reasons plausible and substantial, you will therefore proceed to fill the vacancy, as the firsl Judge is absent. With sentiments, &c. &c.
Your obedient servant, Henry Smith, Governor.
San Felipe, November 28th, 1835.
[1323] lWHARTONtoARCHER]
San Felipe, Nov. 28, 1835.
To B. T. Archer, Esq. Dear Sir:-
In answer to your letter announcing my election by the Consultation and Commissioner to the United States, I have to say that I am compelled to decline the appointment from a belief that under present circumstances, I would be of no essential service to the country in that capacity. The declaration of the Consultation and the attitude assumed by it, appear to me to be too indefinite to induce foreign governments or capitalists to lend us aid, either· of a pecuniary or other nature. Understand me, I do not blame the consultation for their declaration. They were not empowered- it was not in the contemplation of those who elected them to make any other. It was generally tho't, & I then thought it a matter of policy so to declare. It was thought that a declaration for the constitution would neutralize, or enlist the sympathies and assistance of the Federal party of the interior in our favor, and also that under such declaration we could obtain the requisite loans, &c. from the capitalists of the United States. Since then from some intercepted letters of Santa Ana, and others, to General Cos, promising reinforcements of from 5 to 10,000 soldiers, and from the general tone of the papers of the interior I have been forced to conclude that both parties of the interior will unite against us, whatever be our declaration; believing or pretending to believe in an attack upon the integrity of the Republic; and moreover from the papers of the United Slates and my own correspondence, I believe Lhal under any declaration short of absolute independence, we will receive no efficient or permanent aid or pecuniary assistance from the United Slates; they believing
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