480
TEXAS.STATE LIBRARY
negotiation with Mexico herself- Hence the disposition I mani- fested to concilliate by opening a commercial intercourse with the Northern provinces- Hence the forbearance I exercised when invited to make common cause with the Federal party, while assured of the acknowledgement of our independence in the event of the suc:cess of that party-and Hence my exertions to gain strength and character abroad by obtaining the recognition of foreign powers, knowing the influence that such strength and character would necessarily Wield in our negotiations with our enemy- Much of my subsidiary policy has already succeeded to the full extent of my expectations,- It is now exercising its influence in the way I had anticipated, & I confidently believe that through it, the great end and aim of my ambition, the establishment of peace, upon a secure, firm & permanent basis, founded in strict justice to ourselves, will be accomplished in the short term which has yet to transpire previous to my retiring from the administra- tion of your political affairs- There was another measure Gentlemen which I have at all times been ardently desirous of carrying out, & which I am happy to say is now in a fair train of consummation-- I have ever looked upon this portion of the country as being the natural mart & outlet for the rich trade .of Santa fe- Chihuahua & other towns contiguouB to the Rio Grande, ,& I have believed that it required nothing to secure it but the exercise ·of a judicious policy in opening & establishing a friendly, political, & •commercial intercourse with the people of Santa Ee, who being within ·our Territorial limits, it is believed, would easily be brought to form a ;portion of our nation, in sentiment, in feeling, & in interest- The :attainment of this great object however, I have been compell'd to post- pone from time to time untill recently on account of the pecuniary & other embarrassments under which we hav~ labor'd; but regarding it as I have always done, as fraught with such essential benefits to the country, I should not feel satisfied with the discharge of the trust which has been confided to me, if I could not, when I came to relinquish that trust, say to my fellow Citizens, that I had done all my power to ac- complish it- It is therefore Gentn. that the expedition whieh is now on its rout to Santa fe was gotten up, amid difficulties which at times seemed almost insurmountable & which required the stron [gest deter- min] ation & perseverance to surmount; but I confidently belien as I sincerely hope, that its results will more than compensate in a tenfold degree all the trouble & perplexity which its preparation & prosecution will cost~ [Endorsed] Lamars Speech defending his policy in answer to expressions of approbation from his countrymen. No. 1961 {c. 1840?], R. C. CAMEBELL, HOUSTON, TEXAS, TO M[IRA- BEAUJ B[UONAPARTEJ LAMAR, AUSTIN, [TEXAS] Requesting Lamar to rescind the sale and purchase of a house and lot in Houston. A. L. S. 2 p.
Powered by FlippingBook