inaU_ention of the officers of the government, they were induced to contrnue the march lo this place, under the assurance and expectation that provisions would be sent to Cox's Point. We are now here, and we have lately suffered for want of beef itself, and but very few_ have any bread and ~carccly any coffee or sugar. Under these circumstances we have sllll to continue the march, with no other prospect than great suffering before us. And to whom are we to charge these injuries? Surely to you, as the president of the republic. It was your duty to have paid particular attention to the army; to have enquired out their wants and relieved them. It was surely your duty to have caused provision at least to have been furnished, and to have dropped all other matters until this was done, and you ,viU not be surprised to learn that the indignation and exasperation of the army is now very great al the total failure to pay attention to them, and the consequences may be serious if redress is not had. And we now require that this army be immediately furnished with a sufficiency of such provisions and clothes as the public may possess or can be procured. While on the subject of our rights and your duty, we will touch on some other points of general interest, We consider that a strange apathy exists in regard to a continuation of the war. You appear to think that the war is over and no further steps are necessary lo keep an army in the field. On this subject we totally differ, and unless you take immediate and efficient measures to draft men and enlist regulars, Texas will be again endangered and you will not be excusable. We do hope you ,viii pay immediate attention to this subject. On the subject of General Santa Anna, we have all heard with indignation, that the proposition has been seriously debated by you, and your Cabinet as to the policy of turning him loose, and that some of you propose his liberation. That we should suspect the purity of the motives which suggested such a course of policy you need not doubt. It is wcllknown by whom he was captures, and at what risk, and we will not permit him to be liberated, until a constitutional congress and president shall determine that it is expedient, and should he be liberated without the sanction of congress, the army of citizen soldiers will again assume the privilege of putting down the enemies of Texas. For we do not believe in the doctrine of treating with a prisoner. We abhor the ~<lea of interfering in the management of the government. We eons1clcr tl~c principle dangerous, and that it ought only to be resorted to m extreme cases and in order to avoid all difficulty and prevent the occurrence of dangerous example. We request you will order
501
Powered by FlippingBook