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'fEXAS 'T.\Tlll LIBRARY
their minds to be enveloped in the dark mists cf unwarranted prej- udi-ce , and violent party spirit. Could I view· thC'ir report in the spirit in which I consider it to have been written I should have no hesitancy in pronouncing it as the crude and loathsome ahortion of bad heads and bad hearts, in a bad cause, combined. I should have no hesitancy in pronouncing them as parricides sacrificing the con- . titution of their country at the shrine of an imaginary phantom; and as such, of holding them up to the view of my fellow citizens a fit objects to be pointed at by the fixed and unerring finger of sl)orn. "\Yell knowing, however, some of the members of that committee to be honorable men, forbids the idea of thei1· having acted in bad faith; and as such, however circumscribed or illiberal their views may have been, they were, no doubt, intended to promote the general good. I trust, however, they will find, in the end, that they have eagerly and unwarily snatched the most habby plume that. has ever adorned their political cap ; and that the people will say •to them as in olden time: '' thou ha t plaistered us up with untempered mortar, crying peace, peace, when there is no peace." Possessing on my part no such feeling as seem to be evinced on the part of that committee, never having imbibed or cultivated such a spirit; however open they may have left them elves for retort on my part, feeling ai- I do, no ambitious views, other than those of honestly, and. faithfully discharging my duty: it can only be to me a source of regret, that so enlightened and influential a body should so widely differ with me in opinion, on a subject . o grave, and· of such vital importance to the whole community. When we take into consideration the crisis which is at hand, and "the rapid changes which are taking place in the government [under] which we live; every honest man who gravely reflects upon these things, should endeavor to inculcate in all men a spirit of humanity. Whatever differences of opinion there may be among us, whether as public or pdvate men; we hould recollect, that we are united together in the · bonds of christian charity. There are evils enough, to make us unhappy, without depriving ourselves of the best consolations which belong to our ituations, by manifesting an. insen ibility to one nn- other. If we cannot agree, let us at lea t endeavor to correct each others errors with modesty and decency. We all have an intere t at stake, and as such we -all have a right to be heard on thi im- portant occa. ion; and I do confidently hope, that I may be allowed the privil~ge of expre sing my opinion on thi grave and important ubject. without being denounced a. a violC'nt and recklc. , or a disorderly .and ambitious political adventurer. Having been commi.. ionC'd a the Political Chief of this Depa1·tn1enl, and as uch forming that link in the political chain, which conncrts the different political bodies, or Ayuntamicntos with the E.·ccutivc, and placed, as it were, on the politicnl watchtower; it become my bou11dc1i clnty to warn my fellow_-citizen. of the appronch of any e,·il, in the least calculated to infringe· their interest., in n political point of view; and to point out such proper and constitntionnl remedies, as to me may eefl1 expedient and propc,>r to countcrnct, or remedy tho. c c\'ils. In doing this I would modestly premise to my fellow-citizen , thnt
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