The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume II

380

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

fidence will be restored- emigration [w] ill commence with real and renewed benefit to the Country, it will seek the west- the war will be carried over Texas- the people will sow in safety and reap in peace- the whole body politic will revive from its present depression and apathy, and life, energy and action will be defused through every branch of business-lands will rise in value,- the Texian currency will cease its downward tendency to continental paper and Texian credit will be restored, so that the bonds of the Government will be sought at reduced terms. The evils of delay and procrastination will I fear be as disasterous as 1 have pictured the benefits of promptitude. It matters little whither l\fexico attacks us for one two or three years to come. If the last two years and a half has not increased our strength two thousand votes and our wealth has decreased, when al- most every one was crying out that the war was over and peace re- stored, what can we expect in the next two years when all find from sad reality that we are in the midst of the war, and the desolate state of the whole frontier deters emigration In the mean time the \Yhole capital of the country lies dormant- the time of every citizPn is lost and the cruel loss from these sources is greater than the whole expenses of "\Var. Many of the oldest and staunchest residents and friends of our Cauise are daily becoming worn out and dispondent, and even the most sanguine are overwhelmed with gl [oo l m-the rem- nant of our resources, are exhausting and credit getting worn and I plainly hazzard the opinion that even if l\foxico does not ihvad.~ ns and the Indians awating her motion should temporarily withdnw--- Texas at the end of twelve months more of delay, will be weaker and poorer than she now is. On the other hand if Mexico tempted by our weakness and the cer- tain prospect of cooperation from the Indians, should invade us- one thing is certain- we would have to support the war until they ,vere driven out-the whole west would be devasta~ed and ruined. and a scene of terror, dismay and wild affright, might ensue, the bare possibility of which it is impossible to contemplate without horror. If these things are possible, nay probable, what objection can the friends of Texas have to using every means of safety which may be offered? It is this which emboldens me to make a proposition which I think will succeed. It is my decided opinion and has been since I entered into this war, that Texas of herself cannot maintain the conflict with success against Mexico and the Indians, and I never again wish to see an army even from our native land brought and quartered amongst our citi- zens, which will always engender jealousy distrust and misrepresen- tation. I have also believed and still believe that nothing but active, ener- getic and offencive war, will ever extort the acknowledgment of the independence of this country from Mexico- We [may] procrastinate for ten years, until the energies, Constitution and fortunes of every man in the Republic are ruined and be as far from our object as we now arc. Since the battle of San Jacinto I have seen with regret a disposition .to try every thing but fighting_:plan after plan-scheme after scheme-and flatter,ing hope after flattering hope has vanished into thin air, and-the present situation of the country is a Commen-

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