It is in fact lending to the cause of Texas all the aid which it can derive from the countenance and apparent support of the United States, besides placing our troops in a situation to take an active part in aid of the Texans, in case a reverse of their aflfairs should render aid necessary."
One of the practical results of sending troops into Texas is given in the following extract from the Pensacola Gazette —" About the middle of last month, General Gaines sent an officer of the United States army into Texas, to reclaim some deserters. He found them already- enlisted in the Texan service, to the number of two hun- dred. They still w^ore the uniform of our army, but re- fused, of course, to return. This is a new vievj of our Texan relations.'' When our troops were no longer needed in Texas, they were withdrawn, and sent to fight the Seminoles in Flo- rida. General Gaines now issued a proclamation, offering a full pardon to those w^ho had " absented themselves from their regiments," provided they returned by a cer- tain day. As these absentees, commonly called deserters, had been serving the cause of slavery in Texas, the mercy of the General was cordially extended to them.
When the Government thus evinced its sympathy for Texas, and sent its army among the insurgents to counte- nance, and, if necessary, protect them, it could not be expected that the partisans of Texas in the United States, would be veiy regardful of the laws of neutrality. A few extracts from the journals of that day will show the pub- licity with which the people of the United States made war upon a friendly power :
" Who will go to Texas ? Major J. W. Harvey of Lincolnton, has been authorized by me, with the consent of Major- General Hunt, an agent in the western counties of North Carolina, to receive and enrol volunteer emi- grants to Texas, and will conduct such as may w^ish to emigrate to that Republic, about the 1st October next, at the expense of the Republic of Texas.