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Federalists Seek Support in Texas

to Texas, but there are some of the leading characters of the Federal party who pretend to be friends with Texas, not openly, but from a private source (and in confidence) have I learned the same. But I would not have you lay too much confidence upon the friendship proposed by those who skirt the Río Grande, and [Texas] nearly to the Río Nueces. Some of those, I have learned, have made propositions to the Government of Texas; be Alert, be aware of treachery; the same proposals have been made to the Centrals (who are now in power) by the same individuals, proposing to lay aside their national quarrel for the present, and join as a patriotic body in the expulsion of a foreign enemy. Beware of CANALES. He has called on the Mexican Govrmt. for assistance to drive the Texians from their post on the Río Nueces (Casa Blanca or White House). He no doubt has called on Texas in the same way.[77]

Again Wright wrote: "As respects El Sr. Canales . . . it is supposed by some here that he has thrown himself upon that Country. As before mentioned, he proposed by letter to Genl. Canaliso of Matamoros to join against Texas; the Genl. was suspicious, but proposed to a higher source, that it would be well to secure Canales for a time, until the truth of his loyalty or villainy was determined."[78]  Information concerning the duplicity of Generals Arista, Vasquez, Reyes, and Colonel Rodríquez was also conveyed to President Lamar in a letter from one of the Texans aiding Canales. He, too, warned of the Mexican plans to invade Texas.[79]

Officially, Texas refrained from participating in the intestine war, and refused to aid the Federalists in any way, except to grant them political asylum and to permit Texans to trade with them. Neverthe-



government as late as 1841. Barnard E. Bee to James Webb, Merchants Bank, New Orleans, July 9, 1839; A. S. Wright to Barnard E. Bee, July 1 [1840]; Same to M. B. Lamar, City of New Orleans, March 18, 1841, in Garrison (ed.), Diplomatic Correspondence of Texas, 1908, II, 460-462, 657-662, 731-732; The Red-Lander (San Augustine), Sept. 29, 1842; Telegraph and Texas Register, June 12, 1839.

77. A. S. Wright to Barnard E. Bee, Mexico City, Nov. 10, 1839, in Garrison (ed.), Diplomatic Correspondence of Texas, 1908, II, 618-620.

78. Same to Same, Head Department, Mexico City, Nov. 1839, in ibid., 1908, II, 620-624.

79. J. N. Seguin to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Texas, Austin, Feb. 26, 1840, in Telegraph and Texas Register, Feb. 3, 1841; William Bryan, Consul, to Secretary of State, Consulate of Texas, New Orleans, Feb. 11, 1840, in Consular Correspondence (Texas), 1838-1875, ms., forwarding letters from A. S. Wright dated Nov. 21, Dec. 7, 25, and 27, 1839.

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AFTER SAN JACINTO: The Texas-Mexican Frontier, 1836-1841
Joseph Milton Nance, 1963