Jan 14 1836 to Mar 5 1836 - PTR, Vol. 4

than there has been,- If there be good faith in some of those who have been the most restless I think there will be-John Wharton assures me that on his part, there will be no more restlessness and his brother says the same-I know what reply you will make to this-but my object is the country, our country, it is, or ought to be the paramount object of all, and without union and harmony, our country is lost. There arc mmors here of distmbances at San Felipe, which discouraged the friends of Texas injured her credit, ancl caused our enemies to exult- If substantial and deliberate men are elected to the conven- tion, and violent demagogues are permitted to stay at home, all will go right, for such men will legislate for the country, ancl not themselves or for a party. In well organized Governments, parties are usefull for they operate as checks, but sihiated as we are in Texas they are ruinous, and ought to be discountenanced- I have always tried to keep them down, and have been much censured by my friends for yielding, rather than encourage party feelings- I may have been wrong, for party spirit never gives credit to any person for purity of motive- The sihiation of Texas is now critical, and a great effort is necessary to establish union and harmony- The country ought to go unanimously for independence. Public opinion all over the U. S. expects and earnestly calls for it- Much harm has been done heretofore by those who have endeavoured to precipitate this Measure, by violence, partial meetings, and forestaling public opinion by management etc. I think they are now convinced of the impropriety of this course, and will pursue a different one, and a rational one in fuh1re-at all events let us all labor to promote union and harmony- No news from W. I fear he is dreaming somewhere. God grant that his dreams may be less injurious to Texas than some which were drempt at Monclova- Love to the Ladies- S. F . A [ usti n I [Addressed:) Mr. T. F. McKinney Quintana Col. J. A. Wharton

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