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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
States; and furthermore, that this negociation of the President, affords a new proof of his magnanimity and disinterested zeal for the public, which he was willing at all times to promote by the greatest sacrifices." Such was the language of the lost document, a:s we find it quoted among our memorandums. The eminent in- dividual alluded to, was General Ripley. Between him and our lrnro, there must have been some correspondence upon this subject; and in all probability, it accompanied and formed a part of the .President's communication to the Council. Of such correspondence, however, we have no traces; nor have we ever encountered the con- fidential communication which evoked the action of that body. The result of the secret session wa's the appointment of Genl. Ripley to the command of the enterprise. He was notified of his ,oppointment by the following official letter from General Long.
Republic of Texas Head Quarters
June 23rd 1820.
To J.\faj. Genl. Ripley,
Sir,
I do myself the honor to announce to -you that having resigned that office, you have been duly elected President of the Republic of Texas by the Supreme Coull'cil thereof, 'Convened conformable to the Constitution, and as President Ex-Officio, ·Generalisimo of the armies and navy thereof. Should you accept the appointment, the Govemment has determined that a grant of Land shall be made you of twenty miles, to be located on any of the unappropriated lands, in tracts of Twelve hundred and eighty acres each, and in addition thereto, the annual salary of T'wenty five thou. :sand dollars out the Treasury of the Republic. The Supreme Council waits with anxiety your ·determination. With high considerations, Your Obedient Servt. James Long. To this invitation, General Ripley forwarded the following letter of acceptance. He wrote two letters in reply, as if intending to leave it with his friend to choose the one which might be most appropriate to the occasion and consonant with existing circumstances. T'he one to which we have given preference is the most ample, and at the same time an invaluable exposition of the true nature and character of the enterprise. We insert it, almost solely because of the light which it affords upon this point. It is worth a volumn of argument and explanation; and must forever put at rest the unmerited prejudices which once prevailed against the operations of a patriot and a hero whose greatest errors were excess of chivalry, and the want of sel- fishness.
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