declaring war against us, unless we should previously have satisfied · them. I repeated that Mexico had never entertained the most distant idea of attacking the United States by means of its Indians; my Government respected itself too much lo employ such prohibited means of offence; and that, in proof of this, I was ready, the moment after the order should have been sent to the troops al Nacogdoches immediately to recross the Sabine, to give to the Government of the United Stales, in the name of my Government, the strongest assurances on the subject of the imputed employment of such savage Indians, and to send instantly to General Urrea a copy of this communication for his information. Mr. Forsyth then hinted to me that it would be best for me lo begin by so doing; but this I positively refused, observing to him, "that it would appear in the light of a concession on our part, in order to obtain what we demanded as an act of justice;" and I reminded him that "I had proposed such a measure, not because I considered it necessary, but merely for the purpose of setting the President's mind at rest on the subject of this Texan calummny." Mr. Forsyth said that he would so report it to the President. On the 24th he sent for me again, in order to read to me the report which he had drawn up for the President, upon our conference of the preceeding day; and I found it substantially correct, with the reservation, however, that he would allow me lo send an elucidation of those points which did not appear to me to have been set forth with sufficient clearness. God and liberty. M. E. De Gorostiza To the Chief Officer charged with the direction of the Department of Relations of Mexico. No. I Abstracts of two letters from President Jackson to General Gaines, as delivered by the Secretary of State to the Mexican minister. The President, in his letter to General Gaines of the 4th September, 1836, observes that the United States are strictly neutral with regard lo the struggle going on in Texas, and that this neutrality must be observed and maintained by General Gaines as commander of the United States forces on that frontier. IL is one of the duties of Mexico lo prevent the Indians with in her territory from commilling hostilities against the citizens of the United
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