country money cannot be raised Jf so then we will have lo rely on ourselves at home & our individual friends abroad for ncgocialing & protecting the cause of Texas to be able lo do this the people of the country must take their business in their own hands & 11ot trust it to would be great men & use the greatest economy hy doing this money can be raised without it all must do down Your obl scrts l\'lcKinney & Williams [1917) [MONASTERIO to BUTLER] Palace of the National Government, Mexico, January 25, 1836. The undersigned, principal officer charged with the direction of the Department of Foreign Affairs, had the honor to receive the note from Mr. Anthony Butler, dated the 29th December last, in which he is pleased to ask for information respecting the causes for the execution of thirteen persons, who were citizens of the United Stales of America, al Tampico; and in reply, he has orders from his excellency the President ad interim lo slate to Mr. Butler, that the crime which led those unfortunate individuals to that punishment was the invasion of the national territory committed by them, under the orders of the traitor Jose Antonio Mexia, and the attack made by them as an armed force upon the town of Tampico, in which action they were made prisoners in company with others of their companions, who suffered the same punishment. In order to submit them to the proper trial, it was declared that their aggression was an act of piracy, as those adventurers belonged to no nation with whom the republic was at war, and fought under no acknowledged flag. The authorities which tried them did nothing more than subject them to the rigor of the laws, observing all the proceedings prescribed by them with respect to those who venture to offend the sovereignty of the nation. The undersigned renews on this occasion, &c. Jose .Maria Ortiz Monasterio. To Anthony Butler, Charge d'Affaires, &c. [Endorsed by Anthony Butler:] They were not made prisoners in
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