PAPERS OF :MIRABEAU Buo AP.\RTE LAMAR 461 pnrpo e was extermination; while other and populous section o.f the country, have been comparatively exempt from mole tation or incon- venience.-Many citizens have uffered an entire devastation of their personal goods; other have bad their dwellinas destroyed by the enemy; others again have een theirs given to the flames, by their own countrymen, for purpose connected with the public defence. \Var is a national calamity, and ought to be undertaken and prose- cuted only for national purpo e . It would eem equitable, that the positive de truction of property, accruing from the war, should con- stitute a national loss, and not be borne exclusively, by a few indi- viduals, whose locality happened to be made the theatre of carna"'e and deva tation. The citizens of the Brazos were contending, not for the independence of the Brazos, but of Texas; and the inhabitant o.f Texas generally, were a deeply interested in the contest as themselve . The sound of the enemy's trumpet ha never disturbed the quietude of some regions, \Yhile the tramplin"' of hi armies, has carried deso- lation and ruin over the fair urface of others. It belong to the wi dom an<l the justice of congress to determine whether compen- sation shall be made for losses thu incurred. By an unhappy concatenation of circumstances, the public mind has been attracted to one subject of deep. and exciting interest. Tho Anglo-American settlement in Texas, commenced about fifteen years ago, when our estimnble fellow citiz n, tephen F. Austin, the pioneer of pioneers, fir t di turbed the deep solitude of the Brazos, with the hum of civilization. For several year. , difficnltie and di nstcrs, privations and ufferings, where the common alotment of the settler . The apparent munificence of the government, had conceded to them large . portions of land; and the land were intrinsically valuable; but pre ently, they were of little worth. The early ettlers rega1·ded, rather their children than them elve , in anticipatino- the rewards of their painful migration to a wilderne s. Their title were made per- fect, according to the best tenure of all· earthly posses ions; they were derived directly frcm the (l'overmnent, in whom the property resided. To invade the sanctity of those titles, and to cancel right , consecrated by so many sufferings, would be a refinement of iniquity, that would have can ed a blu h of compunction, to uffu~e the coun- tenances of the Graechii. I tru t that this congress, and all other that may assemble in Texas, will prcmptly arid decisively put the seal of their reprobation npon all ini ter and nnrighteou peculations in the public domain. Bnt the moment the Legi lature of a country attempt , with an un- hallowed hand, to violate the just and ve ted right of individuals, government ceases to be a blessing,_ and civil society is di e ted of half it guarantees. In the course of your labor for the public weal, y-ou may experience trials and vexations that will be calculated to discourage your hearts, and infuse disirust into yonr minds. Your be t exertions and m::ist elaborate productions, may receive reproach, instead of approval; and your motives may be impugned, when they are pure as the snow of the mountain top. But let not these thing di hearten you; it is but "the rou"'h brake that virtue must rro through." Banish
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