. he is the pride of the Mexican soldiery
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