1546
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
your character and patriotism is my apology for the liberty, I now take in addressing you. The flag of liberty and Independence, now floats above my head- No longer willing to endure oppression, we have, like our forefathers, resolved upon liberty, or death !-'\Ve have been prematurely forced into the field. Threatened with the vengeance of a brutal soldiery, we have come forward, like the sons of freemen, to meet those invad- ers! and to protect our fellow citizens, who are marked out as the destined victims of oppression and of violence-'\Ve call upon you and every American, as our brothers in a foreign land, to aid us in the holy cause-Twenty three Nations of Indians, exclusive of the Comanches are now sacredly pledged to aid us in our lndependence- vVe must succeed, and this base government will soon shake to its foundation-we have sent communications to every part of your Colony etc, and are now only waiting to know the determination of our friends in that quarter-The communications will explain every thing-I have written fully to Capt Buclmer-If you appreciate my feelings, you will of com·se write me immediately-In haste- Col. James Ross- B. ,v. EDWARDS [Addressed:] Colo James Ross Colorado Austin's Colony Texas
B. v:r. EDwAnos ro AYI..ETT c. BucKNER.
Nacogdoches Dec"· 26 th 182G DEAR Sm. Enclosed are papers, which will explain their mean- ing-Though a stranger to you, I take it upon myself to forward you those documents, at the request of my brother, and from a high regard for your character and true American feelings, long since known to me, I am prompted at this moment to open a correspondence with you, believing that in times like these we would both feel supe- rior to the little formalities of fashionable intercourse, which to often cramp the arts of congenial souls-Buckner. "This is the time to try the souls of men "-The flag of libe 1 rty now waves in majestic triumph on the heights of Nacogdoches, and despotism stands appalled at the sight-I need not say to you why we have taken this bold nnd determined stand. You are not ignorant of our oppressions hem, nor can you be less acquainted with the treachery· and perfidy of this government-we have found documents in the office here, making it evident, that troops would be sent on to force us into submission to our wrongs, and to dragoon us into slavery-We are Americans, and will sooner die like freemen, than to Iive like slaves-
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