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legal government, instead of a gov_er~1ment moulded by the ~olic_~ or whim of those who are comm1ss1oned to enforce and execut . . . f its powers. By it our government, mstead of cons1stmg 0 independent, separate, conflicting, and hostile_ departme~1ts, has _all its parts and powers united harmoniously m one, w1~ho~1~ the apprehension of collision, and without destroying the md1v1dual and independent existence of the parts. After the most mature reflection that I have been able to give the subject, it is my settled conviction that your honorable body outght to remain in session until the meeting of the new Convention, agreeably to the provisions of the sixteenth article of the organic law, which provides that "the Government and Council shall continue to exist as a Provisional Government, until the re-assembling of the Consultation, or until other delegates are elected by the people, and another government established;" and it is very questionable whether the Governor has any separate existence, independent of the existence of the General Council; and the present situation of our country, requires that every citizen should he at his post and perform his duty. I know you have made many sacrifices by remaining here; but though you have done much, and performed it well, still your work is not finished; and the most extraordinary course adopted by my predecossor, renders it necessary that your labors should be prolonged beyond what would have been required, had he harmoniously continued to perform his duty as Governor: and if your circumstances require a return to your several homes, sooner than the first day of March next, you might call the members of the new Convention to convene on the 15th day of next February; and on the first day of the same month, or sooner, you might adjourn your body, to meet when and where the members of the next Convention meet. In fact, I would be glad to see the new Convention convened at as early a day as practicable; for the means of communicating the acts and proceedings of your body to the people generally, has been so limited and uncertain, that I have no doubt but that it is the principal cause of what dissatisfaction has prevailed. But I think the policy doubtful, if not dangerous to the public interest. Upon this, as in all your former deliberations, let the good of Texas he your polar star, by which you will shape your course, and you will have the approbation of an approving conscience, and the blessings of a free and grateful people.
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