PAPERS OF 1\IIRABEAU BUONAPARTE hl~IAR 221 loafers who formerly infested it.- Nor have I seen any of the spirit of virulent opposition to your administration which once existed here.- I saw Mr Eldredge the Editor of the :Morning Star, 65 last night. He has yielded me the use of his columns to explain and ad- vocate political measures and principles- an opportunity which I shall not neglect fully to avail myself of.- The political associations of the Star will not permit me to speak as fully of men in connection with measures as I desire. But if J defend the principles and policy of the Administration, the people will not fail to connect these subjects wi_th their authors. Nor do I conceive myself to be acting improperly in this course. For I openly professed my prepossessions to. Eldridge.- I would not deceive nor take any unfair advantage of a political ad- versary.- Besides I have but a single way of getting along- it is by an appeal to the understanding- to the appreciation of the real ground on which a matter is based. And I have always thought, my dear Sir, that I have yielded your Administration a for more efficient support by basing it on the integrity of your motives and the soundness of your policy, than I could have done by alleging the warmest personal devo- tion; altho' you will not I believe suspect me of any want of personal regard.- The people of Texas are a reflecting people-- and what- ever may be the virulence of momentary feeling good sense will not fail at last to come in as a corrective of blind and senseless opposition.- I will send you occasionally any thing I may indite. I have been very cordially greeted on my return, 66 and cannot help regretting that the unhealthiness of the town compels me to remove.- I shall send my hands down on the Bay in a few days to erect some log buildings and make other preparations.- The abun- dance of wood will probably induce me to hybernate in Houston. There is at the present time no sickness in the country and I shall devote myself to literary pursuits.-:- 67 I would gladly spend the win- ter in Austin-but the expenses of living at the Hotels in this country are enormous, leaving out of view the discomforts.- I did not understand you or I have forgotten whether you wished the "Reviews" to be delivered to the Quartermaster here.- I am afraid this long letter will prove tiresome.- With the most respectful compliments, I am
sincerely
Yours Ashbel Smith Houston Dec 31 .. 1839 [Endorsed] Ashbel Smith Dec. 31. '39
[Addressed]
1
His Excellency 1\Iirabeau B. Lamar
President of Texas. Austin
Judge Lipscomb
"First daily ,paper of the Republic of Texas. Published in Houston. "Dr. Smith had been ,in Galveston during the first yellow fever epidemic which occurred in' tbe fall of 1839. "The following year (1840) Dr. Smith published An Account of the Yellow Fei;er which appeared in the City of Galveston, Republic of Texas, in the autumn of 1839; with Cases and Dissections.
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