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THE AUSTIN PAPERS
assure _you no advantages has, or will be taken of those who are in the field. Mr. Jack however can tell you what has been done. Now on another subject. I have written to brother Tom, that without we had more materials in our printing establishment, it was impossible to do work to any extent that it was all important, as well for ourselves as the interest. of the Country to send an agent immediately to N. Orleans for the purpose of getting what articles we want, and extend our subscription list, without a great patron• age, can not stand the heavy expense of carrying on the office-- We have sufficient weight of type, hut not proportion Mr. Baker can not he spared, because he is our only translator-I can not go for the reasons of my pressing business, as well of other things, as the improvement of the print-- ing office. This is, therefore, to request you to give Thomas a furlough so soon as you think he can be spared that he may go to the U S for the pur- poses above named. My reason for saying so much to you is, that I dis- covered from his last letter he was determined not to come home till after the campaign; and unless you thought he could better sen'e the country by forwarding our printing establishment, he would not consent to come from the field. Excuse me for troubling you with so long a letter, and believe me G. BORDEN JR [Rubric] [Addressed:] S. F. Austin Commander in Chief American Army San Antonio
AUSTIN TO PRESIDENT OF CONSULTATION 1
CONFIDENTIAL
Head Quarters above Bexar Nov. 5, 1835 t have heretofore expressed an opinion that it would he douhtfull policy to grant letters of mark, on more mature reflection I am inclined to change that opinion- Every effort will he made to distroy u~we are therefore fully justified in resorting to every possible means of defense. After the convention have declared for the Constitution and federal sistem, and war against centralism, letters of mark might he granted to defend our coasts and cruise against the vessels of the centralists and mili- tary usurpers-under this view I am in favor of it, and recommend the measure , In short we are in a war, in which the objects of our enemies is our total extermination. It is a matter of life and death-there is no medium or middle course left-none at all-under these circumstances there must be
1 From Army Papers. Texas State Library
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