of preparation, when on the 3rd June a party of volunteers landed at Vclasco, recently from New Orleans via Galveston. Their minds had been often and long inflamed hy reports of the barbarous alTocities, practiced by our enemies and their indignation against Santa Anna, partook of fanaticism. Noise and commotion soon followed their lmHling. On the mornign of the 4th some acntlemen informed me that the citizens above were exceedingly agitated, al the report of Santa Anna's liberation. The excitement waxed warmer among the volunteers, and many citizens caught the infectious spirit, while busy agitators piled the fagots of declama- tion, upon the fires of enthusiasm. Considering, as I always have done, the domestic tranquility of Texas as of more importance than any foreign relations, and perceiving an intensity of feeling, which I had not before anticipated, although I was apprised that the treaty would be unpopular, until a favorable result was ascertained, I determined to order the debarkation of the prisoners. An order lo that effect was issued, and the honorable Mr. Hardiman, general Mcmuca11 Hunt, and colonel Henderson two gentlemen of high character recently from North Carolina, and colonel Benjamin F. Smith of the army were deputed to wait upon the Mexican president, and to make known the will of the government. This duty was performed, and the prisoners were brought to Quintana vis a vis to Velasco. On the same day I received a document from the army, of which the following is a literal copy. The names of the signers are omitted, because the paper purports to represent the feelings of the army, and it is not important to designate the organs by which those feelings are expressed.
"Encampment at Victoria, May 26, 1836.
To h..is ExceUency, David G. Burnet. Sir-The undersigned, officers of the army of Texas, for themselves and the citizen soldiers under their command, have determined in a general meeting held, that the present situation of things requires that a free interchange of ideas between the army and Cabinet is proper and indispensably necessary. We address you as the army of Texas, composed of citizen soldiers, and we speak in the name of those who compose the bone and sinew of the country who have proven themselves the vindicators of her honor, and the protectors of her soil and her citizens. We shall speak plainly and candidly, because it is one of the most invaluable privileges of freemen to do so. We shall address
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