1070
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
liberty of the subject unprotected, the innocent and unofending were :frequently the victims of persecution while the lawless and guilty often passed unpunished. Living at a distance of near 700 miles from the capital of the state having but two members from Texas 5n Congress, having feelings, views, ha.bits and pursuits entirely different and distinct from the people of Coahuila the voice of our complaints and petition was either unheard or disregarded. In this state of things it was conceived that unless some remedy could be applied disorganization and ruin would be the inevitable c<msequences these were the reasons which produced a call of that convention these were the reasons which prompted that convention to form a plan of constitution and these were the reasons which induced Austin at an immense sacrifice to undertake the discharge of the duties imposed on him with a confident hope that he would be able to render effective services to his countrymen. That he has lteen unsuccessful in his mission is but too true and the consequences to have been of the most unfortunate character vVe know not the charges upon which A has been arrested and hence it is impossible to refute them. But if it be true as has been r.lleged by some that he is suspected of having designs upon the integrity of the :Mexican Territory we reply that the allegation is a. libel as well upon the people of Texas as upon Austin. These people have never for one single moment entertained such a monstrious idea and A is the last man against whom such a charge could be success- fuily made. His motto has universally been the constitution and Laws federal and state and one some occasions he has even aroused the feelings of some of his countrymen against him by advising a. tame and humiliating submission to the indignities which have been heaped upon us. These are facts too notorious to be question and to doubt them would be evidence of the weakest incredulity. Since A was a..ispatched to Mexico the most favourable changes have taken place in the political affairs of Texas. The National Congress in answer to our petitions has repealed the obnoxious feature of the Law of the 6th of Apl 1830 and the Govt. of our state having come to a .knowledge of our wants and prompted by a spirit of justice and lib- erality with which its later acts have been characterised has ex- tended its arm of relief and applied the necessary remedy to our wrongs. . The administration of the laws is placed upon a firm and intelli- gible basis the trial by Jury the bulwark of our liberty is established tmd the property and life and liberty of the subject is secured for all of which distinguished marks of kindness and liberality we take this public opportunity of tendering our most cordial and h:enrtfelt gratitude both to the Federal and State Govts. In conclusion we most humbly pray that our friend and fellow citizen S. F. Austin
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