THE AUSTIN PAPERS 995 obtaining it without breaking the boncls of the union with Mexico, it would then be the interest of •.rexns to attempt her separation. This point hns been discussed nnd examined with much frankness in Texas; and the opinion is formed nncl estnblished upon "'cry solid, unalterable founda- tions, because it has been the result of much reflection; that opinion ls, that it would be n misfortune to be separated from Mexico, but that it woulcl be a greater misfortune not to be crectecL into a state, so ns to be ahle to organize her local government. 'l'here nre well founded -fcnrs that 'l'exas ma~• bnve to suffer the first misfortune in order to snYc herEelf the last; and these fears hnve hnd n -dominating influence in the desire for separation from Conhulla, for the purpose of reconciling with one voice nil the local interests of Texns with her permanent union with the i\Iexlcan federation. I lrnve snid, and I repeat it, it is not the interest of Te:eas to separate her1elf from .MeaJico, ei:en if she had full liberty to do it. If the Government should wish to know the reasons on which this opinion is fou(!ded, I will present them in a separate paper, and in the same I will demonstrate that the true interest of Conhuila and of nil the republic demands that Texas should be mncle a stnte witllout any clelny. 6th. This is a clnrk ancl Tery gloomy point. Texns Is to-cloy exposed to ·separation from Mexico-to being the sport of ambitious men, of speculntors and reckless money-changers, of seditions-nnd wicked men, of trnnderlng Indians who nre devastating the country, of adYenhirers, of revolution, of tbe lnck of the administration of justice ond of confidence nod moral strength in the government. In short, for the wont of g6vernment that country is nlrendr nt the verge of anarchy. If one proceeded in accorclnnce with the laws of the state of Conhulla nncl Texas, a respectable man would not be snfe either in person or property; nor would the capitalist be secure in his capitol. If crime ls punished, it has to be done ea:trajudicially without paying attention to the laws and forms estab- lished, and tllis aITorc1s a dangerous example to society nnd n subversion of the moral strength which the government and the Inws ought to bnve. On tbe other hand, if crimes go unpunished, the "'ices are unbricllecl and oil the safegunrds of society are destroyed. For a long time the people of Texas hnve rested in regard to their personal security and that of their property, rather upon the "'lrtues which exist In the honor of the mass of the people than upon the administration of the laws. 'l'o suppose that such a state of affairs can continue would be to "'enture much ; In short, it would be to suppose on impossibility. If the only radical remedy which these evils admit is not applied without delay, that of establishing· Texns as a state, it will fall into nnnrchy; ond whence it will go from that is not in the power of mnn's judgment to say, or what injury will result to the frontiers of Conhuiln, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipns, for it is very certain that the Indians will tnke advantage of the occasion to begin hostilities and depredations, und thousands of adven- turers will be set in motion. A state of anarchy in Texas would also cause confusion upon the frontiers of Louisiann and Arkansas; and in sucll case the probability Is great that th e go\'ernment of the north would take posession of Texas In order to preEer,e order upon their frontiers us it did in the cnse of the Floridns. • All tllis ancl incalculable other evils would be aYoi<led by establishing Texas ns a state. .I cannot imagine anything more urgent for the exercise of e1:trn°rd1nary powers tbnn this, since by its exercise in this matter the Integrity of the
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