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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
Delegates to the convention approached. The people had debated and e.cted with an enthusiasm and a unanimitv that left their enemv no ground for hope. In every county in the Republic, primary meetings announced the universal sentiment of Annexation. Baffled but not abashed, this arch enemy of the measure had but one resource left him. Flying to New Orleans upon the flood tide of events, he thrusts him- self upon public attention; and there with a shameless effrontery and perfidy that staggers all confidence in human nature, he not only pro- claims himBelf the originator and the constant friend of Annexation; but openly acknowledges that his apparent opposition to it was not real but affected merely; and that his negociations with Mexico, and his official pledges to the British Minister were but innocent peices [sic] of political "coquetery." Surely if he has a friend in the whole circumference of Texas who does not blush at this turpitude it is be- cause he has no sense of shame. And here, Gentlemen, a question arises of some importance in the investigation. If all this obstinate and long continued opposition to Annexation by Gen. Houston was affected merely and not real; and llf, he now declares, was intended only to deceive the British Minister, I would emphlltically enquire, whether it was equally the case with hi;; cabinet, his foreign agents, his Government organ, and his numerous dependants in office? Did they too oppose the Annexation in a spirit of Coquetry, merely to deceive the British Minister? If they did, their guilt and condemnation are as great as their leaders. But I cannot believe this of them. Their hostility to the measure was char- acterised by too much zeal, activity and violence to allow the suppo- sition that they were not in earnest. Indeed, their sincerity is fully proven by their continued proscription of those who are known to be its true friends. And if they were acting in good faith, against what they conceived to be an injurious policy, what must be their opinion of the man who could first flatter them into this opposition-co-oper- ate with them in it-and then when it becomes his interest to do so, throw off the mask and avow that he was al1mys the friend of the rolicy with which they were at war. Such treachery to them, from their leader, would be more unpardonable than that which he acknowl- e<lges to have practised upon Capt. Elliot. But I do not believe that he has been iniilty of any such duplicity towards these, his long-tried and faithful friends. And thev too must believe the same. For if it were otherwise-if they could· for a. moment entertain the idea that he had encouraged them in an opposition to a measure which he secretly approved; and that too for deceptive purpo!'es, would they not indig- nantly resent the affront b~· a prompt withdrawal of their confidence and support? But this the_v hllve not done. They still keep up their 11dulation of the m1m. as well as their ho~tile feelings to the measure. In the very face of his 11cknowled~ent, that he had deceived them in his course on this ouestion, the_v continue to support and honor him a.<: though he were still like themselves. its open and avowed enemv. They do not reproach him for his admitted duplicitv; nor Quarrel with him for his desertion of their cause. They are still his friends; 11nr1 he is their friend. Surelv they can give no higher evidenee of the fact that he is re!!'arded bv them a11 the i,ecrct enemy of Annexation, how- ever he may he compelled hy imperious consirleratiom1, to de<'lare him-
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