Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/150

 and over three hundred men started on a war-like expedition to a distant country. The disasters of that ill-starred expedition have become matters of history. A Governor, a Custom-house officer, and a Military Commandant were all appointed by the President, and a Territorial Government organized. The men were captured, the President's plans fell into the hands of the enemy, and were a moving cause for the bitter cruelty with which the men were treated. Unauthorized by the Constitution or Congress, another enormous amount of "promises to pay" money was issued to support the Santa Fe expedition. The currency of the President had depreciated so much that the horses on that expedition cost on an average one thousand dollars each. By presidential edict, the country was deprived of a large number of chivalrous, patriotic citizens, costly arms and munitions of war were abstracted from the public arsenal, and public wagons and means of transportation were appropriated. Even a piece of artillery, with the President's name inscribed on its breech, was dragged across the prairies, over that great distance, to become a trophy for the enemies of Texas, and illustrate the ill-judged policy of the President and degrade the Republic.

Houston had left the two countries substantially at peace, but this expedition aroused hostilities between the two peoples, which otherwise might have slumbered forever. This lamentable expedition was the sole cause, so far as can be ascertained, for the renewal of hostilities. Some time previous to this expedition, President Lamar had deputed commissioners to Gen. Arista, proposing, it is conjectured, a union of the Northern Provinces of Mexico with Texas, to form a grand power, of whose Government he was to be chief. Arista, taking advantage of the misconceptions of the President, returned commissioners. When the Santa Fe expedition took up its line of march from Austin, these Mexican commissioners were present, and witnessed the vain-glorious display. The facts have never been disclosed whereby we may know with certainty what passed between the high contracting parties. The result is known to the world. It may be presumed that Arista was a party to the plan. Facts favor the presumption. A guide, who had long resided in Mexico, and spoke the language perfectly, led the expedition out of Austin. The commanding officers charged him with their betrayal at San Miguel and Santa Fe. He led them many days into the wilderness, where, when the miseries of their situation began to press heavily upon them, he abandoned them to their fate in their misfortunes, and was never heard of afterward. Doubtless Arista's object was to have them conducted into the wilderness, and there left to perish, and, if they did not perish,