WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 18-13
182
Adverting to our belligerent attitude with Mexico and your suggestions on that subject, I do not hesitate to assure you that so far as it has been possible, I have entertained and rendered great deference to any action which the United States, or the friendly powers of Europe have been disposed to take; and everything that can be done in accordance with the actual neces- sities of our condition will cheerfully be accomplished by me to direct the course of Texas in unison with the measures which those governments may adopt. As this letter is confidential, and I am communing with you as one honest man with another, I would assure you that I have not the slightest disposition either to agitate Texas in herself, or to throw an obstacle in the way through which those Governments are directing their measures. I contemplate giving no order whatever for any aggressive action upon Mexico, unless some new provocation should be offered by that people which would render it indispensable under the circumstances then existing. No movement of the kind shall meet my sanction. No orders or authority to any person whatsoever, exists to transcend the limits of our own avowed territory. You have heard that some lawless fellows are dispoiling our citizens of their property and assuming to act under the authority of this government. They are marauders, and such measures will be taken as will effect the proper remedy. The object of the Government will be to reestablish trade upon our Mexican frontier. I wish to revive the trade at Corpus Christi, and to afford such protection as the sanction of this government will give. We are now cut off from· all intelligence of the enemy upon our immediate border; and we have no protection for the frontier, nor means to exclude or prevent small parties of Mexicans or spies from coming into the country. If commerce is carried on between the people of the Rio Grande and citizens or friends of Texas at Corpus Christi, it will create an interest with those Mexicans who may adventure in the traffic, and they, acting upon principles of selfishness, will feel anxious to prevent any interruption to their trade. Hence we can derive informa- tion which might be of great advantage to us without incurring any [greater] moral disadvantage than we are necessarily subject to at this time. For we are really excluded from all intelligence whilst the enemy are without hindrance in obtaining from us all they can desire.
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