271
THE AUSTlN PAPERS
to unite Texas permanently to the Mexican confederation by separating its local government and internal admmistration so far as practicable from every other part of Mexico, and placing it in the hands of the people of Texas, who are certainly best acquainted with their own local wants and could best harmonize in legislating for them. There was but one way to effect this union with any hopes of permanency or harmony, which was by erecting Texas into a state of the Mexican confederation. Sound policy and the true interests of the Mexican republic evidently required that this should be done. The people of Texas desired it, and if process [proofs] were wanting, but they are not, of their fidelity to their obligations as Mexican citizens this elfort to erect Texas into a State affords one which is conclusive to any man of Judgement who knows anything about this country, for all such are convinced that Texas could not and would not remain united to Mexico without the right of self government as a State. The object of the Texians therefore in wishing a separation from Coahuila and the erection of their country into a state WdS to avoid a total separation from Mexico by revolution. Neither Coahuila nor any other portion of the Mexicans can legislate on the internal affairs of Texas_:_ It is impossible- This country must either be a State of the Mexican confederation or must separate in toto as an independent community or seek protection from some power .that recognizes the principles of self government. I can see no remedy between one of these three positions and total ruin. • I must particularly call the attention of .the provisional government to the volunteer army now in the field. That their services have been and now are in the highest possible degree useful and important to Texas is very evident; had this army never crossed the River Guadaloupe, a movement which some have condemned, the War would have been carried by the cen- tralists into the colonies, and the settlements on Guadaloupe and Ca vaca would probably have suffered and perhaps been broken up. The Town of Gonzales had already been attacked and many of the settlers were about to remove. What effect such a state of things would have had upon the moral standing and prospects of the country altho' a matter of opinion, is worthy of mature consideration: and more especially when it is remembered that at that time the opinions of mariy were vacillating and unsettled, and much division prevailed. The volunteer army have also parallized the force of Gen. Cos, so th_at it is shut up within the fortifications of Bexar incapable of any hostile movement whatever, outside the walls, and must shortly sur- render or be annihilated. The enemy has been beaten in every contest and skirmish, which has pro~en the superiority of the volunteers, and given confidence to every one. Our undisciplind volunteers, but few of whom were ever in the field before have acquired some experience and much confi- dence in each other and in themselves, and are much better prepared for organization and to meet a formidable attack than they were before.
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