“Near Sabine, July, 2, 1836.  “To gen.  Dunlap:  Sir:—­Your favor of the 1st of June reached me last evening.  I regret so much delay will necessarily result before you can reach us.  We will need your aid, and that speedily.  The enemy, in large numbers, are reported to be in Texas. * * * * * The army with which they first entered Texas is broken up and dispersed by desertion and other causes.  If they get another army of the extent proposed, it must be composed of new recruits, and men pressed into service.  They will not possess the mechanical efficiency of discipline which gives the Mexican troops the only advantage they have.  They will easily be routed by a very inferior force.  For a portion of that force, we shall be obliged to look to the United States!  It cannot reach us too soon.  There is but one feeling in Texas, in my opinion, and that is, to establish the independence of Texas, and to be attached to the united states! * * * * * March as speedily as possible, with all the aid you can bring, and I doubt not but you will be gratified with your reception and situation.”

The whole plan succeeded beyond the anticipation of its most sanguine projectors.  Aided by men and means from the United States, Texas established its independence—­organized a government—­incorporated slavery into its constitution so thoroughly as to guard against the remotest attempt ever to remove it—­and by a process unsurpassed in the annals of political intrigue, in due time became annexed to the North American Union.  In this accession of a territory from which several large States will eventually be carved out, the slave power of the United States obtained a signal advantage, of which it will not be backward to avail itself in the time of its need.  A faithful history of this entire movement is yet to be written.

Mr. Adams, with his well-known and long-tried sagacity, saw at a glance the whole design of the originators of the Texas insurrection.  While most people were averse to the belief that a project was seriously on foot to sever a large and free province from the Mexican Republic and annex it to the Union as slave territory, he read the design in legible characters from the beginning.  In a speech made in the House of Representatives, in May, 1836, in reference to the call for a million of dollars, for purposes already stated, Mr. Adams unriddled the Texian project with the vision of a prophet.

“Have we not seen American citizens,” said Mr. Adams, “going from all parts of the country to carry on the war of this province against the united Government of Mexico?  Who were those who fell at Alamo?  Who are now fighting under the command of the hero [Footnote:  General Houston.] of Texian fame?  And have we not been called upon in this House, to recognize Texian independence?  It seems that Gen. Gaines considers this a war in defence of ‘our Texians.’”