[1386} [SMITH to COUNCILJ
Executive Deparlmenl of Texas.
To the Honorable, the President, and Members of the Legislative Council:
Genllemen:-1 herewith transmit for your information, various communications recently received, all of which will show for themselves, and to some of which I call your parliclar attention. The documents in Lhe Caslilian language, are said to be Lhe product of an intercepted correspondence, from the interior authorities of Lhe Central Government to General Cos, al Bexar. They contain Lhe plans of Santa Anna, for a vigorous prosecution of the war against Texas, which is determined by him as a war of extermination.-General Austin informs me, Lhal in one of his communications he has consolidated the principal matter in a brief manner. I would therefore recommend Lhal the whole be read before your body, and such portions translated and published as you may deem expedient. The printed documents, purporting to be the acts of the General Congress, establishing and defining the plan of the Central Government, with some manuscript documents, marked confidential, you may at least deem worthy of publication, together with a condensed view of the whole subject matter of the intercepted correspondence. The domestic correspondence, herewith accompanying, will show for itself, and by you will be taken for what it is worth. Some of the documents are the views and opinions of men, which by you can be properly appreciated.-Taking a fair view of things as they now seem to stand, I have no doubt you will agree with me, that every energy and exertion on our part should be resorted to, to counteract, or meet with efficiency, the pending storm which overhangs our country. It must be acknowledged by all, that our only sucvour is expected from Lhe East, where as yel we have nol dispatched our agents, sufficient time has elapsed since the rising of the Convention, for them, by this time, to have arrived in the United Stales. They have called on me, in vain, day after day, time after time, for their dispatches, at least some of them, and they are not yet ready. I say lo you, the fate of Texas depends upon their immediate dispatch and success. Why then delay a matter of such vital importance, and give place to minor matters which could be
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