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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
I have said on this whole subject, I do not m.ean to inculpate honorable men who may have misapprehended the facts. For if I did not suppose that Texas had a better chivalry than these infatuated and partial tendencies would indicate, means would be taken to deprecate her good will and place her irresponsibility and motives in general and bold relief. For there would be no want of independence and resource appro- priate and effectual to such an end, and coextensive with the malicious distances to which those resolutions at Galveston profess to send their abortive poison. As it is, those resolutions will be promptly met at these distances, and the effect may be a little different from what their vanity might imply. And so will be met any future attempts by those to assail private character or right, in any quarter, as the world by their own acts and the resistance of others will be placed upon its guard against their vituperations. When I was in England in August 1838, I told Mr Ikin again of the necessity of the interposition of Congress, and advised him not to send out emigrants upon this script. I invariably stated that the interposition of the congress of Texas would be necessary. And after all this, and after. I had lef_t England, he passes the script to the emi- grants. Either this script was good, or bad. If good, why did he not send the flour to the Texian army? If bad, why pass it to the Emi- grants? and at all events, as he had never advanced a farthing upon it, why did he so recently sell to others, receive their money, and put them to trouble and inconvenience without farther inquiry? Thus sir, you have the ground work of these ill-judged, illtimed and inflated resolu- tions. You have had some slight evidence that I would reluctantly take any office under any government except directly compelled by a sense of usefulness. On the 20th. August last, I wrote to you my resignation of the office of Consul General, and on that or the next day placed it in the post office, regularly paid the postage, and with the proper gener~l direction addressed it to the care of the Post Office Agent of Texas, or in his absence, the Texian Consul at New Orleans. This letter was sent about five and a half months ago, and I have not yet received a reply, or any reference to the letter. I's will explain my motives for holding the office of Consul General, about my dismissal from which, those reso- lutions so pompously allude. This is a copy of the letter. 61 No. 1712 1840 Feb. 3, ASHBEL SMITH, HOUSTON, [TEXAS], TO M[IRA- BEAUJ B[UONAPARTEJ LAMAR, [AUSTIN, TEXAS] Introducing Captain Hamilton, of the British Navy. A. L. S. 1 p. No. 1713 1840 Feb. 4, H. E. HARTRIDGE, TALLAHASSEE,.FLORIDA, TO M[IRABEAUJ B[UONAPARTEJ LAMAR, AUSTIN, TEXAS Asking for an Army position for a relative. A. L. S. 1 p.
"The Idter whfo"h follows is printed as ·no. 1414.
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