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and military stores, without means of transportation of any kind, the call for aid in defense must be feebly responded to?
There is another consideration which will contribute powerfully to render this resource for defense precarious, which should under favorable circumstances constitute the main dependence of the
Government.
It is the apprehension of attack from hostile
Indians, founded in evidence which they cannot reject.
The advance of a Mexican army would be the signal for the active cooperation of the unfriendly tribes; and, whether it took place or not, the anticipation of such an event among a sparse population, feeling the necessity of the utmost vigilance and activity for their own protection, would produce the same result — a strong diversion in favor of the enemy, which our knowledge of the
Indian character inclines us to believe would not be the case if we had an army in position on the border.
If this be the true condition of things, and I think no one informed on the subject will differ with me, I should ill discharge the high obligations of duty were I to delay making them known, or deserve the confidence of the intelligent, bold, and patriotic population of the republic, who do not desire to be flattered with deceptive accounts of their power where circumstances prevent its efficient application, or with illusive hopes of peace founded on no just expectations.
We cannot conceal from ourselves that we are at war with a powerful nation, however much leisure his supineness has left us for the pursuits of peace.
The example of all nations teaches the necessity of active, vigorous and unremitted preparation till the termination of the contest; the greatest and most powerful nations do not disdain it. I do not hesitate, therefore, from the conviction that peace will be most easily and readily obtained by making ample preparations for war, to recommend that, besides the measures in progress for the defense of the coast, the force authorized by the act to fix and establish the military force of the republic, of November, 1836, be raised and equipped for immediate service, with such additional force as may be found necessary.
I also recommend that the officers and soldiers now on the rolls of the army, except those of the regiment recently authorized for the protection of the frontier and of the advance corps, be disbanded in anticipation of the new organization which I have the honor to suggest.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your
Excellency's obedient servant,
It was proposed then to cross the
Rio Grande in aid of the Federalists, who sought the alliance, until that party prevailed throughout
Mexico, or at least established an independent republic of its northern States, which would interpose a friendly nation as a barrier to centralist aggression.
This hope does not seem chimerical, when we recollect how near the Federalists were to success; nor does there seem much reason why such an army, under an able leader, might not in such an undertaking have dictated the terms of peace in the city of
Mexico.
There was no wish or intention, however, to form any political union with any Mexican State.
When this was strongly urged by
General Anaya, the Federalist envoy, upon the consideration of
General Johnston,
