WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
301
of the South, Mr. Clay is of the West, and Mr. Van Buren and Mr. Webster are of the North. "Annexation" is to be a question with the political parties and aspirants in the United States. My own opinion is, that both the parties will advocate the policy. To defeat this policy, it is only necessary for Lord Aberdeen to say to Santa Anna: "Sir, Mexico must recognize the independence of Texas." Santa Anna would be glad of such a pretext. He could then say to the Mexi- cans: "You see how I am situated; and I cannot go to war with England, our best friend, with a probability of war with the United States and France." This state of things would be desirable with him, in my opinion, as it would leave him free to establish his power and a dynasty. The Texian subject has answered the use of "a tub for a whale" long enough, and he would like to get rid of all external troubles; but for this end he requires a pretext, as he has incurred so many voluntary committals that to get out of difficulty he must seem to act under constraint. This he could render as satisfactory reason to the people, and even acquire favor by the course. In all these matters I may be mistaken, but I am honest in my convictions that Texas and England would both be beneficiaries by this course. Time will tell the tale. It rejoiced me to learn the perfect success of her Majesty's arms in the Celestial Empire ; 3 and my gratification was increased from the fact that it was done, or attained by adopting and pur- suing the plan suggested by you:' Add to this the admission of the fact by the Ministry, and I as.sure you that you have ample cause of gratulation, to which permit me to contribute my mite of sincere pleasure. I hope you will live long to enjoy increased honors. It would afford me much pleasure to see you here and confer with you on some matters which, to Texas, are important and not unconnected with your mission. The crisis to which you allude, I do not fully comprehend; but when we meet I shall soon do so. Poor Texas suffers at every pore, and bleeds at the core. How easy it would be for Texas to recover, if she could only have one sound practical physician. The steam practice has been tried without success. She has had all the benefits of sweats and large doses of lobelia, both of which only leave the patient more and more exhausted and still opposed to tonics. You can have no competent idea of the opposition which has been arrayed against me in Congress. The manner in which I sustained myself will be disclosed at some future day. The day's
Powered by FlippingBook