[2872) [ MACOMB to CASS]
New Orleans, La. April 25, 1836. Sir: I arrived here the day before yesterday; it was not long afler my arrival that I had the honor of seeing his Excellency the Governor of the Slate and learned from him Lhat General Gaines had made a requisition on him for a brigade of volunteers, parlly to be mounted and partly on foot. This force the General deemed necessary to be employed in checking Lhe Caddo Indians, whom, he had been informed, were about entering Texas, to act against the citizens of that State under the auspices of the Mexican authorities. The Governor, examining the laws in reference to this call of General Gaines, conceived that he was not authorized by the laws of Louisiana, or those of the United States, to furnish the force called for; nor did he, from the information he had obtained, believe it necessary to send to the frontiers of the State any troops, as the counlry was not invaded, nor likely, in his opinion, to be invaded; and further, was impressed wilh the belief that it was a scheme of those interested in the Texian speculations, who had been instrumental in making General Gaines believe that the Mexican authorilies were tampering with the Indians within our boundaries, and at the same time exciting, by false representations here, the sympathies of Lhe people in favor of the Texians, with a view of inducing the authorities of the United States to lend their aid in raising in this city a force composed of interested persons, which force should move to the Texian frontiers, under the call of General Gaines, and afterwards, under false pretensions, actually march into Texas and take part in the war now raging between the Texians and the Government of Mexico; and all this at the expense of the United States, and consequently with the implied sanction of the Government. Thus giving to the people of Texas the hope of relying on the Government of the United States for their protcclion and support, and to the Government of Mexico a positive evidence Lhat the Unilcd States were actually engaged, contrary to the treaty slipulations, in a war against that Governmenl. If I undersland the instruclions of General Gaines, as communicated to him before l left Washington, it was his duty to see that the treaty stipulations with Mexico were fulfilled; and
77
Powered by FlippingBook