WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
183
Touching the communicationz of General Santa Anna, I have this to remark-that it is an anomaly both in statesmanship and diplomacy. From it I deduce the fact that some of the powers have touched him in a tender part and this I regard as wincing. I take ·pleasure in enclosing you a copy of the transla- tion of his propositions, from which you will perceive (for I am told it is pretty correct) that Gen. Santa Anna could not have expected any direct action by this Government. His not addressing it to any authority in the country, as you say, man- ifests its absurdity. It is impossible for a community to speak unless thro' some organ, and in his communication he recog- nizes none. If he expects to make capital out of it, he certainly will not find it in Texas; for his sine qua non ·would place the people of Texas bound hand and foot at the mercy of his will. Take it all in all, it is a curious piece of workmanship, and will do very well to file away as a curiosity for after times, and that is about as much use as can be well made of it. I deplore exceedingly the condition of your health. I trust that the general influence of Spring will soon restore you to your wonted health and animation. It certainly would afford me great pleasure to see and converse with you; and I regret that it is not in my power else I would gladly visit you at Galveston. The Secretary of State will very soon visit you and confer with you freely upon all subjects. The other gentlemen of the diplomatic corps, he has not the pleasure of personal acquaintance with; but no doubt, will cultivate agreeable personal relations with them. I have the pleasure to communicate to you that our prospect of establishing friendly relations with the Indians at this time is of a most gratifying character. If you please, I desire you to communicate many thanks to His Excellency, Mr. Tyler, for the -kind disposition he has manifested and the evidence he has given of a desire to aid us in the establishment of amicable relations with the Indians, and that it is my intention, if I can ascertain when the Council takes place in the Cherokee nation this Spring, where the chiefs of the wild tribes are ex- pected to attend, to send one or more commissioners to act with them under the auspices of the United States; and if I cannot send commissioners, I will forward a communication for those chiefs-the ultimate object of which will be to induce their attendance at Bird's Fort on the Trinity between the ht
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