300
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
her Majesty's Minister at Mexico and, bad as matters are, make this 'representation. It is true the men went without orders ; 2 and so far as that was concerned, the Government of Texas was not responsible; and the men thereby placed themselves out of the protection of the rules of war. .This much is granted. But the Mexican officers, by pro- posing terms of capitulation to the men, relieved them from the responsibility which they had incurred; and the moment that the men surrendered in accordance with the proposals of capitulation, they became prisoners of war, and "".ere entitled to all immunities as such. Upon this view of the subject, I base my hopes of their salvation, if it should be speedily presented through the agency of her Majesty's Minister to the Mexican Government. Should it be proper to do so, I feel assured that your kind offices will not be wanting in an early application upon this sub- ject. This view of the subject seems to me the only feasible one which has presented itself to my mind. There is a subject now mooting in Texas, which, it seems to me, will appeal directly to Her Majesty's Government: I mean the subject of "annexation to the United States." Some of our journals are much in favor of the measure. The Eastern portion of Texas contains but few dissenting voices to the measure. I find, from the incertitude of our position, that nine-tenths of those who converse with me, are in favor of the measure upon the ground that it will give us peace. Upon this point of our national existence, I feel well satisfied that England has the power to rule. At this time the measure has an advocacy in the United States which has at no former period existed. From the most authentic sources, I have received an appeal on this subject, and my cooperation solicited in producing the result of annexation. It is a political question in the United States as well as a sectional one. I take it that it is a measure of the Democratic party. The South is in favor of it for various reasons. The West and North · West because of a monopoly of the trade of Santa Fe and the Californias. The "Yankees" will not be blind to the trade which such an union will open to them in disposing of their manufac- tures. The relations which such an union would create in the Pacific and then the Bay of San Francisco in connexion with the extension of the Oregon settlements. If I am not mistaken, I think you will readily perceive that the probabilities of the measure succeeding in the United States are greater than they have been at any former period. Mr. Tyler is
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