WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 181i7
543
religion. Show them that you will respect their temples, treat their images with deference, and, however much you may differ from their religious opinions, teach them that they will be entitled to freedom of thought, and the most perfect liberty. Show them that you only intend to chastize their tyrants, and oppressors. Go to their capital, and he would not doubt of success in this war. If everything has not already been achieved, it is no reason why we should despair of the most perfect success. We can conquer Mexico. Our squadron is sufficient to blockade the ports of Mexico, and to exclude her from the benefits of commerce, or to make her subsidiary to the revenue of the United States. Penetrate into the interior with your arms. March on! And if you inflict a shock on the mind of Mexico, follow it up with rapidity, and you will be able to dictate peace in the halls of Montezumas, or wherever else you please, even on the sacrificial stone in her capital. He had been sorry to hear subjects and sentiments brought into this discussion which would be calculated to animate Mexico. They had here had descriptions of the climate which would dis- hearten our men, and discourage inlistments. They had had vague fears expressed that our national resources would not sustain the war. And these were given as reasons why this nation should be degraded by falling back upon a line of territory less than that which she has claimed as her own. Now, if they did not press on, they would afford encouragement to Mexico, and dishearten our own troops. He would not encourage the enemy by depreciating our own means, or by undue sympathy in the calamities of war. He would entertain no sympathy with a nation which had no self-respect. Whatever is said here on behalf of Mexico or to the disparage- ment of the United States or her capabilities will have a dele- terious influence on the operations of war. If we encourage Mexico by disheartening our own people-if we revive their drooping spirits,' nerve their arm, and animate their hopes, we shall find that the war will continue interminably; but if we ha\"e united action and councils in this nation, we shall not only produce efficiency_in our troops, and find that we have ample resources, but p1:oduce a moral effect on l\'lexico. Distract.ion here is encouragement to Mexico. Dissensions here are aids to Mexico. No matter what the motive may be, such will be the
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