THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 1317 deven servirme en la expedicion, y p. ultimo q. suspenda V. todo movi- miento hostil, si le fuese posible, hasta q. obremos en combinacion, pero si esto no pudiere efectuarse pr las circunstancins lo obligen a V. a la campafia, obre V con toda energia, ~n el concepto q. el Su- premo Gobierno approvara su conducta. Bejar 18 de Mayo de 826. [AHu:lrADA.] por cuyo motivo espero su llegacla q. le participare a V. con toda le brevidad q. me sea posible p" q. arreglemos ntras operaciones de conformidad. . s. T. C. D. 1 ESTEVAN AUSTIN.
AUSTIN TO MILITIAMEN.
[about May 1, 1826.]
F[ellow] S[itizens] You are therefore now called upon to protect your own homes, your own property, to shield your wives and children from the ar- rows of a savage and merciless enemy-your adopted country now also called upon you to rally around the national flag and fight its enemies the "'\-Vacos and Tahuacanies-every honorable and ardent impulse·Therefore that·can animnte the bosoms of free men burns in yours and urges you forward to meet the enemy-the defence of your firesides-of your wives and chilclen, your friends-yourselves_.;. your property and your country. fellow S. the motives which have caused you to take up arms is a sufficient guarantee that you will use those arms as becomes brave men fighting in a just cause. You are decendants of freemen-the decenclants of brave soldiers also Ameri- cans-the blood that fills your viens has warmed the hearts of those who fought in the American Revolution fought and conquered the oppressors of American Liberty. Perhaps the spirits of your Fathers watch over the conduct of their decendants, perhaps their eyes as well as those of your friends, your countrymen and your adopted Govt are upon you They see the great importance of the duties, be- fore you, that the prosperity the safety of an infant and flourishing new colony depends in a great degree on your bra.very and good con- duct in this first effort to humble and punish our enemies. Shall their hopes, their prairs be disappointed-No. Your conduct since the first commencement of this colony, the union nncl determined spirit thnt now animates you are guarantees that the only obstacle to your com- .plete tryumph will be the flight of your enemies before you can find ili~. • • • The depradntions of your enemies the W. and T. indians and there hostile prepamtions, has driven us to the necessity of taking up arms in self defence. The frontier is menaced-The whole colony is threatened-under these circumstances it became my duty to cnll~ the 1 Seilor 'l'cnlcotc Coronel Don.
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