WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
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the government of Texas. Without the privity or knowledge of the government of Texas, he opened a correspondence with the Governor of Yucatan, and pledged the vessels of Texas, to the Governor on certain conditions for a certain contingent period. He wrote a letter to the Governor from New Orleans, on the 17th of January, 1843, after he had received order upon order to return to the harbor of Galveston, in which he said: "No. 79. 8 Texas Sloop of War, Austin, "New Orleans, January 17, 1843. "His Excellency the Governor of Yucatan: "Sir: By the schooner "Two Sons," which sails this evening, and which I have obtained for the express purpose, you will receive this communication through the hands of Mr. McDonald. · "In the latter part of August last, I dispatched the schooner of war San Antonio to Yucatan, with letters to his Excellency, Governor Mendez, containing certain propositions on my part, the tenor of which were, that if the government of Yucatan would send to me the sum of $20,000 to fit the vessels under my command for sea, I would pledge myself to sail forthwith for your coast and protect it from the invading force of the Gov- ernment of Santa Anna. Unfortunately the San Antonio was lost in the heavy and disastrous gale that swept our Gulf in the early part of September, and has never been heard of, con- sequently my communications to your Government were never received; had they been received and acceded to, I am confident that your commerce, your coast, and your towns would have been unmolested, and your country in a ripe and flourishing condition. "The government of Texas has furnished all the means it has at command for the purpose of getting her vessels to sea, and it is not sufficient. The object in sending this communication to you now, in this manner, is to renew these propositions, which, if assented to, will certainly be highly beneficial to both Yucatan and Texas." Thus it seems that all his care was for Yucatan, regardless of the commerce of Texas, and of the condition of her coast. He passed by the ports of the enemy, and went to succor Yucatan. Sir, during the three years which he boasts he was on the ocean, he never rendered one day's service to T'exas. The Santa Fe expedition provoked an invasion of Texas by land, in March,
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