WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
131
for the consideration of the Senate of the United States. As I have said, it was done in all good faith, believing that it was a subject to which the attention of the nation ought to be called, both in justice to its relations to, and the distraced condition of Mexico. It has met with disfavor in this body, I grant you, for which I have no reflections to make; but that does not impair my opinion as to the necessity of a protectorate, or at least of scme action on the part of this Government. Mr. President, we are apprised of the fact that persons are now making incursions into the Republic of Mexico, which, in its defenseless situation, that nation is unable to repel them. Depre- dations, violence, and wrong, will pervade the whole frontier, unless some interposition is had. Even the moral effect of tak- ing the subject under consideration by this body would deter ad- venturers from going to prey on Mexico. If it were known that the eye of the United States was placed on them, persons would abstain, who would be stimulated, to aggression if you withhold all expressions of opinion that it is necessary for the United States to look to that country. If you do nothing, the tendency will be to encourage more adventurers in continual entergrises of wrong and robbery upon the inhabitants. Moreover, it is impossible to restrain the Indians frow attacking the defenseless Mexicans; and, when you superadd the marauding parties actually invading that country, what must their condition be? It was sufficiently deplorable before, but now it is rendered intolerable. Mr. President, if you do not take it into consideration, and refer the subject for investigation, to have it looked into and reported upon by a committee of this body, or by some branch of this Government, you may rely upon it that things will become worse from day to day; and not only that, but if this nation, to whom the proposition has been presented in all good faith and sincerity, does not think proper to act in the matter, men who may have power to accomplish something, feeling stimulated by motives of humanity, may undertake such an enterprise, the necessity of which they will deprecate if the Government would only consider it in a proper point of view. I should not feel myself restrained at any age to interpose in behalf of humanity, and to arrest the cruelties on, and to stop the murders of, a defense- less people. It is a duty to humanity; and if this nation will not exercise the functions of fraternity to a neighboring nation to whom they are under treaty obligations, and individuals should step forth who are willing to give their lives and their blood to
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