July 22 1836 to Sep 23 1836 - PTR, Vol 8

We passed through that period, however, in safely. A foundation was then laid, which I believed, and am now convinced, could not, and cannot be broken up. No one knows or can appreciate as well as I do, the labor it has cost, and perhaps but few have maturely considered ils strength, and results-they are co-durable with the English language and with the Anglo-American race. In April, 1833, I was appointed by the people of Texas, represented in general convention, to go to the city of Mexico as their agent or commissioner, lo apply for the admission of Texas into the Mexican confederation as a State. This appointment was ruinous to my individual interests, and in every respect hazardous and fatiguing. I accepted it, however, from a sense of duty, and went lo Mexico at my individual expense, for I never asked, or received one dollar from the country for that trip. I was imprisoned in Mexico, as is well known, and detained about two years. During this time, it seems that some persons engaged in large land speculations in Monclova, the seat of government of the state of Coahuila and Texas. These are the speculations to which you allude in your letter of the 15th instant, and which, you say, are ruinous to my election.- You ask me to say whether I am or not, concerned in them. The whole of the circumstances connected with that affair-my absence from the country at the time-the almost impossibility of communicating with me then, owing to my imprisonment in Mexico-my known, and uniform, and undeviating opposition to every thing that was in any manner calculated to entangle the land or political affairs of Texas-all, prove lo impartial minds, that I was not concerned in them. But, as you ask me a direct question, whether I am interested or nol, I will reply out of respect to you, and say positively that I never have been, and am not, concerned or interested in their speculations directly or indirectly. Neither did I know the full history of those transactions, until within a few days past, nor am I certain that I understand them yet. I pass lo another point-the Convention of November last, adopted a declaration on the 7th of that month-it was the voice of the people legally expressed. Whether the Constitution of 1821 was the proper basis for the country to take, or not, it was taken by that declaration of 7th Nov. was, for the time being, the

255

Powered by