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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
out for the purpose. At the second meeting were many of your oldest fellow citizens, who can have no views of speculation but who all unanimously, upon investigation, declared the country was in danger and that no time should be lost in preparing for war; the Alcalde and Ayuntamiento of Austin were of the same opinion, and ordered a turn out of the people to protect the country. There were at the meeting many persons from the jurisdictions of l\Iina and Matagorda, all of whom believed that no time was to be lost in preparing for war. The meeting at San Felipe had no desire to dictate to the balance of the community or to involve it in war; the only reason why the meeting at San Felipe first acted was because at that place the news of danger was first received, and the danger appeared too imminent to admit of delay. .Every matter of importance has to be brought about by the action of a few. The whole people never have moved at once in a body. It is only by meetings in different places that the sense of the country can be ascertained.-The meeting at San Felipe commenced the matter and I hope that meetings will be held in every part of the Province, to determine what shall be done. But that meeting re- solved that San Antonio should be taken, and for these reasons. '!'hey considered that the question of war was settled. That forces were coming against 'Texas, & in a very short time all Texas would have to turn out and fight-that opinion we still entertain, and still think San Antonio should be taken. The citizen of that place have at this time among us requesting of us assistance to drive the military from that place in order that they may unite with us in the common cause of protecting the country. By taking that place we would procure one hundred and sixty stand of musquets, many cannon and much amunition, and also about eight hundred head of horses, belonging to the overnment, and which we indispensibly require for the protection of the country. But, fel- low citizens of "l'exas, other weighty and important reasons exist why that place should be taken ; should you permit San Antonio to remain in the hands of the enemy your country is lost. Five hundred troops can so fortify San Antonio as to resist the united attack of all Texas, In that situation they have only to send out their parties of men and harrass and destroy he country, without ever coming to a pitched battle ; they will so annoy and harrass the country by con- tinued depredations and alarms, that wearied out, dispirited and disheartened, the people will gladly retreat beyond the Sabine. When you least expect it they will descend upon you and call you from your fields to Battle and before you can rally, they will kill and burn and destroy. In the depths of winter they will call you by their depredations to the 1field, and a thousand attacks and a thousand false alarms will destroy your patience and your property and make your country not worth contending for.-But if possible even worse than all this, you permit an enemy to be there stationed that will send the Indians continually upon you. Inhabitants of the Frontier-your situation will deplorable; in- stigated and protected by the Mexicans, the Indians will be your constant enemies; they will be the continued ravagers of your country and destroyers of yourselves. If you drive them from your neighbor-
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