WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
352
as to be ready for any action the government of this country may think it necessary for this country to take. When I laid your communication before General Houston, he read it, and asked me if I thought the translation correct. On my reply that I did, he evinced no excitement, but observed that, since the commencement of the Revolution in 1835, the affairs of Texas and Mexico had become much more complicated than they had been, that, sinoe then, Texas had been recognized by foreign powers as independent of all governments and had formed treaties; and, that for Texas to act independently of the con- sideration of those powers would, in his opinion, be treating them with disrespect. I endeavored to find out from him what course would be adopted in reference to your Excellency's proposition, but I could not ascertain what his purposes were, if he had any. I find that your Excellency and myself were mistaken when we suspected that Texas was·torn to pieces by factions. It is not so. The price of produce in the country is low; money is scarce in the country and there is some discontent; but that discontent, I am assured, does not arise from the acts of the government. There are some factious men in Texas, and they have some papers at their command. those papers, however, are supported by the contributions of the factions or party that wish to annoy the Executive. They are not encouraged by popular sentiment, but are used to create one, if possible, against the government. It will be impossible for them to succeed. The whole number of men; of any prominence of character, engaged in this opposition, would not exceed some thirty to thirty-five in the Republic. I would most respectfully beg leave to submit to your Excel- lency, in gratitude for your kindness to me, a few suggestions, which your Excellency can take into your distinguished considera- tion. The first is, that if your Excellency had thought proper to have released all the Texian prisoners and let them return to their homes, and declared an armistice of some months, until the people of Texas could have time to think of your propositions, if the President had submitted them to their consideration and action, it would have had a good effect upon the people. They would have been free from passion and excitement, but when almost every neighborhood has an acquaintance or friend a prisoner, the people cannot act on these subjects without much
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