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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
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in preventing the interposition of any impediment to the removal of the archives to this place in obedience to the orders of the Ex- ecutive. I regard the archives of the Senate, in cases of en1er- gency, as under your care; an'd, of course, under your control until they reach the point of safety which may have been des- ignated. Sam Houston [Rubric] lThe original lette1· is the property of Miss Emma Burleson, Austin, Texas. Copies are to be found: A photostat of the original in The Uni- versit~, of Texas Library; "Messages of the Presidents," Congrcssioncil Papers; also Execut.ive Record Book, No. 40, p. 63, Texas State Library. ~It appears that there may be some omission here, but this copy checks accurately with the source.
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A PROCLAMATION TO ALL TEXANS 1
Executive Department, City of Houston, April 14th 1842. My Countrymen: Repeated aggressions upon our liberties- the late insult offered by a Mexican force advancing upon Bexar -and the perfidy and cruelty exercised towards the Santa Fe prisoners, all demand of us to assume a new attitude-to re- taliate our injuries and to secure our independence. In adopting the course which we must pursue, neither passion nor prejudice has been cast into the scale. Reason urged by ne- cessity and sanctioned by patriotism, induces its adoption. We have sought to avoid war, because we have experienced its calam- ities. We have desired peace, because its influences are mild and beneficial. We wish to become husbandmen and farmers, and were not emulous of warlike distinction. Our desires, however, have been set at naught, and we are enforced to the execution of our purposes. Until the late events alluded to, a partial peace had existed for the last six years. We had hoped that the reasonableness and justice of our cause, had or would soon convince Mexico, that a war conducted by her would be unjust to Texas whilst it would operate to her own prejudice. She is however deaf to reason and will not be instructed by experience. We had hoped that her unfounded prejudices and national animosity towards the Anglo- American race would have died away. Her vanity knows no bounds, and her stupidity can only be corrected by inflicting upon her tyrannic rulers the severest punishment.
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