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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1850
time, in the Fall of 1843, Texas invaded the settlement on the west side of the Rio Grande. [Underwood again offered information.] Mr. Houston. Will the Senator permit me to interrupt him? I know he wants to get at the facts, and I therefore rise occa- sionally to correct an error or to establish the truth of history. This fellow Canales was an insurrectionary chief, I believe, of no great consequence; however he resisted the Government and kept up a predatory war. Robbing from settlements in Mexico, he was driven into Texas in 1840. At that time, I was not in office; I was in private life, and had nothing to do with public affairs. The Government of Texas could not be compromitted by the agreement of any individual then in the possession of power, because no such power is delegated by the constitution, and any acts of that sort were irregular and unconstitutional. A band of men under the command of Colonel J erdan, ~ I believe, volunteered, and, uniting with Canales, marched into the interior of Mexico, or to Saltillo, I think, and there Canales and his band deserted them and endeavored to betray them into the hands of the Mexicans. However, the major part of them made their escape, and returned to Texas, disapproved and condemned by the community generally; and what agency individuals in pos- session of the Government of Texas might have had, either by connivance or participation in the act, I do not know; but I do know that it offended the moral sense of the community, and a very great number looked upon it with indignation as a wanton participation with an abandoned man in endeavoring to produce commotion in Mexico. The policy of Texas was to preserve harmony in the interior of Mexico, and keep tranquility at home, and advance her agricultural, commercial and social interests.... As early as 1835 San Patricio existed on the west of the Nueces. It was represented in the consultation of 1835, which commenced in October of that year. It was repre- sented there by Colonel Powell and Mr. McMullen. That section of country continued to be represented until the Mexicans had driven back our people and depopulated their counties, or municipalities, as they were originally called. They were repre- sented by citizens of other counties until Texas was enabled to repossess herself of that territory from which her citizens had been driven. San Patricio was settled by a colony of Irish. They were driven back during the invasion, but previous to that time they
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