[2778] [BURNET to CITIZENS]
[April 16, 1836]
To all citizens of Texas-
The condition of your country needs your generous support-No revenue has been yet established-the means for carrying on the war depend in a measure upon your generous devotion to her cause-Upon a loan to be obtained at eight pr Cent pr annum we have principally to rely, unless you will step forward and conlribule a part of your lands-The government has no right to contract with you for the terms, but a fu lure congress wilt· doubtless do you justice-The prospect of raising money on loan at eight pr Cent may not be such as we ought to rely upon, but by a sale of a portion of your lands with a government guarantee, the means can be raised-come forward then and follow the example of your fellow citizen, who has been the first to manifest his patriotism by the contribution annexed- David G Burnet President of the Republic of Texas Whereas the emergency of the Limes requires that every good citizen should come forward and lend all the aid in his power to his country in her present strnggle against Mexico, without which all our lands and property may be lost-Relying therefore on the fu lure justice of the Congress of Texas, I do hereby convey one half of my league of land, lying on Galveston Bay and fronting on the Red Bluffs to the President of Texas and hereby authorise and impower him to sell the same on such terms as he may be able to obtain to raise money for the use of the government-and I shall expect in return as much more of the public land when tl1e independence of the country is acquired-It is lo be understood that in doing this act, it is not upon contract, or by bargain-knowing as I do that no power has been given to the President to make such a contract with me-But I give it to my · country relying on her future justice, and because it is deemed necessary to enable her to raise money to carry on the war-The
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