183
P,\PERS OF IIRABEAU BuoNAP,\RTE LAMAR
without which her interests could not be sustained, is the position which I a sumed. Wnat description of separate government then did I or would I recommend¥ I answer a separate provisional gover'nment founded on the principles of necessity, and warranted by the law' of nature and nation . It is evident, under existing circumstances, that Texas, if she intend to sustain herself con- stitutionally, cannot remain connected with Coahui]a, who has violated that in trument in the most outrageous and lawless manner, and yielded he1 elf, without .an effort, an easy and willing prey to anarchy and military misrule. It will be obvious to all that Texas is not physically able to put down the lawless mobs, and rein tate and sustain her civil au- thoritie in Coahuila, though strictly speaking that would certainly be her constitutional duty. The two provinces constituting the state being widely separated by a de ert region; and Coalmila evincing on her part ~o great a ·aispo ition to innovate, and to en- tirely di regard the provisions of that instrument, by which we should be united and governed; renders it doubly necessary on the part of Texas, to u e the utmo t precaution and prudence, to keep clear of collision and at the same time to guard and protect her interests. It mu t appear clear to every man of thought, that as constitutional men, we are bound to upport the constitution and laws; and protect our civil authoriti_es wherever located. It is equally clear that T.exas cannot su tain her authorities while located in the province of Coahuila. In attempting this she would find all that Province and a part of the permanent army arrayed against her· thereby bringing her into collision, which it is certainly her intere t by all fair and proper means to avoid. This course then must be given up as impracticable for Texas; and may properly be considered impo sible. Let her then separate her- self from an evil which she i unable to cure,. and administe1· the proper antidotes to prevent its nearer approach by establishing a line of demarkation, between her elf and the infected di trict; aying, "thu far shalt. thou come and here ,shalt thy ravages be stayed.,,. Let her oraanize herself into a separate and provisional government, on the principles of the constitution, until that in- strument shall be resuscitated by a strict adlt,esion to all and singular its provisions. Let her respectfully Jay her grievances before the General Congre of the I\fexican Republic, setting forth the utter inability of Texas to correct those evils, and sustain her constitutional authorities in that province; and at the same time enter a formal · protest against the lawle acts, and outrages committed by Coahuila, praying that she be compelled to return to her constitutional duty, or that the provisional line of demarka• tion be made perpetual between us. Texas by doing this will have di charged her duty, and will afford herself protection from the evils of anarchy; and at the same time evade colli ion. This I conceive to be the only legitimate com."£e left for her to pursue; the only one to evade an-archy and military misrule; the only one UJ}.der existing circumstances. calculated to protect her constitution; in short, the only one that can savti her from political ruin. 'In d.oing
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