Peach Point, near Brazoria Texas, July 27 1836
Maj. Gen. E. P. Gain[e]s,
Dr Sir,
I had the honor to write you on the 4th instant on the subject of the
indians, and also in relation to the termination of the war between Texas and
Mexico, through the mediation of the U. S. on the basis of the full
recognition of the independence of Texas by Mexico—
I have just been informed that Gen. Santa Anna has written to you on
this subject— I have not seen his letter, nor have I seen or had any
intercourse with him since I wrote you last, and can therefore say nothing as
to his present views or ideas.
When I saw him last, on the 4th July, he stated to me that he wished to
terminate the war on the basis of a full and immediate acknowledgement
of the independence of Texas by Mexico, and that he wished to effect this
object through the mediation of the U. S. I observed that the proper mode
of obtaining such mediation was by an application from the Govt. of
Mexico to that of the U. S.— He replyed that such an application would be
made by him the moment he was at liberty and could return to mexico and
resume the government. I answered that his release was impossible
without such previous guarantees as would fully satisfy the people and Army
of Texas, and even put it out of his power, or the power of the Govt. of
Mexico to deviate, were they disposed to do so, and that I could see but
one guarantee that would effectually do this, which was that of the U. S.
Govt. He said he would write to Gen. Jackson, I advised him to do so,
believing that it would, at least, be a kind of opening of the Subject, which
would lead to a corespondence of some character between the U. S. and
Mexico, that might result favourably for Texas. In any event I could not
see that any harm could by any possibility grow out of it—
Under this view of the matter I wrote to Gen. Jackson At the same time,
and gave him all the information I could on the subject—
I have no concealments or Mistery in any matter connected with this, or
any other subject of public interest to Texas— I am nothing more than
an individual citizen of this country, but I feel a more lively interest for
its welfare than can be expressed—one that is greatly superior to all
pecuniary or personal views of any kind— The prosperity of Texas has
been the object of my labors, the idol of my existence—it has assumed the
character of a religion, for the guidance of my thoughts and actions, for
fifteen years— Influenced by this controuling principle, I wish to see the
war ended as speedily as possible, to avert farther evils from this people,
and I also wish to see Texas annexed to the U. S. as I believe that to be
the most effectual and speedy mode of procuring for its inhabitants that
security and stability in civil Gov. which alone can compensate them for
their past sufferings therefore have no hesitation in saying to you and to
every one else, that I wish for the intervention of the U. S. Govt, in the
affairs of Texas—that I have endeavor'd to procure its intervention, and
that this was my only object in advising Gen. Santa Anna to apply to Gen.
Jackson, and my only object in writing to him and to You on the 4th
instant.
Rumor and excited passions or political Slander have accused me of a
desire to save the life of Gen. Santa Anna in violation of justice which
demands his execution as a murderer— I have had no hand in saving him
and he was saved by the armistice entered into by Gen. Sam Houston on
the 22d April, and by the Cabinet of Texas afterwards— I have no undue
sympathy for Santa Anna— My sympathies are all for Texas and her
inhabitants, and if Santa Anna can be used to end the war, I am willing to
use him on the principle of public good, and more especially after he was
saved and treated with on the field of battle and received as a prisoner of
war and treated as such by the Civil and military authorities of the
country. But I am not willing to turn him loose without previous, and ample,
and sufficient, and unquestionable guarantees— The only one of this
character that I can see, is the guarantee of the U. S. and I have endeavored
(so far as I have had anything to do with this matter) to use Gen. Santa
for the purpose of obtaining it
Many here have objected that in my letter to Gen. Jackson and to you of
4 instant, I stated that I believed Santa Anna was sincere in his promises
to end the war and acknowledge our independence— The object of those
letters was to procure the guarantee of the U. S. and it would have been a
St[r]ange thing in me, to have said to Gen. Jackson, and, to you, that I
did not believe in Santa Anna's promises, and at the same time Asked you
to Guarantee them— I consider it quite immaterial whether he is sincere
or not, if through his promises the guarantee of the U. S. can be obtained,
for that very guarantee would make him secure by compelling him, to
comply, as he well knows—
I consider that there is but one doubt or difficulty about this matter,
which is whether Santa Anna's power and influence in Mexico would be
sufficient to enable him to procure an acknowledgment of the independence
of Texas— This doubt I think is well founded, and that it can only be
removed by some official act of the Govt. of Mexico that would be binding
on the nation, such an official act I thought might be procured through the
mediation of the U. S. while Santa Anna's friends and party were still in
power, and his letter to Gen. Jackson I thought might open a door to
obtain it—
Such have been and are the motives which influence me
S. F. Austin