TEXAS STNl'E L1 Hl:A In"
210
~1nestion. The Union had cYcrytlting to gain by the annexation; au 1mnwnse fertile imaluable country, fairly conquered, and finally to he concc>clc>cl hy )£cxico in a settlement, of the spoliation claims-an unequirnc>al houndary line, the Rio Del Norh•, so much cle~ired, and new sources of agricultural wealth and political inclepemlencc opl'ned to the South. Jealousy and fanaticism prevented the nnion. 'l'C':rns is now a sm·ercign and inclcpendeut Nation, thrown 011 her own re- sourc·es, called upon to establish a free and liberal Go\'Crnment, and cause her laws to he respected and enforced. The rapidity with which population pours into that country will soon place it out o[ the power of )fexico even io menaee Texas, hut if those t!O/!/!ed and obstinate people should ntlempt invasion, there are masses of Americans oYer the l:oundar.v line who stand rencly to protect their countrymen. As Texas cannot be annexed to the United States, the UnitPd States will take care that no power shall invade Texas.
No. 860. JA'?l·rES VAN NESS TO LA:\IAR
Columbus, Georgia 3d Nov. 1838.
Gen'!. }if. B. LAMAR,
President of the Republic of Texas:
Sm, I am aware that the personal relations which have, for some years, subsisted between us, <lo not authorize the liberty I have taken in addressing to you this communication. I hope, however, that the pecu- liar circumstances, and the motives, certainly pure and laudable, which have induced this step, may sanction what otherwise might be deemed intrusive, and as exceeding the strict bounds of propriety. I have no other design than to endeavour to aid one who has strong and peculiar claims upon me. I have a younger Brother residing somewhere in Texas- at San Antonio, I believe. During his residence in that Republic, I have held no c-onespondence with, nor ha,·e I heard direc·tly from him. Recent accounts, howeYcr, receiYetl through some gentlemen in New Orleans, induce me to helic,·e that he has abandoned his former habits of idle- ness and inattention to business, and is striving to attain that station in Society, and in the political world, to which he is authorized to aspire by his superior talents, ancl his thorough and accomplished e<luc·ation. fmmc1liately after leaving Co11ege he went to Europe, and although acquiring, during his residence abroad, a knowledge of Foreign lan- /!Unges, and a Yast ma!:'i- of solid and useful information, he yet con- tradcd, in the Capitals of Spain & France, habits of idleness, and a fondness for fashionable life, which, it was seriously Jeared, would enc>rvnte his intellect, and blast his prospc>cts for futme and clistin- gui$hed usefulness. On his return to the United States he remained in New York and in Washington, until he went to Texas, and having friend!< in e:l<'h of tl10se Cities to whom he conlcl apply in any emcr- grncy, he was clif:incline<l to mah the necessary efforts to throw ulf his fornwr hahits, an<l bri11~ the full powers of his mincl into useful and Yi!!orons action. Srmihle of the nec·essih· of some stimulus to excr- ti~·n, 1111<1 solicitous that an intellec-t so fii~e, and acquirements :-o rnre
Powered by FlippingBook