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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Thus do we behold two enterprising individuals, seeking at the same moment to open the door of emigration into that land of beauty and fertility,' which had so long been clo~ed against the American people. The object was a noble one; and 1t was pursued by both of these indomitable spirits, with an energy and perseverance which have been seldom surpassed. But their mode of obtaining the same end - how widely different and diverse! 'The one drives at his object by a bold revolutionary seizure of the whole country; while the other, much more ~ircumspect and politic, seeks his purpose in a quiet way, by suing like the fair founder of Carthage, for so much territory only as may be encompassed by a bull's hide. The one plants his banner upon the soil, and defies the King to strike it down; the other approaches the Royal Authority by peaceful petition and friendly negociation. It is known that mild and conciliatory meas- ures will often obtain what violence and force cannot achieve. It was so in the present instance. Poiicy prevailed over arms. It was the enterprise of Moses Austin which finally succeeded and brought immortal honor to his name, and laid the foundation of a glorious Republic.- . [The next fifteen pages of Lamal"'s manuscript contain a sketch of Moses Austin which seemed too irrevelant to include in this narrative.] Long's Expedition.
1820 - 1821.
From the very beginning of this enterprise, it had to struggle against a powerful prejudice. We allude -to the objection which gen- erally prevailed against its being conducted upon individual responsi- bility, without having any connection with the movements of the in- terior of Mexico. J\fany who wel"e really friendly to the cause, still withheld their support of it, because they believed that Genl. Long ought to have been commissioned by some of the Revolutionary J untos. They regarded this as necessary to legalize his acts, and also to allay the prejudices of the Mexican people against the North- americans. In their opinion his operations would not be approved and sanctioned by the Insurgent party because one of their own patriots was not at the head of the enterprise, and this circumstance, in connection with their national jealousies, would prevent the re·- imbursemcnt of any advances whi-ch might be made to· the cause. In spite of the unreasonableness of this objection it still ope.rated with great force, and very materially affected the popularity and progress of the enterprise. It must be remembered, however, that when General Long first took the field against the despotism of Spain, and in favor of Mexican Liberty and Independence, the Revolutionary party in ,the Interior, had been effectually put down; the Revolution was virtually quelled, and there was not existing in the country at that period any organized and acting hody from whom he could have derived the desired author-
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