WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1853
422
frontier of more than six hundred miles. The authoi·ities of Mexico sent their cavalry to take this from Gonzales, a place imminent in its exposure to hostile invasion. The Mexicans, when they demanded it, were told to come and take it. They attempted it, and were repulsed, but no lives were lost. They returned to Bexar, and there fortified themselves and denounced war. Two hundred men attacked eleven hundred of them in their fortress, took it, let them march out with the honors of war, gave them their arms, and let them return to Mexico. This it was hoped had terminated the difficulty. But by the ensuing spring, Santa Anna, Dictator of Mexico, and prospective emperor of that rich and beautiful realm, advanced upon Texas with the best appointed army, perhaps, that had ever pressed the earth of America with its tread. It was well munitioned, appointed, and disciplined. The most of the soldiers were vet- eran troops. The whole population of Texas at that time was small. If it exceeded fifteen thousand it was wonderful ; yet Santa Anna advanced upon them. He besieged the fortress at Bexar. He took it, and massacred every man in it. Then it was that some of the citizens of the United States rallied in numbers to assist Texas engaged in actual revolution, for she had then been a year in the revolution when she fled to us. The men at Goliad were captured by Urrea, the General of Santa Anna, and after the capitulation, barbarously slaughtered. There the faith of nations, and the rules .of war were defined, and the act was done in derision of the civilization of the nineteenth century. Was there then a voice heard in this Chamber advocating or introducing a resolution in vindication of the rights of Texas? Not one voice was heard at that time. Those gallant spirits who fell in hecatombs, with their footsteps almost on American soil, were hardly washed out or obliterated ; yet this nation was not convulsed. We heard of no sympathetic throb issuing from these Chambers, no indignant voice raised in denunciation of the barbarity committed towards Texas. Did Texas ever com- plain to this Government? From 1836 to 1843, did she ever remonstrate to this Government? In 1843, when she did remon- strate, what was it? She said to the three great Powers of the earth, to France, England, and the United States, "We ask no assistance, we invoke the invasion of our enemies, and upon a well-arranged and well-fought field, we will chance our liberty; but compel our adversary to the rules of civilized warfare." That
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