89
p_\PERS OF MIRABEAU BuoN.APARTE LAMAR
man, not even the whole Republic combined, has taken more hazards, and used more exertion single handed and alone, to sustain this favorite, this darling of the people; from thirty five down to this time; or until he run up his colors the last time, and since which time I have remained mute until now Not that I had· confidence in the man, for he is well aware I have ever viewed him as a man possessing too much vanity and art, to be trusted But that he was the choice of the people, possessed the necessary abilities as all will admit, I have ever acted with him in good faith, and was vain enough to think that by promptings and mod- erate spurring to get him to G or keep the plain beaten tract of public duty In this however I have been mistaken as the sequel proves This perverse animal I have been compelled from necessity to give up to the folly of his ways, as he can be directed by nothing but the Mexican bit, which I abominate For where there is no fixcamps of moral prin- ciple, occasional feelings are of no value; mind is of no effect; and with such persons it is never desirable to have any connexion I am no pursecutor, no slanderer, no defamer of public or private character, and before God I have no malice, but much indignation against those designing and unprincipled men whose acts have brought the country, of which I feel proud, to such a state of degradation Hence as a high- minded honorable man, I take a bold and independent stand, assign the reasons which have influenced me publicly, and in terms not to be mis- understood I am a patriot, and I grieve for the degradation of my Country! I am a Texian in the true sense of the word, and have labored too hard both in body and mind, taken too many hazards, suffered too many privations, in aiding others to establish a Govern- ment, under which I would feel proud to live, to now stand by with folded arms and permit an unprincipled empiric by his quackery to dissipate the labors and exertions of honest men If a highminded man has a right to be proud of any thing, - it is of a good action, done at the proper time and as it ought to be without any base interest lurking at the bottom of it As in civil and political life, he who is vain enough to believe himself equal to every task, and on all occa- sions comes forward with rash audacity, as I may seem in this case, is :ikely to meet with many a humiliation and repulse as I may; yet he will remember that obloquy is a necessary ingredient in the composition of all true glory: he will remember that it was not only in the Roman Customs, but it is in the nature and constitution of things, that cal- umny and abuse are essential parts of triumph. These thoughts will support a mind which only exists for honor and liberty under the burthen of temporary reproach Proud would I have been could I have been !lcrened from this duty, - proud would I have been had some other person, better qualified and more potent to bear had relieved me from this taflk, but I have waited in vain A crisis has arrived in the affairs of Texas which seems not to be understood by the people; prompt action is necessary on their part; the Country has been be- trayed, her liberties abandoned our fetters allready forged, the tripart contract ready drawn up to be carried by the coup demain of nego- tiation, or forced upon us at the point of the bayonet, and a military dei,potism reRred on the wreck of the liberties of the Countrv Under- standing these things as I do, and satisfied as I am of their truth silence in me would be a crime; and it is a duty which I owe to myself, it is a duty which I owe to the Country to cry aloud and spare not
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