57
PAPERS OF l\IIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
acknowledged military talents, made him not only a suitable, but popular leader. He pledged the whole of his private fortune in the enterprise; in which he was joined by Genl. \V. W. Walker, his mercantile partner, and many other of the choicest spirits of the day. With the best wishes for his welfare, he left Natches with about seventy five of the most hardy and entrepid followers, on the 17th- day of June 1819. As he pushed from the shore, a shot from the cannon _was fired to his success. It was evident, however, that an expedition so. publicly gotten up and openly conducted, could not be permitted to pass off without the notice of the government.- Attempts were accordingly made by the proper authorities, to arrest the leader; but the officers, not being over active and vigilant, their efforts we:re easily eluded, and General Long moved off in triumph with his Spartan band, awakening the spirit of war in his march, and gathering strength as he moved along.-He pushed for Natch- itoches, where he had a branch of his mercantile establishment(which he left to the superintendence of McDaniel) and thence to the Sabine and on to Nacogdoches, where, in a short time after his arrival he was able to muster about three hundred strong.- · It is a matter of much regret that there are so few objects upon which the minds of men can harmonize and act in concert. The most laudable and exalted purposes seem fated to breed a diversity of sentiment; and that diversity, to engender passion.-But if there is any one point upon which a whole community might think and feel and act together with unity and pleasure, we should suppose it would be just such an expedition as the one on which our hero has embarked. Yet this, like many other of the noblest efforts in the cause of freedom, was doomed to encounter the opposition of the ignorant and the malice of the vicious, notwithstanding the purity of the motives which prompted it, and the glorious ends to which it was directed. Long's designs were by many, either misunderstood or misrepresented. Even some of his own followers, looked upon the project a·s one. which was entered upon, merely because of its perils, and the individual glory to which it might lead. But such a view is npt only unjust to the intellect and principles of the gal- lant leader, but it reflects discredit upon some of the purest and most distinguished citizens of Mississippi and Louisiana. The expedition ·was founded in neither private speculation nor a desire of personal agrandizement. It was known to the intelligent portion of the people, both of Natches and New-Orleans, that its sole design am! intention was to get possession of the country-to :rescue it from Colonial bondage; and by establishing good government, order and sermrity, to induce the Citizens of the United States to occupy and cultivate it. General Long hoped to achieve by military operations, precisely what the two Austins afterwards had the ability and address to accomplish by peaceful negoceation. To show that no sinister or unworthy motives influenced his movements, and that his views were liberal and comprehensive, directed solely to the freedom, independence and settlement of the country, we have only to give a plain statement of his proceedings on his arrival at Nacogdoche·s, and let them speak for themselves.-
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