PAPERS OF !JRABEAU Buo ~APARTE LAMAR
would be the necessary consequence of disunion amongst. ourselves, he has felt the most intense anxiety to see such a course pursued as would produce con~ert and harmony. While at the same time he is disposed to be charitable towards all, yet it must be admitted, that our council and discussions have not been characterized by that degree of temper liberality and forbearance which is of the last im- portance in times like these. . The people of Texas, sir, have but one common in.terest. Although some may be more deeply interested in its prosperity than others; it is preposterous to say, that there is a single man in the whole com- munity, who would be willing to take any step that he believed would be injurious in its consequences: We all aim at the same great end, but there must necessarily be great difference of opinion, as to the most successful mode of effectin"' it. The people at this time may be said to be divided into three parties. The first has been denominated the war party. These compose a large and very respectable portion of the community, and they urge· with' very great plau ibility, that Texas is now by the repeated acts of the general Government entirely released .from her alliance to the late republic of fexico, that she is thrown back into a complete state of nature, and that by the laws of nature and of nations; she has an indisputable right to take care of herself. li the premises be admitted, the conclu ion is irresistible. If the con titutions stat~ and federal have been annulled by the establishment of a new form, of government nothing can be more clear that that the integral parts. which compose the old compact, have the ri 0 ht to determine !or· themselves whether they will adopt the new. But it is no part ot the writers present intentions to discuss the merits or pretensions ot <'ither party. those who hold the affirmative can doubtless sustain themselves by more plausible arguments than into the whirlpool of politics. The second party (and that which the writer believes to be the largest) is composed of th(?se men who are willing to pledge their lives and fortunes for the good of their country, but before any final , or decisive step is taken these conceive that the whole of Texas ought to be consulted; that the majority in all states or communities ought to control and that where the opinion of the majority ·is clearly expressed it should there be acquiesced in by the minority. These sentiments do honor to the head as well as the heart. They urge that "the welfare and happiness of Texa is their motto," and that they are willing to unite heart and hand in promoting that object, so soon as the voice of the people can be heard. The next party may be denominaled the r eutralist. Their name gives a sufficient definition. They are as contemptible in numbers as in character. · The last classification has been styled the submission party. This em1>races a large number of very good men, but, who either alarmed or misguided, are willing to lie supinely on their backs, declaring that there is no cause of alarm, and tamely submit to all the insults and indignities which military despoti m may think proper to heap upon us. They alledge that the general government has the right to introduce troops into any part of Texas in any numbers which it
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