Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/302

 odium can not rest upon us, but will remain a blot upon the escutcheon of nations who have power, and withhold their hand from the work of humanity.

It will be proper to remark that our attitude in relation to the subject of annexation to the United States of America, has undergone no important change since the adjournment of the last session of Congress. Our ministers at Washington City gave to the subject of our national concerns, their able, zealous, and untiring attention, and much credit is due to them for the character which they sustained in advocating our interests at a foreign court. The period at which the Congress of the United States was compelled to adjourn, prevented any action of that Government, relative lo annexation. It will, it is hoped, be referred to the action of the next session, and receive an early determination.

In the meantime it will be proper for Texas to pursue a course of policy which will be beneficial to her in a character substantive, and to secure her existence and her rights; without reference to contingencies. For it is not possible to determine what are to be her future relations to the civilized nations of the globe. Blessed with a soil the most fertile, and climate the most delightful and salubrious, Texas must attract the attention of all the commercial and manufacturing nations of the world.

Her cotton, sugar, indigo, wines, poultries, live stock, and precious minerals will all become objects of mercantile enterprise and activity.

Nor can we lose sight of the important production of the live oak. It is but reasonable to say that four-fifths of all that species of timber now in the world, is to be found growing in Texas, while many millions' worth of it is daily decaying on our cultivated fields.

To establish such intercourse with nations friendly to us, as will induce them to seek our market with their manufactures and commodities, and receive from us in exchange our productions, will become our most imperative duty.

Texas with her superior natural advantages must become a point of attraction, and the policy of establishing with her the earliest relations of friendship and commerce, will not escape the eye of statesmen.

England has not disregarded our situation thus far, nor can we believe, from the indications already manifested by her, that she is to regard our prosperity with unkind feelings of suspicion or indifference.

Should our resources be regulated by a wise and politic system of legislation, we must remain independent and become a prosperous people.

Our relations to Mexico since the last session of Congress, have undergone no important change, nor have overtures been made by either nation.

Texas, confident that she can sustain the rights for which she has contended, is not willing to invoke the mediation of other powers! While Mexico, blind to her interest and her future existence, seems determined on protracting the war without regard to her internal commotions. Revolution is stalking abroad throughout her land, while she is unable to defend her frontier against the incursions of the bands of predatory Indians on the frontier of the Rio Grande; from Santa F6 to Matamoras.

Early in last winter a correspondence was opened by the Secretary of State with the Mexican Consul at New Orleans, containing propositions to exchange prisoners, so far as the number of Texans would extend, and then to release the excess of Mexican prisoners on parole. Notwithstanding the humanity and liberality of this offer, it has met no official response from that Government. It seemed