William Carey Crane

“ I shall pass by with slight notice your remarks relative to the people of the United States, So far as our origin is connected with them, and the unity of sympathy exists, we are proud to hail them as our kindred—kindred in blood, kindred in laws, kindred in all the ennobling attributes of humanity. ”

“ Peculiar circumstances influence the course of every man whose duty it is to discharge high and important delegated trusts. But if he is an honest man he will never yield principle to expediency, in the hope that by some fortunate chance he may be enabled to repair the injury which he has inflicted upon his country by a wish to conciliate his enemies or temporize for the sake of harmony. To surrender a Constitution to tamperers for plans by which they may gain power to subvert principles or the excitement of a populace, actuated by demagogues, I regard as an act of foul treason. ”

“ Humanity was gratified by your preservation. The magnanimous of all nations would have justified your release, had they known how little its influence was dreaded by the Texans. If, upon your return to Mexico, you should have power, and a disposition to redeem the pledges you had voluntarily made to myself, as well as this Government, of an earnest disposition to see the independence of Texas recognized by Mexico, I believed it would have a tendency to restore peace to the two nations, diminish the aggregate sufferings of their citizens, and promote the prosperity of both countries. ”

“ In the war which will be conducted by Texas against Mexico, our incentive will not be a love of conquest; it will be to disarm tyranny of its power. We will make no war upon Mexicans, or their religion. Our efforts shall be made in behalf of the liberties of the people, and directed against the authorities of the country, and against your principles. We will exalt the condition of the people to representative freedom; they shall choose their own rulers; they shall possess their property in peace, and it shall not be taken from them to support an armed soldiery, for the purpose of oppression. ”

“ No one can more understandingly appreciate such efforts than yourself, who have been engaged for more than half a century in the most arduous labors, and constantly opposed by obstacles of every variety of character. You have surmounted all, and in retirement enjoy a nation's gratitude for the matchless benefits which your forecast and patriotism have conferred upon it; and to this is added the admiration of mankind! ”

“ I hope that the precaution taken will be such as to deter Mexico from any attempt upon us. The fact that the United States is one of the rival powers of the world, will render that nation more liable to war than we would be as a minor power.
There are a thousand reasons which I could urge why Texas would be more secure from troubles if she could have present peace, which she can obtain readily if she is not annexed. When we once become a part and parcel of the United States we are subject to all their vicissitudes. ”

“ They will hear your taunts of defiance with the same contempt and derision that Texans regard your silly gasconade. If they have heretofore sympathized with us in our struggle for liberty and independence, it was from a knowledge of the fact that we had been deceived and oppressed by Mexico, and that the cause in which we were engaged was that of humanity struggling against usurpation and despotism. ”

“ It is not uncommon in Mexico for one dignitary, upon his hacienda, to control from one hundred to ten thousand human beings, in a state of bondage more abject and intolerable than the negroes on any cotton plantation in this country. If an individual in Mexico owes but twenty-five cents, by application to an alcalde the creditor can have him, with his family, decreed to his service, and to remain in that state of slavery until he is able to pay the debt from the wages accruing from his labor, after being compelled to subsist his dependent family. ”

“ I have no desire to see war renewed again in Texas. It is not the apprehension of personal danger that would alarm me, but rather the deleterious influence which it has upon our population. The revolution has already introduced into Texas more wicked and ambitious men than could be desired in our present condition. In armies and in camps such men have an opportunity of extending their acquaintance, and of deriving some prominence from associations which totally disqualifies them from usefulness in a peaceful community. ”

“ In all contingencies, if we are annexed, we have to bear a part of their troubles, no matter of what character. Alone and independent, Texas would be enabled to stand aloof from all matters unconnected with her existence as a nation; while the causes of war to the United States would be a source of benefit and prosperity to her. War could grow up between no power and the United States, but what Texas would be the beneficiary. The values of our staples would be enhanced, and that arising from influences of war upon the United States. ”

“ When war rages, all ranks and conditions are subject to its agitations and calamities. Texas has already endured the extremest agony, and will endeavor to profit by her experience. Against her, you have again denounced war. We will await the event. Eight years ago, you were a suppliant; obtained your liberation without ransom, and acknowledged the Government of Texas. If Texas existed then as a nation, her recognition since then by other powers, and her increased commercial relations, would well excuse your recognition now of her sovereignty. ”

“ It is the first duty of statesmen and patriots to insure the liberty and wellbeing of their country. This is now our attitude, and every honest man in Texas will justify and approve that policy, which will place us in a situation where our liberties are secured, whether it be by annexation, or the establishment of our independence. France and England will act effectively, if we do not permit ourselves to be trifled with and duped by the United States. ”

“ Hence no time has ever been so propitious for the rebuilding of a nation possessed of our advantages as that which Texas at this moment enjoys, in the event that the measure of annexation should fail. Its failure can only result from selfishness on the part of the Government or Congress of the United States. If faction or a regard to present party advantages should defeat the measure, you may depend upon one thing, and that is, that the glory of the United States has already calamities. ”

“ If this ever takes place, you may rely upon one thing, which is this: that a nation embracing the advantage of the extent of seventeen degrees on the Pacific, and so extensive a front on the Atlantic as Texas does, will not be less than a rival power to any of the nations now in existence. You need not estimate the population which is said or reputed to occupy the vast territory embraced between the twenty-ninth and forty-sixth degrees of latitude on the Pacific. They will, like the Indian race, yield to the advance of the North American population. ”

“ Texans war not for gewgaws and titles; they battle not to sustain dictators or despots; they do not march to the field unwillingly, nor are they dragged to the army in chains, with the mock-title of volunteers. For awhile they lay by the implements of husbandry, and seize their rifles; they rally in defense of their rights; and, when victory has been achieved, they return to the cultivation of the soil. They have laws to protect their rights. ”

“ There is a sameness or unity in our national interests and institutions in Texas which does not exist in the United States. All our population is agricultural, and we have no sectional institutions or diversified interests. The farming, manufacturing, maritime, and mercantile interests all claim the peculiar consideration of the national Congress. Texas, independent, would be free from the agitations arising from this condition of things. The interests of the North and the South render it almost two distinct nations. The question of slavery can not arise in Texas. ”

“ The designation of Texas as a department of the Mexican confederacy so called, was highly obnoxious to the President, and consequently the conduct of the commissioners was, at once, disapproved. For this, you are now, sir, pleased to express, through your subaltern, your indignation at the perfidious conduct of the people of Texas.
I regret much that you have given this complexion to the affairs of the two countries. When men, by chance or Providence, have been elevated to the rule of nations, and entrusted with the protection of the best interests of the people. ”

“ Had some one else than the dictator of Mexico, or the self-styled "Napoleon of the West"—the subverter of the Constitution of 1824, the projector of centralism, and the man who endeavors to reduce a nation to slavery—become their advocate, they might have been more sensible of their obligation. Slavery is an evil: it was entailed upon us by Mexico. So far as its increase can be prevented, our Constitution and laws have presented every obstacle. They will be maintained to the letter: and on account of slavery, Texas will incur no reproach. ”

“ That France, as well as England, will pour into our country vast numbers of industrious citizens, there can be no doubt. Belgium, Holland, other countries will not be remiss in their duty, despite consequences. All these countries have an excess of population, and the common policy and economy of nations is such that they will have a care to the location of those who leave their native countries. Never, to my apprehension, have all nations evinced the same disposition to commerce as that which is now exercised and entertained. ”

“ If to intimidate us, the threat is idle. We have desired peace. You have annoyed our frontier—you have harassed our citizens— you have incarcerated our traders, after your commissioners had been kindly received, and your citizens allowed the privileges of commerce in Texas without molestation—you continue aggression—you will not accord us peace. We will have it. You threaten to conquer Texas— we will war with Mexico. ”

“ This, to my mind, is more dangerous to liberty than an assumption by either of the other departments of government. For if either of the others should attempt to assume, or actually assume, a power or powers not granted, the people would easily become awakened to a sense of the danger to which their liberties were subject, because they are not regarded so immediately connected with the people as the legislative department, and are in their character more responsible. ”

“ General Cos, who had surrendered in 1835, a prisoner of war, at San Antonio, where one hundred and ninety-five Texans stormed and took the Alamo, with the town, when it was defended by seventeen hundred regular troops of Mexico, was again taken prisoner at San Jacinto, after he had violated his parole of honor, by which he had forfeited his life to the law of arms. Yet such was the lenity of Texans that even he was spared, thereby interposing mercy to prevent reclamation being made for the brave Texans perfidiously massacred. ”

“ Texas, enjoying as she does a situation on the Gulf and a neutral attitude, would derive the greatest possible benefits. Calamity to other nations would be wealth and power to Texas. The encouragement given to us by the demand for our staples would increase our individual as well as our national wealth. The fleets of belligerents would be supplied with meats from our natural pastures, and the sale of our superabundant herds would, when added to the sale of our other commodities, give us more wealth than any other nation in comparison to our population. ”

“ Statesmen can alone appreciate them, and are willing to rely upon them as the only saving principle of self-government. The above doctrine is now openly advocated by many, that Legislatures have the right not only to exercise the powers plainly delegated to them by the Constitution, but that they have likewise the right to exercise all powers not expressly prohibited by the Constitution, thus destroying all the checks and balances of free government, and throwing into the hands of the legislative department all the co-ordinate powers of government. ”

“ One is, a holy love of country, and a willingness to make every sacrifice to its honor and safety, next a sacred regard for its Constitution and laws, with an eternal hostility and opposition to all banks. ”

“ Population would be all that would be needful; for, with it resources would be afforded for the accomplishment of any enterprise. As to the proposition that the provinces of Mexico would have to be our own, there is nothing in this; for you may rely upon the fact that the Mexicans only require kind and humane masters to make them happy people, and secure them against the savage hordes who harass them constantly, and bear their women and children into bondage. Secure them from these calamities, and they would bless any power that would grant them such a boon. ”

“ One portion of the Republic can not, on this subject, be arrayed against another. By annexation we should subject ourselves to the hazard of tranquillity and peace on this subject, which as a separate power would not exist. The debt of Texas is a mere "drop in the bucket." Our public domain comprises at least 150,000,000 of acres of arable land, with every delightful variety of climate, and every natural advantage which a country of the same extent could possibly enjoy. ”

“ Unwilling to embark in the useful avocations of life, in many instances they become restless demagogues or useless loafers. They are either ready to consume the substance which they have not earned, or to form combinations unfavorable to good order and the administration of the laws. Peace in Texas would relieve us from such people, and in the absence of their baleful influence give to society a vigorous constitution and healthy complexion. ”