[1369] [DIMITT to -----]
Fort Goliad December 2, 1835
[Dear Sir:]
If this (the expedition to Matamoros) or some other movement like this, is not adopted, which will enable us to hurl the thunder back in the very atmosphere of the enemy, drag him, and with him the war out of Texas, her resources and her blood must continue to flow, from the centre lo the frontier. If this is done, the paralyzing effects, and the immediate calamities of war, will be greatly mitigated. The revenue of the port of Matamoros, now applied to support an unprovoked, unnatural, and unjust war against us, would then be used in defraying the expense of the war against him. This, even under a bad and corrupt administration, is said to amount on an average, to ·s100,000 per month. Taken from the enemy and used by us, this would be a difference of $200,000 per month, in the relative means of the belligerants, in prosecuting the war. IL is like taking a weight from one scale, and putting it in the opposite. Two of equal gravity with the one removed, one then required to restore the equilibrium. Again, the adoption, and impetuous executions, of the plan here proposed might enable us to barter the war off, for a speedy and honorable peace. The enemy, when he found it visited upon his own head, and saw the lightning at a distance, might adopt effectual measures to protect himself against its consuming progress, by offering a compromise, on our own terms. And should he not do this, the presence of a victorious force in Matamoros, having general Zavala for a nominal leader, and a counter revolutionzing flag, the liberal of all classes would immediately join us, the neutral would gather confidence, both in themselves and us, and the parasites of centralism, in that section, would be effectually panic-struck and paralyzed. In this way, a very respectable army might be immediately organized there, principally of materials to commence active operations on the interior. This would be putting the war in the hands of its lawful and proper owners; for this war is not ours, although we have been compelled, in self defence, lo become a party lo it. We have neither provoked, nor yet given cause for extending it to Texas. It
77
Powered by FlippingBook