5
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
use of iL- I was taught to speak Lhe Lruth from my infancy and am too old to learn new habits-- I wished to get remedies that would salisfy Texas ~nd prevent its separation However whether my enemies have been active or not, my friends ought to be so, if they wish to relieve me, and they ought therefore to go and see Almonte in person- Great surprise has been expressed at the silence of Texas about me- All seem to think that a very respectfull, mild, bul frank and manly representation in my favor from the people of Texas stating in subslance- That I did no more than to represent their true wishes and opinions as they were when I left there in 1833, as it was my duty to do as an agent-that there never was any design in me, or in those people lo separate from Mexico, bul at the same time they believed in 1833, and still believe, that under the first law of nature they have the right, as all people have, to provide for their safety and salvation from ruin by any means in their power, in the extreme case that there was no other remidy left them, and that they not only consider this to be a right, but also a duty which as men they owe to themselves and to their families. That the desire to form a state separate from Coahuila, ~ grew out of the want of a competent local government, and not from any design to separate from Mexico-that if the mode that was adopted, and the interpretation given by the people of Texas, and by me, to the law of 7 May 1824, were erronious, it was a mere error in judgement, and not a design to violate the law, or the constitution-that there were strong opinions in 1833, in favor of an organization de facto, and that I was opposed to that measure (This is a fact, and a very important one for me to establish, very important indeed)-that the discontent in Texas was quieted by the repeal of the 11 article of the law of 6 April 1830 and by the remedies that were applied by the State Govt. last winter in the local administration, and that those people were faithful to the Mexican Consti- tution, and finally requesting my release, in as much as I had only acted as their agent and if any blame was to be atlached, it must fall on the people of Texas and not on their representative, and that those people were at all times ready to meet the responsability and iTL any man~er etc. etc.- The representation should be in the most respectful and mild terms- the strongest kind of ideas.and principles are better expressed in mild polite and even flattering language, than in any other way, and such language never gives offence or mortifies self dignity or self pride- No kind of harm can come to the people of Texas from such a representation for the very plain reason that they are far beyond the reach of harm-and it may save me, and do much good in other matters for it will tend very much to convince every body that this govt. must satisfy Texas or expect un- pleasant consequences or sell it- I say to you frankly that I am of the opinion that Texas will be tran'sfer[red] to t~e U. S. by treaty in less than two years- I may be sacrificed and not live, or not be in a situation to
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