WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON. 1843
389
he has conversed, that Mr. Pakenham, enjoining secrecy, had shown him a letter 4 from yourself, stating that I had written to you desiring your interference-representing that Mier prisoners had gone into th_e enemy's territory in violation of MY orders, and that I hoped that Santa Anna would show them mercy etc, and if Gen. Thompson gave these things such a coloring as repre- sented, the object is too plain. If Mr. Pakenham showed to Gen Thompson any letter, it must certainly have been shown under, as he himself declared, injunctions of secrecy, and by violating these injunctions he acted in bad faith. Again, if its facts had been as represented by Gen Thompson, they could not have pre- vented Mr. Pakenham, as a gentleman, from exercising any in- fluence in behalf of humanity; which, as an individual, he might possess. I regret that Gen Thompson has placed himself in the attitude he occupies. By his own showing he was unauthorized, ·and I much fear that neither the act nor the motives will find a justification in truth. Mr. Pakenham will certainly regard it as an act of discourtesy on the part of Gen. Thompson, if not one of faithlessness. Being fortified as I am, and being assured from your intelligence, and feelings, that you would pursue no course, but one induced by the highest principles of honor and generosity, I am very much at ease. I regret that our friends in the U. States should have any uneasjness on the Subject of Santa Anna's proposition. If we were to judge from the Newspapers, as well as from the private Correspondence which I receive, we might conclude that there was danger of my being favorable to retrocession to Mexico; and as far as the subject of Texas ·becoming a British Colony and abo- lition in Texas, and all that, they have been exclusively confined, so far as I can learn, to Galveston, and Houston. I have never understood that they have been discussed in any other sections of the Republic. So I can neither sympathize with the distresses of our friends, nor can I entertain commiseration for their ridicu- lous credulity. From our Charge d'Affaires in Europe, we have had no recent advices. I am exceedingly anxious to hear what course Her Majesty's Government has taken on the subject of the Protest, as well as the course of the French Government. I would be very happy to hear from you by every safe oppor- tunity; and if anything important, by express.
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