Jackson and the Texas Revolution 807 Forsyth replied that Gaines had not been ordered to go to Nacog- doches, but not to go beyond it ; he hoped that it would not be neces- sary, but firmly asserted that under certain conditions the United States would be justified in taking the step by the treaty of 1831.' On June 28 Gaines did cross the river and occupy Nacogdoches, which he held for several months. Reports soon got into the papers and Gorostiza repeatedly asked if they were true,^ but as late as October 4 Forsvth disclaimed any direct knowledge of the matter.' On October 15 Gorostiza asked for his passports, and abandoned his extraordinary mission to the United States/ an act which his government fully approved. He declared that General Gaines got his information about the Indians from Texans and their friends, which should have caused him to distrust it ; his friendship for Texas was notorious, and had done IMexico great harm, thousands of volunteers having gone to help Texas who would not have done so otherwise. His charge was not entirely true. Lieutenant Bonnel made an independent investigation and found evidence to indicate that Indians on the United States side were being instigated to in- vade Texas.' To admit, however, that Gaines was over-credulous and ex- tremely pro-Texan in sympathy is still far from showing that Jackson wished him to be so. Ox the contrary, it is evident that while the President was quite easy in his own mind as to his right under the treaty to cross the boundary as a necessary measure of defense he wanted no question of the necessity to exist. He had to invest General Gaines with discretionary powers, but he wrote him September 4 — unfortunately a rather belated caution, one must concede — to be very " careful not to be deceived b}- the evidence on which an act involving so much responsibility " was to be justi- fied ; he must not take the step, " unless the peace of the frontier be actually dissolved, or there be a moral certainty that the Indians are in hostile array for that purpose and are obtaining the means of operation from the Mexican territory "." The same attitude is maintained to the end of his " reign ". Re- ferring in his message of December 5, 1836, to conditions in Texas he advised strict impartiality toward the belligerents, because " the 47, 49. s^. 58. 63. 24 Cong., I sess.. House Exec. Doc, No. 256, Vol. VI., p. 3 2i, Cong., 2 sess., Sen. Doc., No. i. Vol. I., pp. 44-45. 47, 4 25 Cong., 2 sess.. House Exec. Doc, No. 190, Vol. VII., p 24 Cong., , 2 sess.. Sen. Doc, No., i. Vol. I., p. 100. '24 Cong. , 2 sess., Sen. Doc, No. 160, Vol. II., p. 85. 24 Cong., 2 sess.. Sen. Doc, No. i, Vol. I., p. 100. 25 Cong., 2 sess., House E.vec. Doc, No. 351, Vol. XII., p •Abstract of the letter in 24 Cong., 2 sess.. Sen. Doc, No.
