WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
242
nothing permanent to gain. It would be as reasonable to suppose that the waters of the gulf would slumber unagitated by the winds as to imagine that Texas could be subdued and remain in a state of quiescence. After years of toil and suffering, and when millions of treasure had been lavished, the power of Mexico would be impaired; while Texas (by the influence of immigration and the attraction which her peculiar situation would present to military enterprise, with feelings embittered by protracted war and its attendant calami- ties), would be a much less desirable neighbor to Mexico than were we now to establish and cultivate amicable relations between the two countries. I still hope for peace: more for love of it, and a desire to see communities as well as individuals happy, than from a dread of war. Congress has adopted a resolution today to adjourn on the 5th instant. I need not attempt to give you the detail of their proceedings. The revenues of last year have more than supported the govern- ment; and though the President receives very little thanks for it, he will nevertheless endeavor to render the next year equally available [sic] to the interests of the country. There is said to be much excitement in the United States in relation to annexation; and I doubt. not that you have seen the United States President's message on the subject of the relations of Texas, Mexico and that government. You will oblige me by presenting my salutations to General Woll, and assure him of my high appreciation of him as a soldier, and a gentleman; and express a desire on my part that our re- lations may never be less courteous than when we dined together at Col. Milton's in New Orleans. Sam Houston. 1 Samuel M. Williams Papers, Rosenberg Library. El:ecutive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 328-330, Texas State Library. ~George W. Hockley. See Volume I, 331. 3 Samuel May Williams. See Volume I, 320. Also Houston to Wi11iams, July 14, 1843, this volume. •Hockley and Williams were appointed commissioners by the Texas Gov- ernment to arrange terms of an armistice between Texas and Mexico. They left Texas on September 26, 1843, for that purpose. For a pretty full discussion of the diplomatic tangle that caused this mission to be somewhat of a failure, see Yoakum, History of Texas, II, 414-426; see also Garrison (ed.), Diplomatic Corl"esvonclence of the Republic of Texas, II, 213, and vassim. osee Richardson, Messages ancl Pa.ve1·s of the Presidents, IV, 260-262.
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