Tl,e Struggle for Independence, 1835-1836
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Governor Smith differed radically with the Council. He believed that the Matamoros venture was unnecessary. He favored absolute independ- ence, but independence that was to be secured without the help of the Mexican Liberals.u He had no use for or confidence in Mexicans. Houston agreed with the Governor that the Matamoros expedition was unnecessary_, but the plan had been approved and ordered over the Governor's veto. The complaint of Colonel Neill a few days later that the San Antonio garrison had been depleted and left without supplies by the departure of Colonel Johnson and his men for Matamoros caused the Governor to call a special meeting of the Council for Sunday, January 10. His patience, short as it was, had been exhausted. Using intemperate lan- guage, he berated the Council when it met, referred to some of its members as "Judases, scoundrels, parricides," and ended by dissolving the body until March 1, "unless it be convened by proclamation at an earlier date." In the meantime, he assured them that the Governor would continue to do his duty as commander in chief of the army and navy and as chief executive. The Council would not be outdone. It replied in the same tone on January 11. It declared the Governor's language revealed his "vulgar" breeding and his "low, blackguardly, and vindictive nature"; that the Council represented the people; and that the Governor had no authority to dissolve it. The Council concluded by suspending the Governor and holding him accountable to the Council until impeachment charges were preferred against him. Lieutenant Governor Robinson was then declared acting governor, and a proclamation was issued to explain the situation to the people. In the darkest hour of the Texas Revolution-when Santa Anna was about to cross the Rio Grande, and General Urrea was in Matamoros ready to sweep the Gulf Coast clear in order to prevent United States volunteers from aiding the rebellious Texans, when unity of leadership was most needed-the Provisional Government presented uncompromising dissension. Smith refused to turn over to Robinson the executive records or the seal. The Council refused to adjourn or to deliver certain papers to Smith, who threatened its members with arrest and court-martial. Houston harangued the volunteer army in support of Governor Smith UAmelia Williams, "A Critical Study of the Siege of the Alamo," T"4 (}uar/e,/J, XXXVI, 253-254; see also W. Roy Smith, "The Quarrel Between Governor Smith and the Council of the Provisional Government of the Republic," Tlt1 QuarlerlJ, V, 278-338.
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