Govt. and the appointment of a Govr. or civil head- Also the organization of a regular army, with a Genl. of well known military talents experience, integrity and moral influence. This is very important. With regard to certain individuals ahoul whom 1 have been ,vrillen lo- I beg leave to say that the convention is the only competeut au lhorily lo decide whether they arc enemies lo our country and cause or nol- 1 would on this suhjecl respectfully recommend moderation and prudence- The Army is in good spirits-the three cannon have arrived and rcenforccmenls ofJ 80 men- I musl however say Lhal the laking of Ilcxar is very difficult- My health for the lasl lwo weeks has been so bad Lhal I have been unable lo allend actively in person lo Lhe du Lies of my station- Lhey would be lruly arduous lo Lhe mosl experienced man, considering the nalure of a militia force, where there is no law but moral principle and enthusiasm lo keep them together, but they arc doubly so to me with a debilitated conslilulion and bad health, added to a want of experience in Military operations- I trust however Lhal Lhc people will be satisfied wilh the efforts and the movements of lhe army so far. We have in every instance driven the enemy within his fortifications which are very strong and have gained many signal ad van lages. Nothing will aid Texas so much as an expedition from New Orleans against Matamoros under Gen! ~lexia- It is all importanl- 1 recommend Lhal every possible effort be made lo fit oul such an expedition if it has not already been clone, as I hope it has been Stephen F. Austin If malamoros is allackcd and revolulionizecl by ;\lexia, l3exar would fall as a matter of course, for all supplies of funds or troops whould he cut off. There is no way in which funds or men could be employed to so much advantage lo Texas as in an expedition against Matamoros This enterprise merits the first attention of the convention an express, al any expense should be sent lo the commillec of N. Orleans urging this expedition, also lo N. York-Zavala ou~hl to write lo N. York on the subject- even a rumor of such a thing would keep troops from being sent to Texas- The military operalions will be pressed now wry rapidly, as much so as practicable-·The convention lwwt•,·er must not ht·
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