33
THE AUSTIN PAPERS
from the central committee in reply to the cheafs first address came out in hand bills 1 which was in direct opposition to the opinions of the cheaf which had its influence, and in fact the people are heartily tired of high handed and revolutionary measures and almost with one voice opposed the measure in toto I have not heard of any elections being held anywhere but within this jurisdiction and only in three electorial district here viz. Brazoria Columbia and Velasco at Brazoria there was 57 against a con- vention and 16 for it at Columbia 24 against and 23 for at Velasco· there was actually not more than from 7 to 10 legal votes to be given but at the time of the election there was two or three vessels lying there with their crews and passengers and to accomodate I supose Mr Wharton and Oct Archer they all went forward and voted for there candidate and I have been told there was between SO and 60 votes taken there when there was not more than ten in the precinct but it all availed them nothing as they were completely headed and broke down and so I hope they will remain.:? Your letter of 25 th came to hand a very short time before this election was to take place I showed it to McKinney, Williams, Bell and several others of your friends and they all concured in urging the publication of it and accordingly it was, and has been widely circulated both in the paper and handbills and all who I have conversed with it on the subject say they think it has had and will have a good effect. the tryo Chambers and Whartons are now as politically dead as if they were buried. Chambers has been at San Felipe but has not attemted to enter on his duties as a judge I hear he has gone back to Monclova, he met with the coldest kind of a ~old reception in the colony and I expect he was glad to get out of it again. Since I commenced this I saw your letter of the 18 th Oct to McKinney I am sorry you are so much deceived with regard to the Whartons conduct towards you. you are more decieved than ever if you think one of the tryo has the least good feeling toward you or that they ever had. no it is far from their remotest thoughts I saw the paper that Waller and Wharton signed 3 it was nothing but a statment of facts which neither of them could or dare deny it was drawn up at the request of McKinney and myself by W. H. Jack and their willingness to sign it was·not from any kind feelings towards you. their motives were widely different they discovered that your cituation was causing a strong a very strong excitement throughout the colony and Texas and \Vhartons only motive was to go with the current to gain popularity and to check the warm 1 October 28, 1834, above. 2For this movement to organize a state government, see Barker, Tlte Life of Stephen F. Austin, 468-469. 3Ayuntimento of Brazoria to Congress, July 31, 1834. Omiltt'd from this pub- lication.
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