1052
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
committed no crime. I was imprudent in urging the claims of Texas that were confided to me as an agent with more determination and obstenancy than was consistent with my personal security or well- fare, but nothing more. I accepted the agency with reluctance, but in good faith and conformed to what I had every right to believe ,vas the general wish of the people so far as the convention expressed that wish. :J\iuch good will result to Texas from my sufferings. The state government have been stimulated to apply proper reII1edies in many things and some of those who would have ruined the country and thrown it into confusion merely from personal feelings and low mean jealousies towards me, are now satisfied and rejoicing and are in favor of peace and quietness, because they think I am suffering- others who were restless and dissatisfied with me and with every thing without knowing why, are more calm and reasonable, and others who were my enemies a year ago, have no doubt had the mag- ninimity to do me justice- this conduct (if it be true as I am told it is) will do them honor and be remembered to their advan.tag~ at some future day when all personal feelings have passed away. :My own personal friends (and the mass of the honest and laboring farmers are so) have always been in favor of peace and quietness anci opposed to turbulence. They have no doi1bt blamed me for suffering violent men to involve me as I have been. They have seen that I have per- mitted myself to be thrown into the mire by others whose sole object .was my ruin. I was unsuspicious and acted in good faith-the fact is that when a few persons combine to ruin another who is unsus- picious and acts in good faith and with honest intentions, it is very difficult for him to escape. • Thus it is, that those who a year ago were the most anxious for a state and the most turbulent, are now for peace-they have in fact adopted my own principles which allways have been peace quietness, patience and submission, to tlie laws and no revolutions. If I ever wandered from those principles, it was because the public feeling was so disordered and things were so disjointed that my opposition would have increased the evils and in all probability caused a great deal of confusion. I yielded from this motive, and yielded in good faith, and not to undermine or counteract. Thus my own principles of peace and quietness are now predominant, when had I attempted to have made them prevail by direct opposition to violent measures the reverse would have been the case.· It is very evident that Texas must become a state.at some future day and not very distant-all will be in favor of it- the attempt that has been made was premature and ·totally wrong as to the manner. The particular act that involved me in all this, was the calling of the convention in my absence. I yielded after my return.
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