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THE AUSTIN PAPERS
break up the foreign settlements in Texas- This.committee have no doubt of the correctness of this information and therefore recommend- That the people should maintain the position taken by them at their primary meetings- to insist on their rights under the federal Constitution of 1824 and law of 7 th May of that year and union with the Mexican Confederation- . That every district ought to organize its militia where it is not already done, and have frequent musters, and that the Captains of Companies make a return without delay to the political Chief of this Department of the force of his Company the arms and amunition, in order that he may lay the same before the general consultation of Texas-- Volunteer Companies are also recommended- This Committe deems it to be a duty to say that in its opinion all kind of conciliatory measures with Gen 1• Cos and the military at Bexar are hope- less, and that nothing but ruin to Te:i<as can be expected from any such measures- They have already. and very properly been resorted to without effect. WAR is our only resource--there is no other remedy but to defend our rights, our country and ourselves by force of arms-- To do this we must be united, and in order to unite, the delegates of the people must meet in general consultation and organize a system of defense and give organization to the country so as to produce concert- UNTILL some competent authority is established to direct all that can be done is lo recommend this Committee therefore earnestly recommends this subject and advises every man in Texas to prepare for war and lay aside all hopes of conciliation. San Felipe de Austin September 19 1835 S. F. AUSTIN. chairman of the Comm. [Rubric] Please to send copies to Matagorda and over the country.- Committee of Safety, Columbia AUSTIN TO w. D. C. HALL
San Felipe, Sept. 19, 1835.
DEAR SIR:- War is upon us--there is now no remedy, the answer of Cos is positive that the individuals who have been demanded must be given up, and that the people must unconditionally submit to whatever the government chooses to do for them; he lays down the principle that the General Govern- ment have the right to force us to submit to any reform or amendments, or alterations that congress may make in the constitution, &c. This is impos- sible--we had better leave the country at once, for we shall be, under Cos' doctrine, without any 'rights or guarantees of any kind. I therefore think
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