WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
158
they are Mexicans and foreigners, they are our enemies. You must adopt such measures within your own sound discretion as will protect the country and its citizens against any bad effects which might arise from their congregation at that place. The number of sixty Mexicans or upwards, well-armed, mounted, and equipped and unknown to the community, making their advent within our frontier at this time is very well calculated to create distrust, and should claim the attention of the authorities. What would be the situation of Texian citizens in Mexico under similar circumstances? The question arises, what ought to be the situa- tion of Mexicans in Texas? You are, therefore, fully authorized to institute such inquiries into their circumstances as your dis- cretion may suggest to you. If they cannot account to you sat- isfactorily for their appearance and for everything connected with them, you will adopt and enforce such measures as the emergency may seem to demand. Upon contingences of this kind some one must act. Congress refused to invest the President with power to put down sedition, or even to say what should con- stitute the offense, and I am informed that there are some of your citizens who are, in violation _of all duty to the country, espous- ing the cause of these suspicious persons; and some declare that if a Mexican force should advance, they will take protection under the auspices of that Government. If you should deem it necessary, you are invested with power to proclaim martial law, and under it to perform such acts as the emergencies of the country may demand of you. I will rely upon you. Or, should you accept the situation which I have recently tendered you in the Cabinet, you will invest your brother, or Major Murphree, or both of them, in the event of your absence, to exercise the same powers which are delegated to you. Sam Houston [Rubric] "'Houston's Private Executive Record Book," pp. 319-320, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. For Clark L. Owen, see Volume III, 16, also Houston to Owen, January 25, 1843, this volume·.
To ISAAC VAN ZANDT 1
Washington, Texas, 13th Feby. 1843.
My Dear Sir: If it is consistent with the views of the President of the U[nited] States to appoint a Consul for the city of Sabine or the Port at the Pass of Sabine, I will be grate- ful that it should be done. For the want of some arrangements
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