of 1:exas. Should you be _able on your arrival there lo find any pu~Jlick property or funds 111 the hands of any individual citizens of Bep_r you arc hereby fully authorized lo lake possession of and receipt for the same, making return of your proceedings lo the Secretary of War. It will be some two or three days before I can start any ~Ietach1_nent in the _direction of Bejar. If you are anxious to go up 11nmed1alely and lhmk your party strong enouirh to travel in safety you ne~d n~l delay you will find a party of about thirty at Bejar under d1recti_on of Judge Swisher who will afford you any facilities you may desire.
Very Respectfully yours Thos. J. Rusk
[ 4102)
[WILLIAMS to AUSTIN)
New Orleans 29 August 1836
My Dear Sir
If any single expression of mine in this letter should wound or morlify your feelings I entreat you "nothing extenuate nor set down aught in malice"-for hurt and crush'd as is my spirit I would not on you inflict the wound you have given me. I say given me, for although I have nothing direct from you, nevertheless I am informed that you charge me with a want of regard for your standing and character- That you my dear sir may have drawn such a conclusion, or that, by others you may have been induced to believe such has been the fact, is a matter which has now passed beyond the power of my control, and it is impossible for me to prevent what has already been ushered into existence, and therefore all that I can at this time do, is to call upon you lo reflect and examine into the motives you think I could have for such a proceeding towards any man I esteemed as a friend, and more especially towards you, in whom al the same time I ever have been proud lo connect the Lille of friend and benefactor- I believe you will readily grant-that it never could have been political power, for that I never courted- It could not have been, money, for that I am regardless of farther than it administers to my Comfort, and I am avaricious- If it has been an error in judgement in any matter of policy, such error my friend (if you believe me possessed of feeling) should have been more lightly visited than by a charge that at once sinks every thing that is honorable, and stamps me with inddible
347
Powered by FlippingBook