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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
he that runs may read. If my readers will take the trouble to trace this plain simple unadorned narative of facts, and are not satisfied, even beyond doubt, then I must frankly acknowledge, that I am totally incapable of judging of the impressions, whi<:h naked truth can make on the human mind If my readers however, find no more pleasure in the perusal of this narative then the writer does in its recital, I . fear they wiU turn from it with a sickning disgust at the frailties and enormaties of poor degraded human nature In order that there shall be no ambiguity in the narative I will go back to the origin of the government and trace the matter step, by i;;tep, down to the present time To many who were here at that time, these facts will be fresh on their memory; though much entangled by sofisticated diplomacy. In the fall of the year thirty five, Genl. Cos had intrenched himself in the Town of Bexar, with an army of Mexican troops, to awe tht Colonies into a submission to his masters will, who had changed the form of Government to a military dei;;potism. The western Colonists became alarmed and at a losg to know how to act. The name of Con- vention, at that time, seemed to savor too much of revolution, and the term was softened into that of general consultation, to to which with much difficulty, they were brought to consent; in which the eastern Colonies Co-operated and delegates elected from each precinct to meet at San Felipe de Austin in October or November following subsequent to the elections, and before the time of meeting, a call was made for volunteers, and many of the western members joined the army. And at the time of meeting, there was not members enough present to form a quorum. Our army had then besieged Cos, in the Town of Bexar. It was agreed by the members present that as many as could con- veniently make the trip, should proceed to the head quarters of the army, and use their influence, to procure as many of the members elect, as would, at least, form a quorum and return to their duty. A ma- jority, perhaps, of the members present immediately set off on that mission. Genl. Houston who had been elected from some one of the east- ern precincts, made one of that party- When they arrived at, and during the time they remained with the army, he used his influence, and in public speeches, persuaded the army to disband and return to their homes, until the consultation should be held. Alledging that eastern Texas could not cooperate with the west until the cherokee jndians were treated with, and quieted in their titles - that land spec- ulators were intruding on their domain, and they had become much exasperated and evinced strong dispositions to hostility, and that the east would have enough to do to watch their own bosom enemies. Th,! army did not take his advice however, and a sufficient number of the members elect returned with the party to San Felipe where the Con- sultation was had As soon as the body was organized and ready to proceed to busine,is; his important cherokee business was brought up;- and depicted in all the hues and beauties of the rainbow on the one hand, and with all the appaling and shuddering horrors, of scalped mangled and murdered women and children the other. I will here remark that previous to this time, Eastern and Western Texas, being distinct departments, were as little known to each other, as it respected their interests or business, as though they had been separate Nations He represented to the body, that the cherokees had acquired the do-
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