579
PAPERS OF l\IrnABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
Nation to be benefited by the change?-Does the public good demand it? To these questions a part of your letter seem to reply in antici- pation.- In speaking of Doctor Archer's qualifications for the station, you say that he could "do more in accomplishing a speedy and advan- tageous treaty for Texas than any other man living." Admit this to be the fact, yet it does not prove that Col. Bee is incompetent to the task. Doctor Archer may have superior qualifications, yet Col Bee's may be all sufficient for the occasion. If I were to remove the latter not because he is wanting in capacity, but merely because the former is represented to me as possessing more eminent abilities, I should be drawing a very unnecessary and an invidious distinction between two friends whose talents and virtues command my respect and the Nation's confidence. The public good does not require me thus to decide upon their relative merits. As much as I may esteem the talents of Doctor Archer, I do not know that they are indispensible to the successful negotiation of our Treaty with the United States. Neither have I any reasons to suspect the capacity of Col. Bee.- As yet the treaty has not been retarded within my knowledge, nor is it likely to be defeated, in consequence of any deficiency of skill on the part of our negotiator; but on the contrary I have reasons to believe that he is managing the matter with all the ability that the occasion requires, and has a fair prospect of closing it successfully before my term of service ~xpires.- If he fails, it will be because the object is not at present attainable. Entertaining these opinions, if I were to recall him upon the ground of incapacity, I should not only do violence to my own conscience, but should inflict upon a gentleman and a patriot, a disgrace which the Nation would know he did not deserve; and if I were to remove him from mere personal considerations, without reference to the public good, I should not only be wounding the feelings of one friend to gratify those of another, but I should consider that I had acted from .motives which should never be permitted to influence official conduct. You further say that the Doctor's "strong and intimate connections near the Government of that country both with his old and intimate friend President Tyler, and many other leading men, all point him out eminently better suited than any other individual within the reach of your appointment." I admit that this consideration would have great weight with me if I wer~ now about to select an individual to fill a vacancy; but is it sufficient to justify me in creating a vacancy by turning out Col. Bee against all the consideration which I have brought to view? I would think not. I feel with you the importance of the pending treaty, and should like to have it completed under the instructions which I have issued, before my retirement from office.- But how is the appointment of Dr. Archer at this late period to. effect this object. Admitting all that is claimed for him on the score of superior qualifications and the powerful influences which he could bring to bear in the matter, and which no other person could command, yet the time which he would have to operate in, is so very limited that he would not be able to avail himself of the advantages he may possess, and the delays in the business consequent upon the change of the nego- tiator's and the opening of a new correspondence, would, (when we consider how short is the period to act in) be rather calculated to retard & defeat, than to facilitate & secure the desired end.- But even
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