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401
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1841
of Mexico herself to solicit friendly relations, the present Execu- tive of Texas will neither incur the expense nor risk the degrada- tion of further advances. Aware of the Mexican character, and believing as I always have that Mexico is and will remain unable to invade us with any hope of success, I would recommend the kindest treatment of her citizens;- so far, at least, as they might be disposed to engage in commerce with ours. But in every in- stance where they shall enter our territory with inimical or hostile intentions they should be treated as common enemies. I believe that any interference with the revolutions and distractions of Mexico, is not only incompatible with the dignity and interests of Texas, but directly calculated to exasperate our national enemy, while it weakens our resources, by sacrificing those of our citi- zens who may engage in their partizan quarrels, to their pro- verbial perfidy and to certain destruction. This is demonstrated by the issue of every enterprise of the kind, in which our country- men have been participants. The feuds and contests, which have arisen and may continue to arise, have for their object personal aggrandizement, the leaders in which are better entitled to the appellation of bandits than of either patriots or statesmen. These individuals have no exalted principles of action, and should re- ceive no encouragement from us. The Executive, therefore, should be fully empowered to arrest and prevent the predatory warfare occasionally carried on within our territories to the injury of our Western settlers. It is my desire that this government should assume a station in relation to this subject, not inconsistent with national respect- ability and conducive to our best interests. Mexico has more to lose in a contest with Texas than Texas has with Mexico. Her civil commotions will exhaust her resources and diminish her means of aggression; while emigration to Texas will give us population and resources- and they will give us power to resist aggression. Our Indian relations are far from being satisfactory. For years large appropriations have been made by Congress for the defence of the frontiers. With what success they have been employed, the whole country is familiar. The measures adopted under the late administration were directly at variance with those recommended by the first constitutional Executive. On the safety and security of our frontier settlements materially depend the increase of emigration, the extension of our limits, and the gen- eral quietude and prosperity of all our citizens. It is therefore
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