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Republic of the Río Grande and Texas

desperate remedies," recorded Anson Jones.[53]  It differed from that of Bee, who had been sent by Lamar to Mexico in the late spring of 1839 while Santa Anna was serving as provisional president for the purpose of negotiating for the recognition of Texas independence and the fixing of the boundary between the two countries. For a boundary at the Río Grande, Bee was authorized to pay up to $5,000,000. Although Bee landed at Vera Cruz on May 8, the Mexican government refused to open negotiations with him as long as recognition was sought; and on June 1 Bee sailed for New Orleans via Havana. Hamilton's plan was that instead of the $5,000,000 being paid to the Mexican government, the money should go directly to the British Mexican bondholders to whom the Mexican government had given a lien on territory located beyond the Río Grande which Texas regarded as her own soil. The English bondholders would then release to the Republic of Texas the land already allocated to them by the Mexican government. It was through this proposition that Hamilton hoped to get England to use her influence to bring about peace between Texas and Mexico, with the Río Grande as the boundary.[54]

Hamilton's commission to deal with Mexico for peace through British assistance did not mean that Texas was no longer interested in Treat's plan. Both had full authority to negotiate. Hamilton opened correspondence from New Orleans with Pakenham in Mexico. He described Texas as holding her citizens in check for the present, and as evidence of this policy enclosed a copy of Lamar's proclamation enjoining restraint on the part of Texans in the Federalist activities. However, he believed that, should Mexico refuse to negotiate, "the rein would be loosened and Texas citizens permitted to cross the border and revolutionize the adjacent provinces of Mexico."[55]  Hamilton then proceeded to Europe, while the negotiations in Mexico under Treat, supported by the British minister, proceeded with many exasperating delays.

We have "forbid and used the best influence of the Government to prevent volunteers from Texas joining the Federal party," wrote Lipscomb, Secretary of State, to the secret agent of Texas in Mexico. "We have given then no more countenance, nor protection than would



53. Anson Jones, Memorandum Book No. 2, January 1, 1840, ms.

54. E. D. Adams, British Interests and Activities in Texas, 1838-1846, p. 37; Schmitz, Texan Statecraft, pp. 106-107; E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the Senate: Republic of Texas, 1836-1845, pp. 162-164.

55. Adams, British Interests and Activities in Texas, p. 40.

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