aptitude for service may be estimated by a proposition made by General Gaines, of the regular army of the United States, to his government, arising out of disagreements with Mexico in 1836-37. "If I am permitted," said the General, " to make an arrangement, in accordance with the foregoing suggestions, I feel confident that I can thereby obtain and call to the frontier, ready for an active campaign to the city of Mexico, from fifty to one hundred thousand first-rate men, for the most part mounted, before the first day of October next-the time they should march westward from the Sabine." This letter of General Gaines was written on the 22nd of May.* * Documents of the United States Congress, No. 351, p. 821. TEXAS: THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND PROSPECTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS. BOOK III. NARRATIVE OF TEXAN AFFAIRS SUBSEQUENT TO THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO SOCIAL ASPECT AND PROSPECTS OF THE REPUBLIC. "It is not to be imagined that the impulse of the Anglo-Saxon race can be arrested. Their continual progress towards the Rocky Mountains has the solemnity of a providential event. Tyrannical government and consequent hostilities may retard this impulse, but cannot prevent it from ultimately fulfilling the destinies for which that race is reserved. No power on earth can close upon the emigrants the fertile wilderness, which offers resources to all industry, and a refuge from all want. Future events, of whatever nature they may be, will not deprive the Texans of their climate, their bays and rivers, or exuberant soil. Nor will bad laws, revolution, or anarchy be able to obliterate that love of posterity and that spirit of enterprise which seem to be the distinctive characteristic of their race, or extinguish that knowledge which guides them on their way. Thus, in the midst of the uncertain future, one event is sure. At a period which may be said to be near, the Anglo-Americans alone will cover the immense space contained between the Polar Regions and the Tropic, extending from the coast of the Atlantic to the shores of the Pacific Ocean." DE TOCQUEVILLE's America. CHAPTER I. Arrival of Volunteers at Galveston-Orders of the United States Government for the Protection of the Frontier-Protest of Gorostiza-Embarkation and ultimate Detention of Santa AnnaMirabeau Lamar-Protest of Santa Anna and President Burnet's Reply-Election of President and Meeting of Texan CongressThreatened Mexican Invasion-Legislative Proceedings-Death and Character of Stephen Austin. IN consequence of his wound, received at San Jacinto, General Houston retired from active duty, and removed for the benefit of regular medical attendance to New Orleans. T. J. Rusk was appointed to the command of the army, his vacated office of Secretary of War being conferred upon Mirabeau Lamar. A division of the army under Rusk advanced to Goliad, to superintend the observance by Filisola of the conditions stipulated by his chief. The A considerable number of volunteers from the United States arrived at Galveston about the end of May. Felix Huston, an eminent and successful lawyer of Mississippi, had incurred an expense of 40,000 dollars in the spring for the purpose of equipping 500 armed emigrants to Texas. ladies of Nashville, moved by the appeals of Stephen Austin, who, with his fellow Commissioners, delivered public addresses in behalf of the Texan cause in the chief cities of the Union, furnished the means of arming and transporting a company of vo VOL. II. R lunteers. These and similar movements in progress in Kentucky and North Carolina, the Mexican Minister at Washington, Gorostiza, represented and denounced to the Secretary of State, Mr. Forsyth, who directed the legal authorities in the several places to inquire into the transactions alluded to, and institute such proceedings as might be necessary to protect the neutral relations of the United States. In the case of Felix Huston, the district attorney at Natchez," after using great exertions to obtain a warrant, failed to do so." Popular feeling, excited against the Mexicans in consequence of the execution of their prisoners, neutralized the endeavours of the Federal officers. In obedience to instructions from President Jackson, General Gaines began, at the close of March, to arrange for the defence of the western frontier of Louisiana. The President, adopting a suggestion of the General, authorized him "to take such a position on either side of the imaginary boundary line" between Mexico and the United States," as might be best for the defensive operations," with the understanding that he would "under no circumstances advance further than old Fort Nacogdoches, which was within the limits of the United States, as claimed by the government." Nor was he to exercise the permission then granted unless he should find it necessary for the security of the frontier. Gaines, having received information that several tribes of Indians residing on the territory of the United States had crossed the boundary line into Texas; that General Santa Anna was approaching, determined to put to death all he found in arms, |