The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910 Page: 272
341 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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272 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
government of Mexico cannot complain-it has invited immigra-
tion.
General Santa Anna told me he should visit Texas next March-
as a friend. His visit is uncertain-his friendship more so. We
must rely on ourselves, and prepare for the worst. A large im-
migration will prepare us, give us strength, resources, everything.
I do not know the state of public feeling in Texas, but presume
they mean to avoid all collision with Mexico if possible to do so,
and be also ready to repel attacks should they come. This is my
opinion. A great emigration from Kentucky, Tennessee, etc, each
man with his rifle or musket, would be of great use to us-very
great indeed. If they go by sea, they must take passports from
the Mexican consul, comply with all the requirements of the law,
and get legally into the country, so long as the door is legally
open. Should it be closed it will then be time enough to force it
open-if necessary. Prudence and an observance of appearances
must therefore be strictly attended to for the present. Here, I
figure to my self, you start and exclaim "Dios mio," my cousin
Stephen has become a very Mexican politician in hypocrisy. Not
so; there is no hypocrisy about it. It is well known that my ob-
ject has always been to fill up Texas with a North American pop-
ulation; and, besides, it may become a question of to be, or not to
be. And in that event, the great law of nature-self preservation
-operates and supersedes all other laws. The cause of philan-
thropy and liberty, also, will be promoted by Americanizing Texas.
I am morally right, therefore, to do so by all possible, honorable,
means.
In all countries, one way or another, a few men rule society. If
those few were convinced of the great benefits that would result to
the Western world by Amercanizing Texas, they would exert their
influence to promote that object, and in so doing use such argu-
ments as would best effect it, without letting anything transpire
in the public prints to alarm the Mexican government, or place
that of the United States in the awkward necessity of taking any
steps, as a friend of Mexico under the treaty etc.
If there were any way of getting at it, I should like to know
what the wise men of the United States think the people of Texas
ought to do. The fact, is, we must and ought to become a part
of the United States. Money should be no, consideration. The
political importance of Texas to the great western world, from the
influence it may one day have on Louisiana, is so great that it can-
not fail to have due weight on all reflecting men, and on Gen.
Jackson and the Senate in particular. The more the American
population of Texas is increased the more readily will the Mexican
Government give it up. Also, the more the people of Texas seem
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 13, July 1909 - April, 1910, periodical, 1910; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101051/m1/298/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.