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TEX.\S STATE LIBRARY
would evince to the Republic and to the world, that although her citizens were only exotics, yet they had found the climate and soil in which they were now ettled congenial to their well being, and as such they were ever alive to the rights and privileges guarantied to them by that government, whose invitation they had accepted, whose wildernes they had pioneered and settled, and whose constitutions and laws they respected. She has once turned her face ,against innovation and military misrule; let her then con- tinue t9 act consistent and evince to the world that he posse es stammina of character (a chip of the old block) and that her rights and privileges are immutable a.nd .are not to be thwarted. by the whims and caprice of ever lawle s mob who ma~· think proper to set.themselves up in oppo ition. If confidence can be placed in the representations of our repre entative, which is certainly worthy of the highest credit; (independent of which the amc information ha been transmitted to us from private gentlemen of the highc t respectability, leaving the matter beyond any reasonable probability of doubt;) the committee then, before alluded to, being appointed as a committee of vigilance, safety and correspondence .and a it were placed on the watch-tower· will certainly deem this matter worthy their attention, and if so, act promptly; or otherwi e pub- licly a sign their reason , in order that some other mode of co- operation may be .a·aopted. · These fellow citizens, are my honest opinions on thi all important subject, they are given to you freely, frankly, and firmly; I am fully alive to the importance of the subject· and have reflected deeply on the con equcnces, which may flow from the deci ion which you may make: and sati fied a I am in my own mind of the correct- ness of my conclusions, I call upon you to come forward on thi im- portant occasion, to act promptly and to protect yourselves. In a <'ountry situated like ours, so illy provided with the facilitie of communication, I fear that more danger is to he apprehended from the want of concert of actiorl; than from the want of unanimity llf opinion; this consideration alone hould give activity and energy to all tho e who feel .an intere t in the welfare of their adopted couutry. I am well aware that there arc many who will oppo e the opinions that I have here expressed; I know that they po sess power and in- fluence, and I also know that both will be exercised to controvert these opinions, and to produce re u1ts contrary (as I conceive) to the true interests of Texas. But, fellow citizen , I , arn you ac-rainst taking the ipse dixit of any man for establi hcd truth, and I call upon you, who are the bone and inew of the land, to think for :yourselves and weigh well the nll important matter now ubmitted for your con ideration and decision. If any honld oppo. e you in your opinion, call upon them publicly to a si1;tn th~ir rc~sons; l~t tht'm safely and convince you, ere yon follow m then· tram; fo1· it may ometimcs happen that private interests ·will conflict with the public weal, and that men may be found who will sacrifice the latter at the shrine of the former. Let none of my ·fellow citizens he so uncharitable as to attribute the view here advnncec1 to a pirit of dictation or as having emanated from the wild nbcritions of a young
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