[2025] [SMITH lo 13RYAN]
San Felipe, February 5, 1836 Respected Sir.-Your favor No. 3, under date of 20th
January, has just been received with its enclosure....
The vessels of which you speak, under convoy of the Liberty, Col. (John A.) Wharton has reported to me as having arrived safe off the Brazos Bar and proceeding to the Bay of Matagorda, or Copano, al both of which points I have written him. I assure you I do not mean to flatter when I say lo you, I am proud to see you and friend Hall announced as our agents, with both of whom I feel I can correspond freely and safely, on any matter connected with the interests of the country. Since my installation I have had to contend with much difficulty and confusion, growing out of party slrife, based on the conflicting interests of the country. It is well understood here and need not be kept from you as our agents abroad. ... I am, however, happy to inform you that before the sun sets everything will be right in the capitol. The army has declared The mass of the people have declared that honest men and measures shall be sustained, and that the "sled" must cease its run forthwith. This I have succeeded in without violence, and hope soon lo have everything in regular trim. They have, however, done much mischief, but I hope it will all soon be counteracted, with the exception of what I fear has been irretrievably lost by downright swindling, some of which may be beyond my control. The first of March will give the death blow lo their main project, as I have no doubt the independence of Texas will he proclaimed to the world, and then a long farewell to all Mexican policy.... This country can never prosper until a few of that baneful faction are immolated on the altar of their own perfidy. The convention will, I hope, afford the grand corrective. Owing lo their base management, management, much confusion prevails among our volunteer troops on the frontier, but, by using much vigilance, I have now got Bexar secure. On the last advices the enemy were concentrating on our border in considerable numbers and every exertion used, and everything put in requisition for a formidable campaign against the colonies in the
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