Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/160

 series of negotiations, whose history reveals stirring scenes and vigorous efforts, these brave but misguided men were liberated. The Mier expedition also possessed a history connected with those times, the authentic account of which has never been published. This is not the place for such a history in detail.

Up to this time, Mexico continued to threaten a grand campaign against Texas, but had not dared to meet the revolted province since their overwhelming defeat at San Jacinto. Predatory bands of Mexicans had made repeated invasions with two apparent objects—to harass the country which they could not subdue, and to pay, with the spoils of robbery, the arrearages due from the treasury of Mexico to their soldiers. The tyranny of dictators had lost forever to Mexico the dominion of Texas. Mexicans themselves were the worst foes to the tyrant whose supremacy at his capital could only be maintained by the presence of troops. Should he leave his capital his dominion ceased, and another dictator would be proclaimed. This contemptible system of pillage and robbery of a Republic which had successfully won and maintained its independence had lasted long enough. But the Great Powers of the world had been slow in acknowledging this independence. President Houston' caused his Secretary of State to make an honorable appeal to these Great Powers to secure the acknowledgment of the independence of the Republic of Texas. The document, which is herein inserted, shows clearly the condition of Texas, and corrected many false impressions which had been made in other countries in reference to the struggles of the Republic. It gained the sympathy and respect of Sir Robert Peel and M. Guizot, who exhibited ever afterward a lively interest in the fortunes of Texas:

"I am instructed by his Excellency, the President, to submit for your consideration and action a subject of general concern to civilized nations, but of peculiar interest to Texas, viz: The character of the war at present waged by Mexico against this country. The President is led to believe, from the nature of the facts involved, that this step will be deemed not only admissible but entirely proper. The civilized and Christian world are interested in the unimpaired preservation of those principles and rules of international intercourse, both in peace and war, which have received the impress of wisdom and humanity, and been strengthened, through a long course of time, by the practice and approval of the most powerful and enlightened of modern States, To these rules, in their application to the pending difficulties between this Republic and Mexico, your attention is respectfully invited.

"Whenever a people, separate and sovereign in their political character, are admitted into the great community of nations, they incur responsibilities and