, 1842-04-02

"We have fully weighed the actual and
the possible value of the territory of Texas
the advantages accruing to Mexico by retain
ing it in possession, and still more the preca
rious situation to which she would find her
self reduced, were she to permit a colossus
to arise within her own limits, always ready
to advance and covetous to obtain new &C
QUESTIONS by the trite.title Of theft and usur'
patton: but even were the soil Of Texas a
mere desert Of sand, reproductive ave Of
thorns 10 wound the foot Of the traveller, thi,
plane, useless, sterile and unproductive should
be defended with energy and c%onstancy, un.
der the conviction, that the possession OF a
right imposes upon a nation the necessity Of
never abandoning it with shame and disgrace
to her name. If you are acquainted with
the statistics of Mexico, you cannot be igno-
rant of its population and its wealth; and if
you have read history, you will remember
that the race which now peoples the Ameri.
can continent, is the same, which on so many
memorable occasions, has given signal proofs
not only Of constancy, but even OF obstina-
cy in defence OF their lands, their hearts and
their national individuality.
eleven years Of a bloody and mortal
strife to conquer our Independence, will
serve perpetually TO prove that strong pas
sions agitate our hearts, and nerve our arms
in a great crisis; and this very prolonged Sc
ries Of civil wars has formed here a popula-
ton as warlikc as they are patient, and emf
nently capable Of action under all the stimn-
lants of glory, when controlled by a govern.
ment which respects itself, and e~nforces re-
spect for the people whose welfare is confded
to it. You must clearly remember that in the
beginning of 1886 Texas found itself subju.
gated, and that only freak Of fortune, the
unexpected conduct Of the general, who sue
ceeded me in the command, Withdrawing i'm
properly the Mexican army, and other causes
which, even at present, appear incompre-
hensibie, a%nnulled the immense and definite
results of the rapid succession Of victories
gained by this same army, under my orders
and directions. Greater and more powerful
efforts than those can still! be made; and sir,
you must not doubt that they will be made;
for to the knowledge of my duties, unite a
consciousness Of the power and the resour-
ces at my control. One Of the most grave
and vehement charges preferred by the ma
ton against the government which has just
disappeared from office, was the apathy and
criminal neglect with which it conducted the
affairs of Texas, and / am not the mar who
will incur so just a reproach, or will sanction,
by silence or inactivity, one Of the most
scandalous robberies Of the present cenlua-
ry.
"Feeling as | do, all the merit and impor-
lance Of Texas, all the basis of my country's
rights, and the imponderable results Of their
remuneration, | can never contribute to the
recognition Of her fatal independence; | will
say more, never will permit any one to dare
do that which the nation will not sanction;
and he, whoever he may be shall be consid.
cred and punished as a traitor to the rights,
the name, and the glory Of Mexico.
"Your proposals Of five millions of dollars
for the remuneration Of Texas, is a miscalcu-
and an act Of audacity; permit me,
to add to you. that your offer Of two hun,
dred thousand dollars for the secret agents of
the government of Mexico, is an insult and
unworthy of a gentleman.
"Perhaps you have ventured upon this i'm.
prudence yielding to the illusion that my re-
turn to power gave some probability to the
hope Of an arrangement, favorable to Texas:
such was your opinion, you, like many
nave been deceived for | have chan.
.ed neither my convictions nor my ~resolu-
lions, nor am | bound by any pledge,'or pro-
whatever, that could give plausibility to
so unjust a suspicion. promised in Texas,
beneath the rifles OF the tumultuary (tumulta-
rious) soldiers, who surrounded me, that 1
Douid procure a hearing for their commission
RS from my government, and would exercise
my influence TO prevent for the time being a "a
u 1