Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/334

 at Lorecio, had perpetrated acts of a most unwarrantable and disgraceful character, and such as were not sanctioned by the general sentiment of the army, operated as a reason for the expedition and urgency of the Government. It was apprehended that so soon as our men fell into the power of the enemy, they would retaliate; and men innocent of all crime or outrage fell victims to the faults of others.

Intelligence was received some time since from Mexico through Her Britannic Majesty's minister near this Government, that the supreme Government of Mexico was willing to restore all Texans held as prisoners by that Government, provided we should pursue a reciprocal course. Accordingly, a proclamation was issued restoring all Mexican prisoners to full liberty and tendering them free passport and safe convoy to the Rio Grande. A similar proclamation had been issued in April, 1837.

The Government of his Majesty the King of the French continues to manifest, as it has heretofore, the most friendly disposition toward Texas; and there is every reason to believe that its friendly offices will neither be suspended nor withdrawn. In confirmation of this, it may be mentioned that the Government of the King has expressed the desire and intention of establishing between our own ports and those of France, a more direct and convenient intercourse by a line of royal steamships. The establishment of this line will have a powerful tendency to increase our commerce with that country, and, at the same time, afford highly desirable facilities for the transmission of intelligence and for emigration—both of which are important desiderata. These objects have presented themselves since the present Executive came into office; for then our relations with France were not of the most agreeable character. He consequently found himself under the necessity of re-establishing the friendly relations which had been broken off by his predecessor, by making reparation for the treatment which the Charg6 d'Affaires of the king had received, not in strict accordance with the relations which should be maintained with friendly powers through their public ministers.

With the view of extending our friendly and commercial relations with the continent of Europe, since the adjournment of the last Congress, a diplomatic agent, in the character of Charge d'Affaires to the Netherlands, but empowered to form treaties of amity, navigation, and commerce with Belgium and the Hanse Towns, has been appointed. Commerce with these latter has already opened and is increasing. Several vessels from Bremen, richly freighted with merchandise, have visited our ports, and returned laden with the cottons and other productions of Texas. The Bremen Senate have also communicated, through their commercial agent in this country, a resolution of that Government declaring that, upon the adoption of a similar resolution by this Government, commercial relations shall at once be established between us, upon a reciprocal footing. This subject will claim the early attention of the honorable Congress.

Our minister at Paris has also been furnished with proper powers to open relations with the Government of Spain —provided he shall be able to give it, in addition to the many other onerous and important duties which now devolve upon him, his attention. The importance of a commercial treaty with Spain, from our contiguity to the rich and prolific island of Cuba, which would afford a market for many of our redundant products, would seem to demand early exertions to open this intercourse. And, if the means of the nation will justify