27
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
by any open exertions of the friends of Col A.-and as things are in a fair way to come out right our best policy is to avoid everything that can produce irritation and look with a single eye to the Elections, with a sound Ayuntamiento legally installed all will go right. You must not decline the nomination for first Regidor it will not give you much trouble and the ticket your name is on will he carried by a strong vote which will make us safe-- I am glad to learn Stephen is to have a tryal at last for with anything like fair play and legal decision he will come off with flying colors H AUSTIN [Rubric] I enclose the paper I drew up to show you I have not been idle. 1
[Enclosure]
ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC
By this· Public declaration Be it Known
That we the undersigned Citizens of the Mexican Republic, and of the State of Coahuilla and Texas; Resident in the Municipality of Columbia, (heretofore called Brazoria) being seriously alarmed by the late unauthor- ised call of an Election of members to a Revolutionary Congress; Jeopardiz. ing as we believe the security of our families and our dearest rights and interests, and tending, if acquiesced in by the people to the utter ruin of all our hopes in Texas; Feel it incumbent upon us to make this our Public Protest against, and declaration of disent to, the unauthorized doings of a few ambitious agitators of revolutionary measures As Republicans, we hold to the immutable republican principle, that in a republican community, no measure involving the peace, security and happiness of the people, should be adopted without the assent of a majority of the people, fairly called for and distinctly expressed- Yet we have seen as we conceive our most sacred rights and privileges usurped, and sentiments expressed upon our responsibility, which we do not, nor ever have, subscribed to; We therefore deem it our duty to ourselves and to our fellow Citizens of the other munitjpalities of Texas, to permit no longer by our Silence, a few aspiring ambitious men-Zealous to promote their own elevation and individual advantage, but reckless of consequences to the great body of the people; to use our names or assume the right of thinking for, or dictating to us the Political course we shall pursue,.without our knowledge or con- sent;-
1 The document which follows is probably the one to which Austin refers.
Powered by FlippingBook