William Carey Crane

“ Futurity has locked up the destiny which awaits our people. Who can contemplate with apathy a situation so imposing in the moral and physical world? No one. The relations among ourselves are peculiarly delicate and important; for no matter what zeal or fidelity I may possess in the discharge of my official duties, if I do not obtain co-operation and an honest support from the co-ordinate departments of the government, wreck and ruin must be the inevitable consequences of my administration. ”

“ The course our enemies have pursued has been opposed to every principle of civilized warfare—bad faith, inhumanity, and devastation marked their path of invasion. We were a little band, contending for liberty—they were thou sands, well appointed, munitioned, and provisioned, seeking to rivet chains upon us, or extirpate us from the earth. ”

“ The appeal is made by a willing people. Will our friends disregard it? They have already bestowed upon us their warmest sympathies. Their manly and generous feelings have been enlisted on our behalf. We are cheered by the hope that they will receive us to participate in their civil, political, and religious rights, and hail us welcome into the great family of freemen. Our misfortunes have been their misfortunes—our sorrows, too, have been theirs, and their joy at our success has been irrepressible. ”

“ A country situated like ours is environed with difficulties, its administration is fraught with perplexities. Had it been my destiny, I would infinitely have preferred the toils, privations, and perils of a soldier, to the duties of my present station. Nothing but zeal, stimulated by the holy spirit of patriotism, and guided by philosophy and reason, can give that impetus to our energies necessary to surmount the difficulties that obstruct our political progress. ”

“ It would be as unprofitable to us in our present situation as the rich diamond locked in the bosom of the adamant. We can not hope that the bosom of our beautiful prairies will soon be visited by "the healing breezes of peace. We may again look for the day when their verdure will be converted into dyes of crimson. We must keep all our energies alive, our army organized, disciplined, and increased to our present emergencies. With these preparations we can meet and vanquish despotic thousands. This is the attitude we at present must regard as our own. We are battling for human liberty ”

“ A spot of earth almost unknown to the geography of the age, destitute of all available resources, few in numbers, we remonstrated against oppression, and, when invaded by a numerous host, we dared to proclaim our independence and to strike for freedom on the breast of the oppressor. ”

“ A frontier population would not submit to the reins of government held by the Provisional Government of 1835, and the administration of 1836. The people saw that at that time there was only one man in Texas who could sway the multitude, whose strong hand would steady the vessel of State through the boisterous surges; that that man was Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto ”

“ Admonished by the past, we can not, in justice, disregard our national enemies. Vigilance will apprise us of their approach, a disciplined and valiant army will insure their discomfiture. Without discrimination and system, how unavailing would all the resources of an old and overflowing treasury prove to us. ”

“ Preferred to others, not unlikely superior in merit to myself, called to the most important station among mankind by the voice of a free people, it is utterly impossible not to feel impressed with the deepest sensations of delicacy in my present position before the world. ”

“ They will not pass from their nation during the present generation. The contrast of our conduct is manifest; we were hunted down as the felon wolf, our little band driven from fastness to fastness, exasperated to the last extreme ”

“ By the aid of your intelligence, I trust all impediments in our advancement will be removed; that all wounds in the body politic will be healed, and the Constitution of the Republic derive strength and vigor equal to any emergency. ”

“ The moral effect has done more towards our liberation than the defeat of the army of veterans. Where our cause has been presented to our friends in the land of our origin, they have embraced it with their warmest sympathies. ”

“ He succeeded in reaching New Orleans, and thence proceeded to Washington city, where he was the guest of President Jackson, who sent him in an American vessel of war to Vera Cruz, His contemporaries represent him to have been a remarkable man, of perfect form, in height five feet seven or eight inches, with an intellect of high order, with quick and firm eye, with an elocution rich and forcible in an eminent degree, with princely manners and address. ”

“ We offered up our vengeance at the shrine of humanity, while Christianity rejoiced at the act and looked with pride on the sacrifice. The civilized world contemplated with proud emotions conduct which reflected so much glory on the Anglo-Saxon race. ”

“ Houston's Election to the Presidency— Departure of Santa Anna for Washington— His Conduct— Sent to Vera Cruz in a U. S. War Vessel. The condition of affairs after the battle of San Jacinto was one of discord and confusion. Discontent was universal. The Government ad interim had not been able to pursue a line of policy generally acceptable. The Convention which had adopted the Constitution at Washington in the previous month of March, had made provision for the crisis, and, accordingly, writs were issued for the election of a President by the people of Texas. ”

“ In the attainment of this object, we must regard our relative situation to other countries.
"A subject of no small importance is the situation of an extensive frontier, bordered by Indians, and open to their depredation. Treaties of peace and amity, and the maintenance of good faith with the Indians, seem tome the most rational means for winning their friendship. Let us abstain from aggression, establish commerce with the different tribes, supply their useful and necessary wants, maintain even-handed justice with them, and natural reason will teach them the utility of our friendship. ”

“ Houston exhibited the broad national principles on which he intended to govern the country, and his political forecast by the first step which he took in his administration. He called to his Cabinet his two most important rivals for the Presidency. General Stephen F. Austin, the sagacious and incorruptible patriot, became Secretary of State. Ex-Provisional Governor Henry Smith became Secretary of the Treasury. The rancor of party abated under the high policy and magnanimity of these selections. They proved that, aiming at the public good. ”

“ In his correspondence with the General let him urge or solicit the General to become responsible for his making good all stipulations entered into by him: if this is done at the instance of General Santa Anna, General Jackson can be induced to furnish a national vessel of the United States for Gen. Santa Anna to sail in from this coast to Vera Cruz direct, or to render an escort to any point which may be most desirable. ”

“ Gen. Bee obtained the amount desired in New Orleans. At Washington city Santa Anna gave him the draft, but on his arrival at Vera Cruz caused it to be protested. Neither the Mexican Government nor its president ever paid it. Subsequently the Legislature of Texas appropriated an amount sufficient to reimburse Gen. B. E. Bee. As this was a private affair, the action of Santa Anna has no excuse. This statement is made to show how he requited the kindness of Gen. Houston and his friends. ”

“ His presence among us and his return to the embraces of our friends will inspire new efforts in behalf of our cause. [The attention of the Speaker and that of Congress, was directed to Wm. Christy, Esq., of New Orleans, who sat by invitation within the bar.] A circumstance of the highest import will claim the attention of the court at Washington. In our recent election the important subject of annexation to the United States of America was submitted to the consideration of the people. ”