354
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
contended for her rights as an Independent State of the Mexican Confed. eracy, rights .guaranteed by the Constitution of 1824, that failing to secure those rights and seeing a consolidated military despotism pervadiu'g the country, with Catholic intolerance of religious Worship, She availed herself of the sacred prerogative of freemen and declared herself independent and assumed the consequences, they will perceive that there is a striking affinity in the attitude of Texas and the American Colonies at the Commencement of the War--of Independence, and yeald their sympathy their services afloat or in the field, or their wealth in support of so righteous a cause Constrained by circumstances which preclude at present the devotion of my services, in her cause, I nevertheless would break the ties that may be severed without dishonor, and offer myself a sacrifice for such a struggle, if it shall prove necessary to the attainment of the independence or the union of Texas with the American Union, feeble as those services Might be, tho' not entirely useless. So far as some experience in Maratime war is concerned, yet united with thousands of kindred spirits the effect of com• bination would ensure success. In this way I presume it would he prac• ticable to procure officers and man a Ship or vessels suited to the enterprise before mentioned, there would be some difficulty in providing an arrria• ment, or rather in Embarking it in the vessels in which to employ it, but not insurmountable diffculties. Would the commander of such a force if offe.red as a loan to Texas, with the officers he might recommend be com• missioned so as to give them suitable rank in the Naval Review? their . emoluments to depend on their captures, and the usual bounty in Land but to be placed under such restraint as to avert the consequences of any con• travention of the Laws of Nations?- I feel that; I may be subject to the imputation of obtruding, myself on your attention but I am anxious that the history of the events in Texas, should be better understood in the New England States, and know that ,vhen the subject of religious liberty, and rational_/reedom are agitated and contended for and by a people claiming consanguinity and evincing the most laudable heroism, the citizens of this Wide spread republiccan Empire, will fly to the rescue. It is obvious that entire secrecy would be indispensible to the success of the enterprise under consideration. I therefore need not enforce it. When in the City of Mexico in 1822, I had the pleasure of an acquaintance with General Long and the officers of his staff. Among the latter was Captain Austin 1 of the infantry, Whose subsequent history it would afford me pl~asure to learn and especially if successful- The unfortunate Genl. Long; Was assassi• nated at that time and being among those who assisted at his interment, and having since heard that his Widow received from the Mexican government a Grant of Land in Texas, I would venture to enquire whether her fate is
1 Apparently John Austin, who died of cholera in Texas in 1833.
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