WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
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to advance upon Mexico. Accordingly such measures as the Ex- ecutive was authorized to sanction, with a view to the expecta- tions thus excited, were cheerfully adopted. · In order to arrive [at] some conclusion upon the facts which were daily developing, satisfactory to the country in its present condition, the Honorable Congress was convened, as well as to give their sanction to the course to be pursued and to raise the necessary means, for the prosecution of offensive operations, in the event that such should be their decision. In arriving at the conclusion to invade Mexico, many difficulties and embarrassments were presented, which, to my comprehension, still exist. If Mexico is invaded, it must be by a force, whose term of service will not be less than one year and whose numbers should not be less than five thousand men. If volunteers for less term of service than one year, or during the war, should be employed they would not be able to achieve any object of importance. Six months would be necessary to perfect them in the manual exer- cise, the drill and the duties of the camp. No time would be afforded for operations against the enemy. As soon as the time for which they were engaged would expire, if they were not dis- charged, discontent and mutiny would arise; with a breaking up to finish the catastrophe. Five thousand men returning to the settlements of Texas, disorganized and exasperated, would be more formidable than four times their number of the enemy invading us. If the country is once entered, with a view to extort the recog- nition of our independence; we must not for a moment abandon our object; for if we should surrender any advantage, upon a second attempt we should find increased difficulties and a disposi- tion against us on the part of our enemy of the most desperate and determined character, arising from various causes. The place of volunteers would have to be supplied by drafted militia, with whom discontent might very reasonably be expected, if any attempt should be made to detain them for a longer time than six months,-if they would, indeed, be willing to submit to the call for an offensive war beyond the limits of the Republic for even that time. In the prosecution of an offensive war there should be no question as to the right of the government to com- mand the services of its citizens. Unfortunately, at the very outset, the question arises: Has the Congress the power, by the constitution, to order a draft, and compel the citizens of the Republic to march beyond our limits in a war of invasion? If
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