22-1
TEXAS ST.Vl'E LIBRARY
a consciousness of the rectitude of our cause; will support and sustain us under the most powerful opposition We are awai·e that your pntince has been almost rxhausted in the numberless, discussions, of the exciting- and interesting Subjects, which have lately agitated this country; that rumour with her thous- anq tongues; has been busy, in the propfa) g[a]tion. of reports & stories, which have drawn heavily upon, your credulity, that facts and falsities have been so mingled and connected, with each other as to render it almost impossible to discriminate between them, & that public confidence has bee11 entirely lost; in that maze, of chaos con- fusion & anarchy, which is the 'necessary consequence of Such a de- plorable State of things. All admit that our situation is truly a critical one; bnt as yet none have been able to recommend a plan, which the whole pe::ple approve. "The "welfare, the safety the happiness of Texas" is the motto of all but as to the best mode of attaining this grand desisderation, there is great contrariety of opinion. Let us reason this matter together then as friends & brother~, in a spirit of mildtiess, honesty and charity worthy of so great and good a cause.- In determining upon the merits of a proposition, we should not condemn it, because objections may be raised or difficulties may pre- sent themselves. It is unreasonable· to expect, or to calculate, than any thing human should be perfect. In deciding upon a question then so mome11tous as the one about to be submited, we should endeavor to divest ourselves, of all prejudice, whether local or personal, to weigh dispassionately, all its advantages and disadvantages, to listen -calmly and patiently to every thing that may be urged on either side, and finally to ask ourselves, whither any better plan has been proposed. It is exceedingly easy to rain objections, and to find faults, but it is mu-ch more difficult, to point out a course in itself unexceptionable. All that can be expected of us is to do our best, and when that is done, an impartial tribunal will be certain to approve. ' This brings us to the consideration of the Lon~ Striving question, which now agitates a whole people. What shall Texas do at the present cris[is.] It is clear beyond the possibility of doubt, that something must be done, and all the energy of warm hearts and cool heads, should be put in requisition, to determine this momentous question upon which depend, the fortunes of all and probably the lives of many. Texas at this time occupies, an attitude before the \\'Orld as Sin~ular as none, being the only portion of the civilized part of the globe which has no government at all. True there arc some officers, who still hold on to the authority acquired under the State constitution, but they arc mere tenants at will, nnd liable to be remoYed at auy moment. Tho source from which they derived thcit· power has failed and hcncr, their functions have expired. The Federal Republic of ~lcxico hns been dissolYed, the constitutions of the State and ~enl. Govt. have been nhroJ?aled, h,v the nsnrping powers of the military & clergy; a ~overnment new in its character, & contrary to the Spirit of liberty, has been estnblisl1cd on the ruins
Powered by FlippingBook