[2210] [VOLUNTEERS to CONVENTION]
[- February 1836] A Memorial of the Volunteers in the actual service of Texas to the convention to be assembled at Washington on the First day of March 1836 We the undersigned volunteers in the Army of Texas now at Refugio in the western department of Texas would most re- spectfully represent to your honorable body that the ordinance and decree of the Governor & Council making provision for calling a convention hath ordered that a specified number of persons be elected from each municipality with unlimited or plenary powers to form a consti tu tion and to exercise the highest legislative func- tions in Texas .also, "that all free white males shall be entitled to vole at said election We were & had been for some time in the municipality of Refugio on the day of election-Refugio is entitled by the decree to two members & we claiming Texas as our adopted country and being placed by the provisional Government on the footing of the most favoured citizens conceived that agreeably lo the ordinance we had a right to our suffrage in conjunction with the citizens located in the said municipality. Those however who had the man- agement of the said election thought it an improper interference & calculated to deprive them of their representation of men whom they might prefer-We who came to defend and sustain the coun- try felt unwilling to excite jealousy towards us and anxious to conciliate proceeded to hold an election amongst our own body for two individuals belonging to the Volunteers Whereupon David Thomas and Edwd Conrad were chosen to represent us in said convention. We feel anxious that the municipality of Refugio should have their Representation, but with great respect to your honora- ble body we like,vise conceive we have an equal right to Represen- tation which right we hope and trust will not be denied us Our sil1iation being unknown to the Council our claims have not been explicitly provided for in the decree, but no princi- ple will be violated, no injustice done lo any one in permitting the individuals selected by us to take their seats in a body the proceed-
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