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PAPERS OJ<' .MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAk
No. 2201 1845 Nov. 17, CITIZENS OF TEXAS GALVESTON, [TEXAS) TO M. B. LAMAR [GALVESTON? TEXAS] 82 General Mirabeau B. Lamar- Sir Galveston Novr. 17 1845- The undersigned citizens of "Texas," feel- ing the proper solicitude, for the prosperity of our country (which depends so much on the character, of the individuals, hereafter to be elevated to high office,) and believing, that every aspirant to political honors, should rise in fame, or sink in disgrace, according to the posi- tion he may have occupied, in defence of or in opposition to the great measures, which vitally concern, the interests of the state, among which we class the question of annexation, as of the most transcendant im- portance-a measure which we believe an [sic] always have believed in the language of our lamented fellow Citizen William H. Jack, to be "the rock of our salvation, and a consummation of happiness, most devoutly to be wished, upon the successful result of which depended our prosperity as a people, and our existence, as a free and uncontrolled sovereignty-and entertaining this belief, We are desirous to ascertain beyond a doubt, for the reason, above assigned, and others which we shall briefly state, the real friends, and active supporters, of Annex- ation to the U. S. among the most prominent men of Texas. The Great measure of "Annexation" having been accomplished, to the extent of the "Legislative powers, of both countries and no doubt being entertained of its full and perfect consummation, to the entire satisfaction of the people,- greatly to our surprise, we find men, (who were always supposed to be decidedly hostile to the measures, or crim- inally apathetic) claimin~ that not merely to have been the friends to the measure, but unb".<1.shingly asserting, that they were the active and efficient agents by who~ the great work was effected, excusing their well known hostility to the measure, under the sophistical plea; that an "apparent opposition to "Annexation" and a pretended under- standing, with other powers, were absolutely necessary, in order to force, the U. S. into a compliance with our terms- Among, these twelfth hour friends of "Annexation" preeminent, both by postion and political influence, stands "Gen. Sam Houston this gentleman, through- out the pendency of this question, ;preserved a guarded silence or spoke in vague and ambiguous terms, but from the sentiments and action~ of those who were presumed to be in his confidence, and who were supposed to receive their cue from him; it is fair, to infer, that he was opposed to "Annexation"- now however he professes, not only to have been·always friendly to, but claims, to have been the originator of those measures, which han:' effected our reunion with the United States, as you will perceive by rcfNring- to his letter to the Washington Com- mittee, and his speeches at Greensborough and elsewhere- In order, therefore to be able to confer honour where honour is due, and to do justice to those who haw, sustained the best interests of our country, by an open, manly and consistent support of "Annexation"- we are anxious to acquire such informatrion l as will enable us to identify
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