WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
210
NOTES FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'
Washington, 10th June, 1843. You will say to our Charges d'Affaires that, in referring the termination of our difficulties with Mexico to the friendly medi- ation of the Governments to which they are accredited, we have given earnest of our desires for peace. If peace is not concluded before the next session of Congress, or Mexico informed by those Powers that she must confine herself to the west side of the Rio Grande, Texas will assume an offensive attitude with all the means she can command, and will not feel restrained from the employment of auxiliary aid in the prosecution of the war-unless she can have peace, or a satisfactory armistice previous to the anticipated foray in September. Her action will be a united action, and the limits of her enterprise will not be bounded by the Rio Grande nor any other point. The region of Santa Fe will be one point from which our operations will progress. Texas can and will marshal an army there which will overrun the country dependent upon that point of territory. Mexico, or at least the North Eastern portion of it, is subject to constant and most destructive inroads from powerful tribes of Indians. They make their forays beyond Monclova, Saltillo, and near to San Luis Potosi, and on the lower Rio Grande in sight of Matamoros. In our treaties with the Indians we have not sought to stimulate them to the massacre of the Mexicans, but, on the contrary, have sought to inculcate a different course. Mexico has waged a savage war against us, and in their forays they have associated with their regulars, untutored savages. If war is begun by Texas, it will necessarily be a war of retaliation. If another foray is made by Mexico, it will not be possible to restrain the people of Texas. And though I have heretofore sought a pacific policy, under the most annoying circumstances, if the war is necessarily begun again, I will use all my energies in sustaining it and ensuring success to our arms. The feeling of Texas is decidedly in favor of war. I have deferred the measure with due respect to the Powers to whom we have protested against the course of Mexico, thus long, with the hope that another resort to active war would not be
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