Jackson and the Texas Revolution 797 for settling- the matter in the most advantageous and satisfactory way, and on tlie terms of the United States, "" simply by modifying a disbursement of the money to be paid ". In support of his convic- tions he submitted a copy of a letter from Padre Hernandez, the confessor of Santa Anna's sister and a confidential agent of Santa Anna himself. It was dated March 21, 1835, and ran in part as follows : " The negotiation which you have so long desired to effect is, as I have often told }-ou, perfectly within }-our power ; nothing is required but to employ your means properly. Five hundred thou- sand dollars judiciously applied will conclude the affair, and when you think proper to authorize me to enter into the arrangement depend upon my closing it to your satisfaction." Butler's letter enclosing this copy is dated June 17: on the 22d the President endorsed it : " Nothing will be countenanced by the executive to bring this government under the remotest imputation of being en- gaged in corruption or bribery. . . . We have no concern in the application of the consideration to be given. . . . The public functionaries of Mexico may apply it as they may deem proper to extinguish private claims and give us the cession clear of all in- cumberance except the grants which have been complied with."^ On July 2 Forsyth informed Butler that the President was determined that no measures " of even an equivocal character " should be employed in the negotiations, and that no confidence was felt in his ability to accomplish anything further. However, since Butler himself seemed hopeful, he might return to Mexico and make a final elTort. But he must act quickly and return in De- cember so that a report could be made to Congress.^ It is per- haps sufficient to say that he accomplished nothing and that in October the ]Iexican government requested his recall, on the ground that there were imputed to him " intrigues unbecoming a diplomatic agent ". The President complied, and appointed as his successor Mr. Powhatan Ellis. It is said that in 1832 a Louisiana paper published an item to the effect that General Houston had gone to Texas for the purpose of inciting a rebellion and that he might be expected soon to be seen raising his flag. Admitting that he did have some such object tentatively in mind — and there is some evidence to support that view,^ — it has often been strongly hinted and sometimes openly ^ MSS. Department of State, Despatches from .gents to Mexico, Vol. 6. - MSS. Department of State. Instructions to .Agents in Mexico, 1835, p. 49. ' MSS. Department of State, Communications from Agents of Mexico, 1835.
- See John Van Fossen to Houston, August 3, 1832, in Crane. Li^e and
Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston. 48-49: also Jackson to Van Buren, ..M. HIST. REV., vol.. XII. — 52.
