[1711) [SMITH to COUNCIL]
Executive Department of Texas.
To the Honorable, the President, and Council: Gentlemen:-
! made a calJ on your honorable body, to know if an express could be immediately sent to New Orleans, with dispatches to our agents. This I deem absolutely necessary, for reasons before given. Will you please inform me on that subject. I have ordered the Commander-in-Chief to establish his headquarters on the frontier, to concentrate all the troops in Texas, and occupy the most eligible points to afford protection, and keep the enemy in check, and to have every thing in a state of preparation for active operations, at the earliest possible day. I have been informed that Messrs. McKinney and Wil.liams have received an armed vessel, which is now in our waters; before writing to our agents, I would like to know whether she is intended for the Government or not, and all the particulars connected therewith, in order that I may advise our agents particularly on that subject.
I am respectfully, &c. &c. Henry Smith, Governor
January 6, 1836
[1712) [SMITH to WARD]
[January 6, 1836] Dear Sir.-1 am sorry to say that much deep laid management and intrigue have been and still are being used here to overthrow the government and bring about an assimilation of the Mexican policy. It keeps me, as you well know, extremely busy to counteract their plans. To a stranger, like you, I am sorry to say it, because you can not see through or understand their policy and, as such, must be al a loss to know whether they or we are right. I perfectly understand them. You do not! You can not imagine to what the heretofore dominant but now expiring party would resort to save and sustain their heretofore rascally acquirements. They considt·r that all is now on the die; that if honesty is sustai1wd and Texas hecomcs independent, all by us honestly gained, would lw so
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