45
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON,. 1848
to personal ambition. Elections appropriately belong to the peo- ple. Their intelligence enables them to bestow their suffrages aright. The present is a subject in which the whole nation is either to be benefited or involved. It is a national interest, and rises far above all the influences of party. I trust we shall never be so chained down to party that we cannot legislate for the whole American people. Ill-fated would we be, if we could not avoid the influence of cliques, and legislate independently for the whole community, and, rising above every consideration which is un- worthy of a proud mind, never stoop; but making rectitude our standard, be governed by intelligence and patriotism. '\Ve should proceed boldly, firmly, and promptly, until we had relieved the people of Yucatan from their fearful adversaries. Our aid could then be withdrawn from that country, after making such regula- tions and securing such commercial privileges as would repay us for the benefits which we had conferred upon them. I would not desire to act either upon the principle of annexation or absorp- tion; but I would have a just care for our interests. The Balize is already in possession of England. It is a portion of the penin- sula of Yucatan. I do not see any possible objection which can arise on the part of any government to the course suggested. Mexico cannot object, for if it be integral part of that Republic, it must acknowledge itself to be under obligations to us for defend- ing a portion of their country which they cannot protect. They have been careful to petition the United States to prevent the Comanches from depredating upon their northern borders. If it be a matter of favor to them that they should be protected upon the north, why not protect them in the south against the Indians of Yucatan? I remember as far back as 1832, a treaty existed between the United States and Mexico, in which the former en- gaged to restrain her Indians from incursions into Mexico; and I well recollect an unfortunate circumstance which was most calamitous to that country, which has but recently been a portion of Mexico. Every Texian will sympathize most feelingly with Yucatan in her present misfortune; for, during the existence of the treaty to which I refer, and subsequent to the declaration of Texian Independence, while the benefits of the treaty still inured to her, the Government of the United States was wofully delin- quent in performing, on her part, the obligations which that treaty imposed upon her. It was an obligation of the treaty, devolving upon the United States to restrain their Indians from incursions into the territory of Mexico. Instead of discharging her duty, a treaty was negotiated by this Government with the
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