Stales; especially since his character, and the influences by which he was at that lime guided, have been so clearly exposed by the Governor of Louisiana and General Macomb. In the second place, the undersigned observes that the punishment of General Gaines, or of any other general who may hereafter act in this affair contrary to the orders received from the President, can be of no advantage to Mexico; it cannot lunquillize her at present, nor repair the immense injury which she has sustained, and may yet sustain, from the abuse already committed, or which may be committed in consequence of the discretionary power vested by the President in the general commanding on the frontier. Of what import to Mexico would be the dismissal of either of these generals, if the Mexican territory has been invaded through their misconduct?-if the effect of this invasion has been to inspire the Texans with greater confidence, and to add to their forces thousands of volunteers who would never have gone to Texas had they not believed that they could depend on material assistance from the troops of the United States?-if, in fine, by prolonging or repeating the said invasion during the period of the approaching campaign, the mere presence of the troops of the United States should be sufficient to produce embarrassments, dangers, or collisions, which might overthrow the best concerted plans of the Mexican army? Mr. Dickins will agree with the undersigned, that the Mexican Government could not receive, as sufficient, a guarantee which assures it against none of the many risks to which Mexico may be subjected. Mr. Dickins, on this subject, observes that the instructions last sent to General Gaines were more precise and determinate than the preceding ones, and, consequently, that his successor, General Arbuckle, may, by following them, more easily carry into effect the wishes of the President. But if the instructions which Mr. Dickins alludes are those contained in the President's letter to General Gaines of September 4, the undersigned cannot agree with the acting Secretary of State on the subject. On the contrary, he considers these last instructions a thousand times more arbitrary than the first instructions at least fixed the point at which the invasion was to be made, whilst the others leave the general in command on the frontier al full liberty to pursue the Indians, who in his comceplion might be disposed to comrnilt hostilities against the United Stales, until he should reach them, and afterwards to
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