234
TEXAS ST.\'l'E LrnR:\RY
stitution and all officers under it having perished in the Anarchy that at present surrounds-and that unless something is done is likely soon to overwhelm us. Some seem to imagine that the present difficulties can be quieted by remaining inactive and venting their endless and unavailing curses on the heads of the land speculators and war party, as they are tei:med. We profess ourselves as a matter of public policy diametrically opposed to all large monopolies of .the public domain like the late land specu- lation ; & equally opposed to the principle of any person er party rashly involving us in difficulties against the consent of the majority and we wish a consultation among other things for the purpose of devising some plan to prevent the remainder of our public lands from being trifled away; and also to prevent a few rash individuals from deluging us with all the horroL·s of war against our consent, and before we are prepared. Unless some concerted plan of action is determined on in g-eneral Consultation such envolvment is inevitable, for a great many believe in the hostile intentions of the government and have sworn to resist with their lives the introduction of armed force. Some seem to imagine that every thing can be done by neigh- borhood or Colony meetings suddenly assembled as suddenly dis- persed and always acting under excitement. "\Ve \\;ould ask if a Consultation of all Texas composed of members selected for their wisdom and honesty a:nd their deep interest in the welfare of the country who would deliberate calmly and in full pos- session of all the necessary information. We ask, \\'ould not a body like this be more apt to restore orde.r and peace and confidence and would not its acts & doing be more respected by the government of the people of Texas and the world than the crude conceptions, & rash determinations of a hundred or a thousand hastily convened meetings. \Ve conceive it anti-republican to oppose a consultation. It is tanta• mount to saying that the people cannot and shall not be trnstcd with their own affairs. That their voice; shall be stifled and that a few shall rule and "dictate and lord it over us as is now, and always has been the case in this land of our adoption. What the Consutatiou may do when it meets we cannot venture to predict. Knowing how- ever that it will speak the voice of the majority; & recognizing th: republican principle that the majority arc right on its decision, ,1e will fearlessly stake our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred hono:. I£ (which we believe impossible) that majority should require ns w yield servile submission to a form of government or to any thug else that would disgrace us as free born men we would not coimter.1ct its decision-but wonld claim the privilege of removing ourse\-es from a land where such base and abject doctrines prevail. The only instructions which wo would recommend to be givo1 to our representatives is to secure peace if to be obtained on cons;itn- tional term.<J--& to prepare for war-if wnr is inevitable. We ierc- with send yon information for. the truth of which we vouch calcunted to convince the most incredulous that there is every prospect er our being soon invaded, the bare prQbability of which is certainly suficieut to make any prudent people meet together and provide for ther pro- tection. Those who are in favor of peace ns no doubt all of ts arc,
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